beag_nut
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If you were my son-in-law I wouldn't charge a penny. That's what relatives are for.
Convincing my father in law
- Thread starter Appalachiannative
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horsemen61
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I hope you get it
jrmiddleton425
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I have a .30-30 and a similar story to go with it.
Fresh out of a hitch in the Navy in 1972, my old man bought a factory-new Winchester 94, manufactured the same year, from a gunsmith who bought it for himself, had a heart attack, and quit hunting.
About 1980, my father decided he'd rather have a Remington 742 (I don't know...help me understand...). So the .30-30 went to Uncle Frank (my mother's brother). It took a couple of deer in the next 23 years.
Fast-forward to 2003, and Dad's lamenting for the 87,233rd time that he sold that .30-30. Now, he's offered Uncle Frank $500 for old Dirty Gerty, but Uncle Frank ain't selling!
Me: "Hey, Uncle Frank...let me see your .30-30." He gets it out, and I play with it for 4-5 minutes
"Would you sell me this gun?"
"Well, you might have to arm-wrestle your father, but sure, I'll sell it to you."
Dad: "Wait a minute, Frank, I offered you five hundred and you wouldn't sell!"
"Yeah, but this is my NEPHEW."
It went home with me for a Ben Franklin, and I spent another $30 or so to put a sling on it (replacing my uncle's zip-tied welfare sling).
If you can't convince your father-in-law to sell, the right person might not be doing the asking.
Fresh out of a hitch in the Navy in 1972, my old man bought a factory-new Winchester 94, manufactured the same year, from a gunsmith who bought it for himself, had a heart attack, and quit hunting.
About 1980, my father decided he'd rather have a Remington 742 (I don't know...help me understand...). So the .30-30 went to Uncle Frank (my mother's brother). It took a couple of deer in the next 23 years.
Fast-forward to 2003, and Dad's lamenting for the 87,233rd time that he sold that .30-30. Now, he's offered Uncle Frank $500 for old Dirty Gerty, but Uncle Frank ain't selling!
Me: "Hey, Uncle Frank...let me see your .30-30." He gets it out, and I play with it for 4-5 minutes
"Would you sell me this gun?"
"Well, you might have to arm-wrestle your father, but sure, I'll sell it to you."
Dad: "Wait a minute, Frank, I offered you five hundred and you wouldn't sell!"
"Yeah, but this is my NEPHEW."
It went home with me for a Ben Franklin, and I spent another $30 or so to put a sling on it (replacing my uncle's zip-tied welfare sling).
If you can't convince your father-in-law to sell, the right person might not be doing the asking.
230RN
2A was "political" when it was first adopted.
Go buy a nice antique .22 and offer to trade for the thutty thutty. A little looking at Pawn shops and LGSs will give you plenty of choices, usually for a good price. It's been few years but I picked up a Remington 512 Sportmaster for a pittance. I wanted it because one of those was the first gun I ever shot in or about 1953.
"An interesting feature of this rifle is that it uses a tubular magazine and a bolt action. Most tube fed firearms typically utilize a lever action or a pump action."
(Courtesy Wiki)
And if he won't go for a trade, you have a "new" .22 to play with.
Terry, 230RN
"An interesting feature of this rifle is that it uses a tubular magazine and a bolt action. Most tube fed firearms typically utilize a lever action or a pump action."
(Courtesy Wiki)
And if he won't go for a trade, you have a "new" .22 to play with.
Terry, 230RN
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Shanghai McCoy
Member
^^^
That exact rifle above was my first one that I got when I was a teen. I bought it with money that I'd saved.
Still have it too...
That exact rifle above was my first one that I got when I was a teen. I bought it with money that I'd saved.
Still have it too...
GJeffB
Member
^^^
I think I've read the entire thread. I think I'm looking at the question from the father-in-law point of view. Seriously and with greatest respect, I think if my S-I-L was afraid to say "Hey [dad/Sir/Jeff/WTH you call me] would you sell me that rifle?" I'd suggest he grow some. I'd hate to think my S-I-L had to go to the internet to ask how to buy my rifle, no matter how "funny" I am to deal with
Otherwise, plenty of advice above
-jb, surely missing something
I think I've read the entire thread. I think I'm looking at the question from the father-in-law point of view. Seriously and with greatest respect, I think if my S-I-L was afraid to say "Hey [dad/Sir/Jeff/WTH you call me] would you sell me that rifle?" I'd suggest he grow some. I'd hate to think my S-I-L had to go to the internet to ask how to buy my rifle, no matter how "funny" I am to deal with
Otherwise, plenty of advice above
-jb, surely missing something
bassjam
Member
The direct "I want to buy that" approach is best.
My FIL had a M1 Carbine I was super interested in and I flat out told him one day to let me know if he ever wants to sell it, I'll buy it off him as I'd been wanting an M1 Carbine since before I even met his daughter.
