Family heirlooms for regular use.

woods

woods

I probably did it wrong.
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May 22, 2020
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I've got a Model 31 Remington that has been in my family for several generations. Shot my turkeys with it.

Rocking Dad's Model 94 as my deer rifle he got in 1976 from a pawn shop.

The 31 doesn't come out often. Only when a turkey wanders on the lawn during season. Though, I may take up bird hunting for next year.

The 94 is out regularly. Being an idiot, I dinged the forearm. I'm burning on the inside. Not sure if I should replace the wood, or mark it as a "heritage mark" for when I pass it on. The stock has a couple scratches. Just from being out in the woods climbing around. Just general use.

They're safe to fire. Totally operable. But, should these more or less be left in the safe? I really hate for these to get hammered up. They do mean a lot to me. Or just go ahead and use them? View any dents, scratches, etc has history of the firearms?
 
Probably foolish but I hate placing a $$ figure over the opportunity use my family's good as they did for many generations, be it tools, guns, cars etc.
If the item is so valuable and worth so much $$ then you should just sell it vs have it live in your safe.

The feeling of using my granddads 6" crescent wrench everyday for the last 20+ years of my professional career just makes me smile every time.
My son uses his deceased great uncles Remington 1100 and he couldn't be prouder when he pulls it out of the case.

Obviously these aren't mega dollar items so I might be an idiot. :homer:
 
If momento's go unused they become paperweights...

Try the hot iron trick?
Q tip some h2o into the dent let soak into just the dent, place hot iron onto dent thru a wet rag heat wood up to swell the grain.

Heirlooms are to be used and use marks are simply patina.

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woods said:
I've got a Model 31 Remington that has been in my family for several generations. Shot my turkeys with it.

Rocking Dad's Model 94 as my deer rifle he got in 1976 from a pawn shop.

The 31 doesn't come out often. Only when a turkey wanders on the lawn during season. Though, I may take up bird hunting for next year.

The 94 is out regularly. Being an idiot, I dinged the forearm. I'm burning on the inside. Not sure if I should replace the wood, or mark it as a "heritage mark" for when I pass it on. The stock has a couple scratches. Just from being out in the woods climbing around. Just general use.

They're safe to fire. Totally operable. But, should these more or less be left in the safe? I really hate for these to get hammered up. They do mean a lot to me. Or just go ahead and use them? View any dents, scratches, etc has history of the firearms?
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What year is the 94? Some are very valuable some are not. Is it a pre 64? Or a pre War model? Post 64 ones arent as valuable as a marlin 336. Theyre just and old design lever gun. Not worth more than $400. If its marked .30wcf i stead of.30-30 it was made prior to 1950 and could be valuable.
Model 31s are generally only about $500. Though certain combos go for a little more.
 
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Stuck said:
What year is the 94? Some are very valuable some are not. Is it a pre 64? Or a pre War model? Post 64 ones arent as valuable as a marlin 336. Theyre just and old design lever gun. If its marked .30wcf i stead of.30-30 it was made prior to 1950.
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1976. Just a typical, run-of-the-mill 30-30.

I'm not really concerned with the cost of them. I'm just worried about the heritage of them. Is there ever a point where its better off to just keep them on the mantle, and get a dedicated rifle/shotgun? I'd honestly get a cheapo Marlin and call it a day if I had to. Throw a few things at it to make it "mine".
 
I'd say keep using them with maybe a little extra care. When your grand son or whoever ends up with it, they can tell people this thing has been killing deer for 100 years. Much cooler that saying it was used for 40 and then sat on the mantle for the rest of the time.
 
If it was used the whole time keep using it. Obviously don't rag on it, shoot hot loads, leave it in the truck bed overnight but it was bought to use. I'm sure your past family would rather see that same rifle getting deer every year at the cost of a couple dents than thrown in a closet. Our society has too many people who toss or store good old gear in favor of something shiney

Now if it was a hand engraved gun that your grandpa got for his 50 years in some service and has lived in a display case - then keep it how it has.
 
Not going to lie, but I was totally expecting you idiot, why would you ever use those guns. They belong in a glass case and keep the oiled. :laughing:

I'll keep using the 30-30. The shotgun I'll use for turkeys for now. If I do get into birds, I'll grab a decent 20 gauge instead.
 
Shoot em, use em, enjoy them. Make some memories and hand them on.
 
I have a few heirlooms like that. Each one has its use, and they still get used. I dropped my grandfathers side by side 12 ga out of the gun case onto the driveway. I was pissed it scratched it up, but it doesnt stop me from using it for pheasant.

in my mind, these heirlooms were bought to feed and protect my ancestors. I plan on doing the same with them all, and I hope my children and grandchildren do the same.
 
Pony_Driver said:
Shoot em, use em, enjoy them. Make some memories and hand them on.
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fully support this.

my '94 had the forewood replaced, it doesn't match quite right but was otherwise destroyed so it had to be done. in 50 years, nobody will care :laughing:

even if you put a dent in the wood, as long as it is functional, i'd say keep rocking it.

I did buy another savage 99 to use instead of using the "heirloom" one, but that was mostly to get a different caliber and the heirloom one, i'm just a temporary home for it
 
My best friend gave me his first gun for my first gun - a single shot .410. I didn't know at that time that he was dying, but he knew. My husband even knows that if there's a fire, that's the first thing I'm going for and then him.

I don't use it, I don't even remember the last time that I shot it. I'm GOING to at least shoot a rabbit with it this year and send a picture on to his folks. I'm just worried about something happening to it.
 
I vote to use them. I have my grandfathers .410 (Stevens, nothing high value) that I’ve put hundreds of shells through. I wish I had his .22, but a cousin got that.
 
I would use them, keep their memories alive and pass them onto the next generation when it's their turn.
 
I have my grandfather’s guns. The old single shot Remington.22 I learned to shoot with is still in use for bunny control :grinpimp:
 
smurfblue40 said:
I have my grandfather’s guns. The old single shot Remington.22 I learned to shoot with is still in use for bunny control :grinpimp:
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Old single shots are the way to go while learning! It certainly helps to slow drop the speed of going through a brick these days!


Most my my dad's good heirlooms like that went to his first set of kids. I've slowly bought back some including an M1 grand, german lugar, his police issue .38, and a .357 colt python.
 
TatonkaII said:
Old single shots are the way to go while learning! It certainly helps to slow drop the speed of going through a brick these days!
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My wife's grandmother uses one to keep the critters at bay. Once while we were visiting, there was a groundhog about 80yds out. She went inside and handed me this old, beat to hell, single shot bolt action 22. I don't even know who made it. Iron sights were obviously tampered with. There was no way this thing shot straight. Groundhog stood up and I got it square between the eyes. Dead on. That was the most accurate firearm I had ever used. :laughing:
 
My opinion is use them, but carefully. If you are going to do something That you know would probably damage or cause a family heirloom to rust, like a winter hunt in BC or Alaska I would probably take a synthetic stocked stainless rifle instead.

With proper care a rifle or pistol will last several lifetimes. Stocks can be replaced or refinished, barrels can be replaced, although you won't likely shoot out the barrel of a hunting rifle.

About the only guys wearing out rifles and pistols are competitive shooters.
 
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