I have this old gun...

dennishoddy · Apr 16, 2012

We all have a gun or two in the safe that has a little history around it.
Personally, I've started a journal about my guns that will go with them to my kids when they acquire them, so they will know why they were in the safe.
If they see a H&R .410, they will know its the first gun I ever bought, at 11 years old from mowing lawns.

I'm interested in hearing your stories.

I'll start. I have a S&W .38 M&P 1905 4th change, that I recovered in Korea in the early 70's.
I was stationed on a 3500' mountain top secure communications site. One of the guys noticed an antenna sticking up from the woods. I led the squad to find out what was going on. We discovered a guy monitering our communications with electronics. His day didn't end well.
I picked up the pistol and sent it home to my parents. I'm thinking it was lost during the Korean war in the 50's and spent a lot of time in the elements, evidenced by the corrosion. I've never lubed it and the patina just stays the way it is in the pics. I still shoot it for the occasional armadillo in the yard.
Guns are made to be shot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/dennishoddy/PC200244.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/dennishoddy/PC200245.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/dennishoddy/PC200246.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/dennishoddy/PC200247.jpg

Chambers · Apr 16, 2012

Very cool. Looks like it's good shape.

Swavy00 · Apr 16, 2012

GREAT STORY!!

nikatkimber · Apr 16, 2012

That's a cool thing to do for your kids.

My first three guns are long since gone already. I didn't grow up around them, and didn't get into them myself until 21. My dad has only bought one gun in his life, as far as I know, and that was one I kinda badgered him into. None of my dad's family are much into guns, so there's not really any hope of getting anything passed down to me with cool history. And my dad's family - both his dad's and mom's side has been in OK since it was a state. I want to do a lot better for my kids. Fortunately my wife was raised around guns, so any of our kids may get a few things handed down from that side.

OlSlyGuy · Apr 17, 2012

This is a cool topic.

My story isn't around one gun in particular, but about all of the guns I grew up shooting...

About 2 years ago my dad informs me that he and my stepmother are making a living will. With 5 kids in the family, they want to make sure that there's no question about which kids get what when they pass. Well, I outright refused to participate in the discussion. I've always been esp. Close to my dad and the thought of picking over his stuff like a vulture didn't much appeal to me. After a long talk with him he convinced me that this was a way to keep him close after he was gone by holding onto the things that meant the most to him and I. My only thought was of the guns. Hunting and shooting with my dad (my brothers were never really into it) while growing up had been some of the best times of my life. Alone time with my dad was rare having 4 brothers so I loved those days, i know he did to. My dad won't be around forever, it's something I'm trying to come to grips with as he gets on in years. Those guns though, they'll outlive both of us and I plan to pass the guns, and more importantly, the stories on to my kids one day.

Wall · Apr 17, 2012

Awesome Idea Dennis

jtischauser · Apr 17, 2012

elephant dung! Dennis are you OK?

I wish my dad would have left a journal like this. Then my mom wouldn't have sold his Colt 1911 to a "good friend" of here from work for $500. Since he was such a good friend she threw in the 50's era Colt 1911 too because it didn't work.

dennishoddy · Apr 17, 2012

Jesse Tischauser said:
elephant dung! Dennis are you OK?

I'm fine. I just had the safe open the other day and thought that this needs to be done.

foghorn918 · Apr 17, 2012

dennishoddy said:
I'm fine. I just had the safe open the other day and thought that this needs to be done.

Good Idea.

dennishoddy · Apr 17, 2012

This next installment is a Lignose Einhand. Chambered in a 6.35MM. (25 auto)This gun came from my Uncle that served with Patton, while they raced across Germany in WWII. They entered a SS Waffen barracks that was deserted. There was hot food on the table and showers were still running.In one of the shower stalls he found this gun, and a wrist watch. He passed away last year, giving the watch that still kept perfect time to his son, and the gun to me.
Shortly after WWI the .25, and .32 caliber rounds were very popular for carry guns in concealment. A gun designer used a Browning design to develop a pistol that soldiers returning from the war minus a limb could use for protection. It had to be capable of being cocked with one hand, hence the designation "Einhand", German for one hand. It was fairly popular with around 40,000 being built. There were two models, 2A and 3A originally built by the Bergman Factory, and later sold to Lignose. During WWII German General officers carried the 2A model in a hidden pocket in their caps. I don't know if it was for a last ditch defense, or for suicide. I can't find the info.
Mine is the 3A with a 6 round mag. The 2A had a 5 round. The 3A is noticeablly smaller than my Keltec P3AT. I've shot it several times. Good German Precision engineering makes it totally reliable.