I have never been so excited to give someone a gift!

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Zaydok Allen

Zaydok Allen

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I had to share this because I'm kind of excited about it. Have you ever gotten a gift for someone and been so excited to give it to them, you don't know if you can actually wait until their party?

My long time (12 year) coworker, mentor, and good friend and shooting buddy, is at long last retiring. He will be missed in my office, and I'll miss seeing him every day. But he has really earned his retirement working in the woods for 30+ years.

Well, for the last 2.5 to 3 years, he has been talking about wanting to buy a 22 revolver. He is a very frugal guy, and has a hard time parting with money. He's been drooling over a 4" S&W 617 this entire time. Well, since I basically owe the man more than I can ever pay back, I decided to thank him as properly as I can.

I did research to ensure legality and make sure I wasn't breaking any federal or state laws, I know he is not prohibited from possessing firearms since I've been with him when he bought one before, and told his wife to stop him from buying anything himself. I'm pretty dang excited to see him open it. I just picked it up, and will have to hold onto it for 2 months.

And lucky for me they had CCI mini mags behind the counter too for $11 a box. Certainly not the best of prices, but I haven't seen mini mags anywhere for less than $10 a box in quite awhile, so I grabbed 300 rounds. They also had FMJ 45 Colt ammo made by Northern Hills Ammunition for only $26 a box! I've never shot their ammo before, but I'm going to give it a try.

I was wondering though since I've never given a firearm as a gift, would anyone recommend a certain type of documentation that I transferred the gun as a gift when the time comes?

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I wouldn't worry about doing a transfer unless your state requires it. My state doesn't require it so I don't do it.
 
Well, for the last 2.5 to 3 years, he has been talking about wanting to buy a 22 revolver. He is a very frugal guy, and has a hard time parting with money. He's been drooling over a 4" S&W 617 this entire time. Well, since I basically owe the man more than I can ever pay back, I decided to thank him as properly as I can.
Click to expand...

You're referring to me right?

Right?
 
460Kodiak

Great gift; sure beats getting a watch! Icing on the cake would be some sort of presentation case with his name, date of his retirement, and who it was from.
 
460Kodiak: Do us a favor and let us know how it went when you presented it to him.
 
Just a simple Bill of Transfer will do,,,

Just a simple Bill of Transfer will do.

Take a picture of the gun and it's serial number,,,
Insert it in the Word document when you create it,,,
State that you are transferring ownership to him as a gift.

This really is only good for one thing,,,
It proves his ownership of the gun.

The only time he would need it is if it were stolen,,,
Then he can prove to the cops it was his.

I always make one when I gift a gun,,,
It will probably never be used,,,
But I think it's worth doing.

I also keep a copy in my firearm log,,,
I want to be able to show the cops I don't own it anymore.

This is a "just in case" measure in the event it is ever used in a crime and they trace it back to me,,,
Possibly unnecessary but it doesn't hurt a thing to have it.

JMnsHO

Aarond

.
 
That's fine where handgun transfer between 2 people directly is legal. As the OP does not state where he lives, this may not be true.

In some states (like PA, where I live) ALL handgun transfers MUST take place at a FFL, who must perform a background check on the recipient.

Edited to add, I see that the OP said he has verified that he is not breaking any state laws.
 
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bannockburn said:
460Kodiak

Great gift; sure beats getting a watch! Icing on the cake would be some sort of presentation case with his name, date of his retirement, and who it was from.
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That would be great, and now that you've brought it up I'm going to at least look into a nice wooden box. After the holidays and this purchase, I'm pretty broke. I do have two months to do it though. I'd really like to put a decent wood grip on it too.

340PD, yep I'll update when appropriate.

And Aarond, yep that's what I was thinking. It seems like a good book keeping measure. Thanks.
 
.
An outstanding gesture. You'll barely be able to contain yourself as the day draws near! Hee.

So, sometime in early March we may expect to see perhaps a photograph of the occasion? At the very least an update.

Again, Kodiak, well done.

:)
 
Classy...

Kodiak460 that is a fine gift. You continue to exhibit the art of manliness. Did you play football at Alabama? I'm thinking you are one of Bear Bryant's boys. He taught fellas to kill 'em with class :)
 
Hey all, I could use some advice here. Please pardon the long story.

So yesterday I was thinking about the gun I am going to give my buddy, and I kept thinking about how hideous the stock grip on it is. I was also thinking about how the recipient has hands close to the same size as mine.

Because I overthink things, let me tell you a little about the man. He has been shooting guns for a long time, but never frequently enough to develop sound handgun shooting skills. He's happy though, and that's his business. He usually comes out and shoots with me four or five times a year. A big part of the reason is that he is frugal to the extreme. He is a very conservative person and he budgets everything, which is a good thing, to a point.