Well a year later I find out he's thinking about trading it to a local mechanic for some work he had done. I call him up right away and reminded him I wanted to buy it, and that I'll pay whatever the mechanic fee was. He grunts and asks offended and says that he'll never accept money for any guns I get from him and says I can have it.
I still feel a little bad but because my wife and I are financially better off than they are, but he refused to accept a penny and rationalized it because I help him out around the house from time to time and he doesn't have a son to pass any firearms off too and his daughters aren't interested.
My FIL had a M1 Carbine I was super interested in and I flat out told him one day to let me know if he ever wants to sell it, I'll buy it off him as I'd been wanting an M1 Carbine since before I even met his daughter.
Well a year later I find out he's thinking about trading it to a local mechanic for some work he had done. I call him up right away and reminded him I wanted to buy it, and that I'll pay whatever the mechanic fee was. He grunts and asks offended and says that he'll never accept money for any guns I get from him and says I can have it.
I still feel a little bad but because my wife and I are financially better off than they are, but he refused to accept a penny and rationalized it because I help him out around the house from time to time and he doesn't have a son to pass any firearms off too and his daughters aren't interested.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Find the approximate ball park value of the old Winchester 30-30 rifle. Find an old vintage .22 rimfire of about the same value. Casually in conversation mention you may want to swap since you have no use for the .22 rimfire. That's all I got short of making him a flat out offer. Worst case is will say no to either. Then you have a nice vintage .22 to enjoy.
Ron
Zerodefect
member
I'd just buy a new one. I don't ask inlaws for anything.
troy fairweather
Member
Watch a Christmas story with him and talk about you always wanted a 30-30, wait for Christmas.
Scooter22
Member
A lot of good ideas. I would just tell him you would like it if he decides he doesn't need it anymore. Put you first in line and figure a price at that time. Not worth dwelling on it. Just let him know where you stand. Good luck.
Scooter22
Member
Don't want to hijack thread but I did that with my son. Got him a Henry lever action he wanted and stuck it in a corner behind a book case. We watched the movie Christmas morning and when it came to that part I told my son to go look. He found his when Ralphie found his. Damn camcorder battery crapped out so we don,t have it on tape.
troy fairweather
Member
My dad did the same thing, 2001 10 years old, dad Found a nib Rossi 62A octagon. Still have it but it's got some use.
Not to be negative, but if he evades your first attempt, that's a rifle he's just comfortable owning. Maybe he's planning a trip with his buddies to hunt something, somewhere, with it. Or maybe he uses it for wild dogs, wild boar, feral cats, stuff like that.
buck460XVR
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^^^This. Model 94 Winnies in 30-30 are a dime a dozen. No reason to make waves within the family over one that has no sentimental value to you. It may have some to your FIL.
Mn Fats
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This would immediately turn me off as an owner of something. "Want" "I" "Me" are terrible words to use as a buyer of something that isnt even for sale yet.
Much better approach.
OP
OP
Appalachiannative
Member
It doesn't appear too be sentimental at least not in the usual sense. think it's kind of a spite thing really. See his FIL gave him the thing in front of everyone to make a big show out of it at Christmas. Like I said my FIL likes rimfire guns and that's it. Never hunts large game and to be a gun owner he acts anti gun. When I showed him my Mosin Nagant he just scoffed at it and said "don't know body cept the military have any business with them man Killin guns" he's never fired the 94. Honestly he calls everything bigger than a .22 that holds more than a shot or 2 "them man Killin guns". He's not a veteran or a family member to a murder victim idk what the deal is. Only reason Ive ever seen the 94 was he brought it put to complain about his FIL giving it to him against his will. He let me hold it and see what I thought about it then put it away and told the story. Like I said funny guy. I'm not nervous about asking him for it I just don't know what to say to such a fuddy duddy. We get a long great long as we don't talk politics and I keep my "man Killin guns" at my house. We had a heated discussion about magazine capacity once. He believes we should be limited to no more than three. Well the 94 holds 5 or 6 so why would he want it idk
OP
OP
Appalachiannative
Member
I figured he might be happy to get something off his hands he's never wanted. Guy gave me two old chainsaws that don't run as a wedding present. Not that he don't like me, we go squirrel hunting every Saturday of the season just about. Just an odd individual. Think I'll just ask about it point blank politely after Christmas is over
Jack Ryan
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Yeah, I got a suggestion. Coment, "WOW, that is the coolest gun I ever saw!" Then shut up and be glad you have the coolest father in law in town and wait. If he is a cool as I THINK HE IS he would NEVER sell that gun he was given as a gift and it would be pretty insulting to suggest he would. Be the son in law, a cool father in law deserves.
OP
OP
Appalachiannative
Member
I can respect that point. I just don't see why you would wanna keep something you don't even like this keeping it away from someone who would appreciate it
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