My Dad lost his struggle with lung cancer on Easter Sunday. In the middle of that day, while I was present, he asked his doctor to discontinue any and all treatment after he had seen all of us. I was blessed to have him in my life for so long, and to have the memories I do. I'll miss him. He would have been 80, next month.
My brother and I divided his modest gun collection. Many years ago, he suggested I take the hunting equipment, and my brother the fishing stuff, but, we liked the idea of splitting it better. The 700 and 742 Remingtons my brother can use for deer, the 241 Speedmaster that my Dad bought new will look good here. Brother took the A5 that Dad bought when he made Sergeant, (1951?) and a 3 1/2 inch chamber pump. I also took the Ruger 44 magnum carbine that dad took his last deer with, a little used SBE, and the Beretta Silver Snipe 12 that was the first gun I hunted with. This one is a bit odd, 26" barrels with modified/improved modified chokes. It's marked S-55, like every Silver Snipe I've handled. I'm not a fan of the single trigger, but, I shoot it well.
All dads guns were used, refinished, and/or modified over the years, they aren't collector's items. I hope my son is right-handed, and will get some use out of some of them. My Dad was one of just a few hunting partners I have these days.

The same week, a long time friend was charged with domestic assault-not convicted, just charged. All his guns had to move into my safe, too. Let me be clear on one thing-there was no assault. He is not a scumbag, and never will be. But, he can't be in possession of his guns until this is sorted out, and that might be a long while.
His girlfriend had his pride and joy, a 16 gauge NID, and that may be gone forever at this point. He has a new shorthair pup, and the prospect of missing this hunting season weighs heavily on his mind. He, also, is one of my few hunting partners.
I never imagined being in possession of so many guns could put me in such blue spirits. The safe is beyond full, and my shooting season is looking a bit lonely with these two gentlemen no longer in the field.
A full safe, is not a good thing, in this case.
Best,
Ted