So what that leaves us with is a guy who likes to shoot, and is a safe shooter, but want's to spend as little as possible, which is probably why he has wanted a 22 revolver for a long time. But it is very unlikely he will ever spend the money to get an after market grip that suits him.

So here's the rub. I know the stock grip on his 617 will not fit him, and his shooting will suffer as a result. We all know the importance of a handgun fitting the user well.

I've been pondering this and deciding if I want to spend more money and try to get him something that will work better, or should I leave that up to him since each person really needs to pick a grip that works for them. I've already dropped $750 on this gift between shipping and transfer sees, so like I said in a previous post, I'm pretty broke.

Here's the potential good part. A few years ago, I purchased a set of Badger stocks for my 3"686. I was happy when I put them on the gun. After I had shot about 30 rounds with the grip, my hand really hurt though. The knuckle on my middle finger was beat to hell, and the web of my hand felt like I'd been climbing trees all day. That's when I realized the grip was too small for me to use on a magnum caliber gun, and that on an L/K/X frame Smith (they are all the same size grip frame) I need a closed back strap to have it fit me well, and to get a proper trigger reach. I wear XL gloves, so I need a large grip. I now favor Nill Grips heavily because the large models fit me very well.

Well, the Badger stocks went in a box 3 years ago, essentially brand new, and I forgot about them........ until last night. I always thought I'd put them on a low recoiling K or L frame in the future, like a 4" 617, at some point. Yes, it is challenging having this gun in my position and not getting to shoot, or keep it. Fast forward to today, and I've made the decision to pursue a 6" model 17-3 or 17-4 instead. These are not stocks I'd want to put on a pinned blue steel Smith though. I want a target grip on that gun, either original, or a modern square butt conversion.

So I realized last night I have this set of laminate grips sitting around, virtually new and showing no signs of wear, that I will likely never use. So I threw them on my buddy's gun, being extremely careful with my Wheeler screw driver set, and the below picture is how it looks. I think it is definitely a big improvement over the tiny factory grip that the gun came with even being laminate, and since there will be no recoil with this gun, an exact perfect grip is not as big of a concern as with a magnum revolver. It sort of hangs in the hand nicely, allowing a properish trigger reach. It sort of gives it a trail gun look, which is perhaps preferred since he likes to walk his dog through the woods behind his house.

So opinions please.

Do you think this looks acceptable, or is it lame?

Should I just skip it and put the factory grip back on and let him pick the one he wants?

Is it tacky of me to use this grip as part of the gift since technically it is second hand, even though it is virtually new, and looks like it arrived in the mail yesterday?

Please be honest. Part of it is my being broke right now, but if I'm going to spend any additional dollars on this gift, I'd like it to be for a presentation box from S&W. And by the way, damn you bannockburn for putting the notion in my head. ;):) I mean the grip is sitting, and would continue to sit, unused otherwise.

What do you all think? Yay or nay?

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Bama Drifter said:
Kodiak460 that is a fine gift. You continue to exhibit the art of manliness. Did you play football at Alabama? I'm thinking you are one of Bear Bryant's boys. He taught fellas to kill 'em with class :)
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Nope! Never been to Alabama. :) And thanks.
 
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I would leave it on there, and give him the original. That way he can do as he likes. That looks better than factory to me.
 
I think they look great. And I'm more of a traditional stocks sort of guy with target stocks on my 17-4 and 17-6.

If you were around here I'd donate a brick of Wolf Match Target.

John
 
460Kodiak, I think the grip looks great. And, it being a gift, it has the effect of being more personal with the aftermarket grip on it. I wouldn't even mention that the grip is not brand-new. Consider it to be "new old stock". Including the factory grip is a good idea. You're a good person.
 
Like those grips a lot. I put smaller grips on many of my revolvers that I shoot simply because they fit me better (22's included). I have grips like that on a older 4" M17 (yep, 4") I purchased 3-4 years ago. At the time of purchase I passed on a similar 6" rigged M17. Only so much money... Of course now, both would be considered "steals".

I would include the factory grips with the gift so he has them if he wants to change. This M617 is quite a significant gift.
 
How refreshing! I like the rosewood grips a lot. Couldn't you go to a gun shop with him. Ask him if he'll go along so you can pick out a revolver and you want his opinion or help picking one out.
Not letting him know that the whole time you are there for him and not yourself.
Contact the gun shop beforehand and be prepared with them to make a legal transfer properly when you get there for your friend.
You could even have it gift wrapped, hidden in your car, go out with an excuse like forgetting your wallet in the car and come back in the shop with this very nice gift.
 
double bogey said:
I would leave it on there, and give him the original. That way he can do as he likes. That looks better than factory to me.
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^^^This^^^

No need to mention the history of the aftermarket grips, he will probably be so blown away by your gift it wouldn't matter anyway. I would be.


Now you have to try and keep from exploding for the next couple of months........:evil:
 
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