Thought I'd share a family "inheritance"

[whatbrick]

Below is a pic of my Ruger Blackhawk chambered in .41 magnum. It was handed down to me by my father and still functions flawlessly. I just recently called Ruger's records department and found out this particular pistol was manufactured in February of 1965, which was the first year this line was made (according to Ruger's website, that is).

While talking to Ruger, I was told they could transfer me to someone that could help determine it's value, but I didn't bother. This isn't something I'm getting rid of. In a phrase...not even from my cold dead hands.

It has some blemishes, such as a few scratches, but is otherwise unharmed. It was taken very good care of before I got it, and I'm doing my best to continue that trend.



The photo links to the my flickr account where there is a larger pic you can look at.

Just thought I'd share.

 

[capbuster]

Thankyou for sharing. What a wonderful handgun to hand down to the newer generation. Take care.

 

[Gator]

VERY nice, and the family history make it even better.

I have been looking for a 6 1/2" OM .41; they are great guns.

 

[joab]

Congratulations and condolences.
I have inherited way too many guns this year

 

[whatbrick]

Oh my father is still alive...sorry if I made it sound like he wasn't. He has distributed most of the firearms he had (the ones he didn't sell over the years) between my brother and myself over the years so he knows that they will be taken care of properly.

I'm showcasing this one because 1) it's the only revolver I have (at the moment), 2) I'm always amazed at how good of a condition it's been kept in (after 41 years) and 3) it's been in the family even longer than I have!

Now if I can just convince my mom to hand over the Colt Trooper.

 

[joab]

My bad for assuming

You are right not to sell, someday the inevitable will happen and you would regret it.

 

[Marshall]

Nice gun! Nice pic! Nicer memories it will bring.

 

[moewadle]

Good for your dad and you

Your dad for having that sense of family history and making this gun an heirloom by passing it on. To me shooting a firearm that has history behind it or is an heirloom or is, in some way, more than just a tool for firing bullets enhances the carrying and shooting experience a great deal. That 41 year old Ruger can be used for your whole lifetime and more probably with proper care. It will always remind you of your dad, when he is here now, and when he is gone at some time in future.

 

[rtl]

"..a few scratches." That's just all the more character knowing it happened once upon a time when you dad had it out in the field. You can't buy history like that. Very nice. Nice Sharps rifle you have on flickr.com, too.

 

[CK]

Wow.........beautiful.......

 

[Eightball]

"Lawyer Letter" and all, that's a beautiful firearm. You can't buy guns with charachter like that built in.

It looks to be in better condition than many of the newer Rugers I've seen--it has that "broken in" look rather than the "safe queen".

 

[DRMMR02]

This isn't something I'm getting rid of. In a phrase...not even from my cold dead hands.

I assume you'll end up giving it to one of your children if you have them though right?

 

[whatbrick]

I assume you'll end up giving it to one of your children if you have them though right?

As long as they don't mind digging down 6 feet to get it.

Actually, I may have to resort to nieces and nephews, which wouldn't be too bad. They're all good kids...for the most part.

it has that "broken in" look rather than the "safe queen".

I abhor the concept of a safe-queen unless a firearm has been relegated there due to a newer, better firearm that is shot more often. I just wish I could find a range here locally that didn't charge by the gun so I could spend equal time with all I have (which, admittedly isn't that much).

Nice Sharps rifle you have on flickr.com, too.

That is a J.P. Lower model Sharps. I got it for my dad as a father's day gift after he caught the blackpowder bug from "Quigley, Down Under." The picture also shows some of his handloads he did with the reloading dies purchased with the rifle. They are only target loads with a low charge, so I haven't had the "full" experience yet.

 

[ACP230]

I have a couple of Old Model .357 Blackhawks.
I wish I'd bought one in .41 Magnum years ago.
Nice gun!

 

[magsnubby]

Nice, very nice. I hope you and your dad have many more enjoyable years of shooting with that gun.

I have four i inheritated from my dad. His well worn S&W M&P he bought used in 1941, a Colt Diamondback bought used in the early '80's (still in mint condition), a Colt Viper bought new in 1978, it was his "fishin' gun" for alot of years (kinda worn, but that just adds to it's character), and a Taurus 85 i bought him for Christmas a few years before he passed on.

I also have a blued 3" Charter Arms Bulldog i had given him as a retirement gift back in the mid '80's. He gave it back to me a few years back when his arthritis became so bad he really didn't really enjoy shooting it anymore.

I hope to pass all of them down to my grandson some day.

 

[litman252]

Nice handgun. It's threads like this that I think of when my Wife tells me, "There just guns............" No, not really. Many of mine mean something to me. 30-30, I remember Dad bringing it home when I was 10 or so, told I could hunt with it some day. 1911 it helped this country be what it is, same with the M1.

Nice pice again,

Tony

 

[whatbrick]

Nice handgun. It's threads like this that I think of when my Wife tells me, "There just guns............" No, not really. Many of mine mean something to me. 30-30, I remember Dad bringing it home when I was 10 or so, told I could hunt with it some day. 1911 it helped this country be what it is, same with the M1.

Those are some powerful words to a kid. When I was told that this pistol would be mine "some day" I never wanted to grow older so bad. Then it happened and I was so busy giggling like a school-girl that I forgot that I was old enough to buy my own.

Short story time:

Years before the .41 had officially changed hands, we had taken it with us during our first trip to shoot clays. Dad would take either my brother or myself over to the shotgun area and leave the other (because he trusted us) alone with the other firearms of our choice so we wouldn't get bored. Before going over he handed me a ziplock full of .41 cartridges saying "these are mostly target loads, but there may be a few full loads in there." Well, I didn't really grasp the concept of "full loads" at that point. The following is what they told me they heard while I was shooting:

"boom...boom.....boom....BOOM!."

Me yelling: "I found one!"

After that, I couldn't wait to find another one.

It's memories like the above that make some firearms more than "just guns."

 

[litman252]

I could not have said it any better.

Tony