Old Stuff & Memories

[Spirithawk]

A friend's recent find of an old Mossberg .22 scope got me to thinking of the vintage gear I've hung on to. I've got a vintage Weaver K4 B6 4 X fixed scope that came on an old Winchester .30 .30. Then there's my 1958 Lynch World Champion Box call that no amount of money could buy from me. Though quite valuable dollar wise it was a gift from my brother-in-law and the first turkey call I ever layed hands on. I'd have to include my 1860 Colt Old Army .44 that I bought over 30 years ago, back right after my son Jason was born. I have a Scrade Old Timer with gut hook that I can't even remember when I bought it. It was one of, if not the first knife, to come out with the gut hook design. At least the first such I ever saw in a store. It's skinned an awful lot of deer. I've got an old Jon-E pocket warmer still in the original box with it's felt pouch, extra heating eliment and two instruction booklets. I can remember many a frigid deer hunt where those old pocket warmers made the differance in hunting or sitting back in camp huddled around a fire. I recently gifted a good friend of Jason and mine with a fixed blade, stag handled, hunting knife made in Soligin Germany that I'd had for years. He was saving up for such a knife so I surprised him with it. The look on his face was priceless. I've also got a very nice AYA double barrel 12 ga. that is a very early model. It was the first gun I ever turkey hunted with and a couple years back my brother-in-law, who taught me countless lessons about hunting and who years ago bought the shotgun new, gifted me with it. He had a stroke a few years back and can no longer hunt. Just looking at that shotgun brings tons of wonderful memories flooding back. I also have an old Hoyt Pro recurve that was also a gift from him. Then, though not a hunting item, there's my great-grandfather's shaving kit. He made it in 1894 and has the date carved into it. It consists of a handmade wood box with leather hinges. Inside is his shaving brush and shaving soap tub. Along with his 1873 straight razor. He settled in Panola County Texas in 1865. I have both of my grandfaters watches. One is Pink Gold and one Yellow and both are pretty  classy looking watches. Both grandfathers died when I was young so they hold special meaning to me. Of course there's my artifacts collection that is a link to my ancesters. All of these things mentioned are worth way more now than when new but it's the memories that they bring forth that are truly enrichening. You just can't put dollar signs on such memories. They are like old friends, nooo, more like family and I treat each with the love and respect thus due. Everything will be handed down to my son Jason one day and I know he'll cherish them every bit as much as I do. So what about you my friends? I know that most, if not all, of you have items such as mine. Items too valuable with memories to ever even think about parting with. I'd love to hear what they are and why they are held dear.  

[mechanic]

I know what you mean my friend.  I have too many things to list, but a few are my pawpaw's blacksmith tools, a cross cut saw and other things.  I have my Dad's reloading stuff, and his load books are preserved in my library.

I have an old double shotgun that I first pulled the trigger on at 4 yrs. old.  It was my pawpaw's, and it blooded me good.  My brother had it and was going to throw it away, because it was loose and rusty.

When I die, my kids will probably look at this stuff and scratch their heads in bewilderment.

Ben

[trainsteeter]

I feel much better now just to know that I am not the only one who hangs onto a lot of old stuff, I have my dad's old 30-30, and his 22 rifle, many hours were spent with my dad around these old guns, also I have a very large beartrap that he used in Oregon, it was very spooky to go with him after dark and set out the trap and then return in the early morning hours to check it. As a result I have eaten much bear meat as a kid, not much call for beartraps these days. I was very pleased when my Grandaughter let me know that she would love to have the old 30-30. at least someone will carry on the tradition of keeping something special from the past.

[powderman]

I have my Dads set of whetstones, one rough, other smooth. His old spfld 22 that he bought right after WW11, it outshoots my marlin # 60, I mainly use it for cats, or turtles. Also his dbl bbl 410 he bought in the early 50s, I still hunt with it. Lots of wonderful memories. POWDERMAN. 

[bobg]

  I have my fathers old nickol steel Win. model 12 and his Remington 12-A 22. I hunted a lot with the model 12. I have never fired the 22. I would like to know how old the model 12 is. I know he bought it at least 75 years ago. I think he told me he paid $5 for it and it was used. He paid $2 for the 22. Don't know what will happen to them when i croak. None of my kids hunt or shoot.
                  bobg