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Forums10
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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,403 Likes: 17
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,403 Likes: 17 |
A local fellow known in these parts for many many years as an avid skeet shooter call me the other day to ask if I would be interested in buying his Ithacas. Seems his health was poor and he couldn't shoot. At first I was delighted to be able to own this pair of 2E NIDs. We drove over to his home last Saturday. As I fondled these treasures, he told me where he bought each one, how long he has had them, hunting trips with them, etc. It became quickly apparent how much he loved these guns. He was especially fond of a 16 gauge double trigger gun with 28 inch barrels. He called it his little sweetie. I bought the guns and as I was leaving, a strong melancholy swept over me. A heavy sadness. He had to part with what almost seemed like a part of his family. I want to share a few photos of "sweetie." She was a special order gun evidenced by the X number on the water table. A beaver tail fore end, twin ivories and Grade 4 checkering were likely the subject of the special. Here is a glimpse of his "little sweetie."   
Last edited by Walter C. Snyder; 01/28/09 01:01 PM.
Walter c. Snyder
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,292
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,292 |
Absolute knock-out...congratulations and God has shined on you for sure...........keep it like he did, which I'm sure you will...
Best Regards,
Doug
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 755
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 755 |
Walt-
As I read your post, multiple memories swept over me... I have several guns in my collection that I purchased from fellas that knew that their time left with us was short and desperately wanted to find a loving home for their 'little sweeties'.... more times than not, as they were sharing the gun's history with me their eyes would fill and the conversation got really tough for both of us.....I am honored to continue to care for their guns until it's my time to let them go...................-Doug
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
Who could be a better 'keeper' of his treasures than Walt!!! 
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,609 Likes: 14
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,609 Likes: 14 |
I made a similar promise on Saturday. I met a very nice fellow and agreed to be the new custodian of his favorite little Parker. He is not even close to the end of his time but he wanted to be the one to decide where, when and how this pretty little gun would find a new caretaker. He was visibly shaken by the transfer of ownership and I will honor him and all this gun has meant to him until my own time is near.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
How many times have we all wished an older gun could tell us its tales? As you become the new keeper, why not write down all you know of the gun and collect a few photos of it and owners to go into a "log." Send the log to the next keeper so that the gun can tell its story.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 6,523 Likes: 162
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 6,523 Likes: 162 |
Beautiful, Walt. Beautiful. It looks like it has a leather pad?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23
Boxlock
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Boxlock
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23 |
Geez Walt !! When you were telling me about these guns I guess I did not fully grasp the condition.Outstanding !!!
Randy Roberts
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,660 Likes: 7
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,660 Likes: 7 |
Hello Walt,
Your post confirms that the guns -and especially "little sweetie"- have found a very
caring new keeper who values them as did their previous owner.
How important it is when you have to part with your guns to find someone who really
appreciates them!
JC
"...it is always advisable to perceive clearly our ignorance."ť Charles Darwin
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,205
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,205 |
How many times have we all wished an older gun could tell us its tales? As you become the new keeper, why not write down all you know of the gun and collect a few photos of it and owners to go into a "log." Send the log to the next keeper so that the gun can tell its story. This is an outstanding suggestion. One that we all should follow. Walt's story is another reason why these old guns, that have served their previous owners so well, should never be altered from their glory by the new caretakers. It makes my blood run cold that so many "new generation" hunters/shooters can't wait to alter an old gun and make it into something that it was never meant to be. They need to acquire a new gun to meet todays needs and built a history for it that can be passed along. JMO and rant. That's a beautiful gun, Walt.
Ole Cowboy
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