Story: Great-great grandfather's rifle

[woof]

The Savage Model 99 in .250/3000 was bought in the mid 1920s. My grandfather was 40 years old when he bought it. His business was doing well and that, combined with the fact that this rifle would put much venison on the table seemed to justify the considerable cost. My dad was seven years old at the time and remembers being allowed to look at the prized rifle. In 1942, before leaving for the war, he was allowed to go deer hunting for the first time using the 99. He took a fine 8 point buck in the hills of western Pennsylvania where the family had lived since before the American Revolution.

In 1955, when I was five years old, my grandfather sold his business and retired to Florida. he gave the Savage to my dad. Ten years later I took my first deer with it. In the mid seventies my dad's heath prevented him from hunting and he offered the Savage to me. But I declined feeling that it should remain there with him, and it did till he died in 1980. That's when the Savage came to live with me. I took a deer with it almost every year, and when my son was 16 in 1990, he took his first with it as well.

I would guess that there have been at the very least 50 deer taken with this rifle over the years, probably closer to double that. I will keep it for awhile yet, but my six year old grandson already knows that one day it will be his. I figure that within the next ten years he will take his first deer - with his great-great grandfather's rifle.

 

[GhostlyKarliion]

such is the absolute beauty of heirloom rifle's, wish I had a story like that one, thanks for sharing.

 

[kir_kenix]

that might just be the greatest part of collecting/shooting/hunting w/ guns...the ability to pass it on to the next generation. i have a few rifles and pistols that belonged to my great grandfather, and some day i will pass them on to my (hypothetical) kids (im only 19 and just married, so hopefully it will still be a few years...lol). its pretty cool to know that i can shoot and enjoy something that the 3 generations before me enjoyed just as much. someday i will also inherit a 1861 springfield thats been in the family since around then, and i know that it will mean way more to me then if i bought it as a collector piece.
thanks for taking the time and energy to encourage yet another generation of hunters to our ranks.

 

[kymarkh]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Cosmoline]

That's a classy rifle.

 

[Kaylee]

What a cool story.

Family stories are always the best.

 

[bigger jon]

Very sweet story, I had the chance to hunt and shoot with my Great Uncle and was given one of his rifles when he passed away the memories he gave me are treasured and never forgotten.....

 

[perpster]

Great story Woof. Here's mine: My dad was a city kid with zero gun experience when he became a guest of Uncle Sam during the Korean War. Without bad habits to break he became an Army Expert rifleman (higher than Marksman) and even was chosen to compete in Army competitions.

Well, dad had pretty much zero gun experience after his Army days until last year when I got him an M1 Garand from CMP and we went shooting on Father's Day 2006. Let's just say he had a blast. That Garand will be handed down the family tree to each generation.

Thanks for posting your story.