Pap's Gun

mitch_mckee · 03-14-2008, 11:20 PM

Pap was my father's father. I know his name but he was always Pap.

He was born in 1898 in Chucky, TN. He was orphaned and raised by his kin. They called him "Swammy" until he was 5 years old and they finally decided to give an off icial name of Edward.

Pap bought this shotgun at an old General Store in Chucky, TN approx. 1920. A fellow mail orded it (imagine that), but decided that he didn't want it, or couldn't afford it. Pap, then in his early 20's had a bit of cash and got it for a $20 dollar bill, not cheap, but a good price.

As you can see, my family has gotten it's money's worth out of this old gun. It still functions just fin, in spite of it's rough appearance.

I could refinish this old warrior but that would wipe away four generations of honest use by my family. I've decided to keep it oiled real well and treasure every marks on her in remberance of my ancestors that have gone on before:

DSC08234.JPG

DSC08236.JPG

spurrit · 03-15-2008, 01:59 AM

Good for you. I'm constantly amazed at those that ignore their heritage.

ArkansasHunter · 03-15-2008, 02:08 AM

mitch I would leave it as is and hang it over the mantle. I like going into gun shops and the first thing I do is look at the guns traded in or pawned.
I'll heft them and look them over and wonder what history they have or could tell.
Some I've seen I would of have loved to have bought, to give them a final resting place kinda...A.H

GlockMeister · 03-15-2008, 02:12 AM

Most excellent to have something that was owned by a family member, especially one of Grandpas. Hang on to it, and maybe as A.H. suggests, leave it as is, with all it's character and stories, if it could tale, and hang it on a wall. Glad you got to have it.

SwedeSteve · 03-15-2008, 09:23 AM

You're a lucky guy to have that shotgun!

Windwalker · 03-15-2008, 10:44 AM

Mitch, you have the right idea. Keep it, display it, and be constantly reminded of your heritage. Tell your children all you know about it so in time they can pass this information to their children.

freewilly57 · 04-02-2008, 12:29 PM

Very nice, based on the age, it actually looks pretty good. What is it exactly? Kinda reminds me of the Browning A5.

mitch_mckee · 04-02-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freewilly57

Very nice, based on the age, it actually looks pretty good. What is it exactly? Kinda reminds me of the Browning A5.

It's a Remington model 11.

It is practically the same gun as the Browning Humpback A-5, but made by Remington.

Browning Auto-5 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

freewilly57 · 04-02-2008, 02:48 PM

Interesting how the history ties everything together. Thanks for the info.

rondog · 04-02-2008, 11:59 PM

Man, when I was a young'un I toted my dad's old Browning 12 a lotta miles, hunting quail, pheasants, ducks, & doves. That was a heavy sumbitch! He always preferred his Sweet Sixteen, it was a few pounds lighter. My oldest bro has the 12, another bro has the 16, and I have his Rem. 700 30-06.

03-14-2008, 11:20 PM	#1
mitch_mckee Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 1,085 Images: 3	Pap's Gun Pap was my father's father. I know his name but he was always Pap. He was born in 1898 in Chucky, TN. He was orphaned and raised by his kin. They called him "Swammy" until he was 5 years old and they finally decided to give an off icial name of Edward. Pap bought this shotgun at an old General Store in Chucky, TN approx. 1920. A fellow mail orded it (imagine that), but decided that he didn't want it, or couldn't afford it. Pap, then in his early 20's had a bit of cash and got it for a $20 dollar bill, not cheap, but a good price. As you can see, my family has gotten it's money's worth out of this old gun. It still functions just fin, in spite of it's rough appearance. I could refinish this old warrior but that would wipe away four generations of honest use by my family. I've decided to keep it oiled real well and treasure every marks on her in remberance of my ancestors that have gone on before: DSC08234.JPG DSC08236.JPG

03-15-2008, 02:12 AM	#4
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 5,513	Most excellent to have something that was owned by a family member, especially one of Grandpas. Hang on to it, and maybe as A.H. suggests, leave it as is, with all it's character and stories, if it could tale, and hang it on a wall. Glad you got to have it. __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

03-15-2008, 09:23 AM	#5
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,400 Images: 1	You're a lucky guy to have that shotgun! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

03-15-2008, 10:44 AM	#6
Windwalker Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,596	Mitch, you have the right idea. Keep it, display it, and be constantly reminded of your heritage. Tell your children all you know about it so in time they can pass this information to their children. __________________ America: Love it and protect it or leave it

04-02-2008, 11:59 PM	#10
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 1,340	Man, when I was a young'un I toted my dad's old Browning 12 a lotta miles, hunting quail, pheasants, ducks, & doves. That was a heavy sumbitch! He always preferred his Sweet Sixteen, it was a few pounds lighter. My oldest bro has the 12, another bro has the 16, and I have his Rem. 700 30-06. __________________ What she doesn't know about, doesn't piss her off.....

03-15-2008, 01:59 AM	#2
spurrit Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 60	Good for you. I'm constantly amazed at those that ignore their heritage.

03-15-2008, 02:08 AM	#3
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,722	mitch I would leave it as is and hang it over the mantle. I like going into gun shops and the first thing I do is look at the guns traded in or pawned. I'll heft them and look them over and wonder what history they have or could tell. Some I've seen I would of have loved to have bought, to give them a final resting place kinda...A.H

04-02-2008, 12:29 PM	#7
freewilly57 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thumb of Michigan Posts: 23 Images: 2	Very nice, based on the age, it actually looks pretty good. What is it exactly? Kinda reminds me of the Browning A5.

04-02-2008, 02:48 PM	#9
freewilly57 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thumb of Michigan Posts: 23 Images: 2	Interesting how the history ties everything together. Thanks for the info.