Great Gift

[338RemUltraMag]

Yesterday I went to my grandfather's house like I do every Monday, while there I asked about borrowing his 1940 Remington 141 Gamemaster in 35 Rem because I thought I may be testing some brass for Grumpa.

I remember him telling me about this firearm, it was his grandfather's, which makes the rifle my Great Great Grandfather's... as a kid I remember the stories of GG grampa shooting deer to support the family and being able to hit running deer. Gramps always gets that far away look when he talks about his grandfather and the tag along he was as a kid...

This is the same rifle as a 12 year old I carried and could barely reach the pump as I trailed gramps through the woods in search of whitetails. I have never shot a deer with it but it holds fond memories with me.

So he brings it down and says "This rifle does me no good sitting in the cabinet, take it home you can have it"

I damn near cried, here it is:

http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj609/joshaaronelli/20140421_224152.jpg (http://s1270.photobucket.com/user/joshaaronelli/media/20140421_224152.jpg.html)

http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj609/joshaaronelli/20140421_224159.jpg (http://s1270.photobucket.com/user/joshaaronelli/media/20140421_224159.jpg.html)

http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj609/joshaaronelli/20140421_224212.jpg (http://s1270.photobucket.com/user/joshaaronelli/media/20140421_224212.jpg.html)

[buckwheatpaul]

What an awsome gift.....you are truly blessed.....be sure to pass it on and keep it going......

[thekidd76]

That's one to cherish for a lifetime and more. Thanks for the story 338.

[RED333]

A true keeper!!!

[CastingFool]

That is really cool! That rifle is definitely a keeper!

[aspangler]

Dam near? I WOULD have. Nice one there 338.

[dilly]

A very special rifle.

I've never seen they cartridge headstamp in the receiver like that. Was that common at one point, maybe something smiths did as part of conversion work?

[Gibbs44]

Cool rifle and sentimental value to boot. I probably would have had a tear, er uh piece of grit show up in my eye also.

[merlin101]

That made me tear up a little just reading it. Your a very lucky man

[338RemUltraMag]

I shot it today as well, using the 35-200-FN and a dose of H-4198 and at 100 yds held a 3-4 inch group, I am happy as a camper!

[338RemUltraMag]

The deer this rifle has shot, and the stories it would tell.

[Bullshop Junior]

A very special rifle.

I've never seen they cartridge headstamp in the receiver like that. Was that common at one point, maybe something smiths did as part of conversion work?

It was common with that model rifle, with the 25,30,32 and 35 remington cartridges.

[country gent]

Those family hierlooms are way more important than what weve bought. Especially if there are stories that go along with them. Remember every ding and scratch has a story behind it.

[MaLar]

I think I would have cried my eyes out. The only thing I have of either of my Grand dads, is an odd pair of cuff links that don't mach. And a broken garden Tiller. My dad broke it and gave it too me.

[338RemUltraMag]

I have mixed feelings about it, I want it to be *just* like it is but at the same time I want it reblued and finished like it is off the assembly line, except it keeps all the scratches dents and dings.

Bore slugs out at .3575 and shoots .359 boolits with zero issues, my grandfather had a scope on it, I took it off and asked if the open sights were close. When I shot it at 100 it was dead nuts, still lined in from Great Great Grampa

[richhodg66]

I love the 14 and 141 rifles and recently became the owner of a nice 141 in .35 as well. Have yet to shoot it, but I'm sure it'll shoot well (never heard of one doing otherwise).

Great family history with that rifle, I sure hope it makes its way into your great grandson's hands someday.

[gmsharps]

Don't touch it. Every bit of worn bluing is from use by your elders. Every scratch and ding could tell a story of adventure. Just use it and any scratches you add will be part of the legacy to be handed down to your heirs.

gmsharps

[starmac]

Congrats, I really like my little 30, and may someday get a 35, but I do not know the history. I bought it from an old guy that was selling his dads guns. If it was mine, I would leave it the way it is, PERFECT, I like old guns to look like they were used. lol

[Bloodman14]

Don't touch it. Every bit of worn bluing is from use by your elders. Every scratch and ding could tell a story of adventure. Just use it and any scratches you add will be part of the legacy to be handed down to your heirs.

gmsharps


I would do the exact same thing! Guns like that have a value beyond calculation; put it somewhere safe, and pass it along!

[MaryB]

My dad gave me the single shot 16 gauge he got as a kid when I was 16. 10 years ago I had it fully restored and gave it back as a Christmas present because he had started pheasant hunting again. When he died last summer I got it back and am engraving it then passing it down to a niece or nephew so it is the start of a multi generation gun. I know grandpa used it too for a bit before my dad got it. Just a simple Stevens single shot break open 16 but it is so light that it makes it really fun to use.

[JeffinNZ]

Wonderful rifle. Wonderful gift. Great boolit rifle to boot. Hope one day I can be in a position to do the same.

