AZ
Member
It seems that a love of firearms skipped a generation. My grandfather was by no means a fanatic, my dad reports he only had four or five rifles and a few shotguns, but he was a hunter and man who took care of what guns he did own. He passed away when I wasn't even 10 and never really got to know him as he lived thousands of miles from me (him in Indiana, me in Arizona). My dad kept a lot of his prized possessions and even a pair of old pre-WW2 Colt 1911s, but sold all of his rifles and shotguns for 500 a piece to my uncle without knowing their true value (apparently they all looked "quite nice"). My uncle who also lives in Indiana then reportedly sold them to a local gun shop. I don't blame my dad, he's never had an interest in firearms and raised that way neither did I until I reached adulthood. When I started getting into shooting my dad says he wished he had kept my grandfathers guns and that's when I learned their fate. I let it go for a long time and tried not to really care but I got to thinking recently. I really only have one chance to try and find them before they're swallowed up into time and distance (which they may be already), forever lost to not only me but my future children. I haven't contacted my uncle yet, a man I've never talked to in my life, but plan to soon. I hope that the dealer he sold them to isn't closed, but even if they aren't what can I do? Is there anyway if I explained my dilemma that I could contact the people they sold the guns to? Do dealers even keep lists like that in Indiana? And if you were one of those people would you sell a gun you own if someone told you it belonged to their grandfather? I know this is all highly unlikely but I don't see why I shouldn't give it a try considering the rewards if I succeed.