[Bad Water Bill]

When my dad died mom gave me my grandfathers Win 94 RIFLE in 38-55.

I remember when my grandfather told dad that if someone were to stack up all of the deer that riflle had shot it would probably take a 40 acre field stacked nose to tail and 2 layers tall.

Old Texas Rangers never lie.

This one will stay in the family just as yours will with a ton of memories.

[338RemUltraMag]

These rifles were from a time when they were real tools and not a hobby, only God knows how many deer they have taken and how many they will take.

Thanks all for letting me share my little piece of family history

[smokeywolf]

This is one of the reasons our guns are so dear to us. They're a piece of our ancestry that we can hold in our hands. A tool and symbol that bring those memories of dad, gramps and childhood flooding back into our minds and something that we can pass down to our children and grandchildren that when they hold it in their hands will bring all the stories that we told them, flooding back into their memories as well.

They are part of our family history and heritage; part of us.

Thanks for sharing yours with us.

smokeywolf

[Bzcraig]

It doesn't get any better than that!

[Ajax]

Awesome story wish i had one just like it to tell. Maybe someday.


Andy

[clintsfolly]

My Dad gave my brother his deer rifle (721 30/06) and me his shotgun (A5 12ga) last summer. We talked of nothing else all the 2 hour drive home and still bring it up. Clint

[Garyshome]

Great Gift!

[waynem34]

It doesn't get any better than that!

I damn near cryed reading about it.Grand Dad deserves a range trip.

[Thin Man]

Don't refinish the wood, and don't get the metal reblued. The amount of wear to the bluing and wood finish is normal, even modest, for the age and use that rifle has seen. It tells a story of a rifle that was used and respected by it's owners. It was a vital tool that was cared for and treated well and returned the kindness with it's performance in the field. That small amount of wear is what is known as "honest wear", meaning the wear expected from being used but not neglected. It speaks of the proud and loving use by former owners and hunters who took great care of the gear that took care of them. It speaks of people who owned it, of times long gone, of the duty this rifle served and gives honor to their days together. Love the rifle for it's appearance, it's caliber, and it's history. To refinish it would greatly disrespect the life it has experienced and the history of it's previous owners. Just my 2 cents worth.

Thin Man

[Bad Water Bill]

My new (pretty) guns will be kept that way.

Many of mine are 80-100+ years old and proudly show their age and service.

I can not make them BETTER by erasing that "been there done that" look of their dedication and service.

Some day write down what you remember of their history so that it can be passed on when you are gone.

[jeepyj]

Nice, just plain nice. Personally I don't think I'd do any restoration to it. I am fortunate to have .22 caliber rifles from both grandfathers and a great grandfather.
Jeepyj

[338RemUltraMag]

I think I have a load dialed in, should be scooting around 2,000 fps. This is at 75 yds, with a 35-200 RCBS sized to .360 and lubed with carnauba red.

http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj609/joshaaronelli/20140424_103444.jpg (http://s1270.photobucket.com/user/joshaaronelli/media/20140424_103444.jpg.html)

[snuffy]

Just before dad died,(he knew the end was near), he gave his deer rifle to my brother. I couldn't object, he was literally "on his death bed". It was a Springfield 03-A3 that he had bought through the NRA, then sporterized by himself with a Herters stock. His wishes would be followed. He gave the rest of his guns to my other two brothers, again I was disappointed.

Brother Tom died a year ago last August. He has 9 kids! So there was immediately a fight about who got what. He too knew his time was about up, but made little effort to assign things like guns to his boys. So his gun collection, including the Springfield was appraised and included as part of the estate. His son David wanted to keep most of them, he has a great appreciation of family tradition, an avid hunter and I taught him to reload. Their value was subtracted from his part of the estate, he's got his grandpa's rifle! As well as most of the others tools. Well done Nephew!

338RUM, that's a classic rifle, with it's heritage, it's priceless. It's such a versatile caliber, you can even use pistol boolits with reduced loads for plinkers.

Tom shot one deer with dad's rifle. He said it felt like his shot was guided by dad's hands, even felt like he put the deer in front of him!

[Pb2au]

What a gift! Be sure to pass it along eventually.

[captaint]

That's one terrific story. GG Grandfather.... My Grandfathers didn't live long enough for me to even get to know them. I do have a Win 52B target in marvelous condition that belonged to my Grandfather. My Uncle Tom gave it to me, knowing his own kids would have no appreciation for it.
That Remington - I couldn't bring myself to change one thing about that rifle. I'd love it more, just the way GG Grampa left it. Beautiful rifle, that. Mike

[338RemUltraMag]

What can I do to the wood to "moisten" it up some, it is definitely getting dry and I am afraid it will crack.

[koehn,jim]

I hope you treasure it. I am lucky enough to have a hammer that belonged to my Grandfather and dad. I never use it but when I hold it , I think I am shaking their hands.