doublegunshop.com - home Forums Thread Like Summary - Losing a shooting friend

One of my sporting clays shooting friends recently passed away. His son called me and said his Dad wanted another gentleman and me to have first crack at purchasing his doubles. I think I have seen most of them but off the top of my head he has a low or middle grade Arrieta 12, a copy of the Ithaca Classic Dbl 20, without the Ithaca labeling. An older heavy English dbl labeled Vickers, in 12 ga and an RBL which I can't remember but I think is a 20ga. They are all i decent shape. I like the look of the Ithaca but have heard their quality is very questionable. Not looking for or expecting a bargain, just helping out the son of friend. Any advice is welcome

I've heard more than one account of a "friend" helping out a family by either buying or selling for them their dearly departed's guns. Occasionally a resentment results that either the "friend" paid too little or sold them for too little. It becomes the classic no good deed goes unpunished. Gil

Of late, I find myself deeply troubled when a former shooting friend passes on. I say “ former” because, to a large degree, none of my friends I used to hunt with can do it anymore. I have a bunch of guns left to me by friends and family, I literally don’t have room for another gun, and should liquidate at least a few I don’t use, but, I find myself with a knot in the pit of my stomach when I try to contemplate doing so.

My younger brother is fading away in a nursing home, and for reasons I can’t explain, I have been unable to put any of his guns to use. Somehow, it doesn’t feel right. I have worked on nearly all of them, know them like my own, but, there is a subtle pain that comes from handling them now, knowing in my heart that while he is very much alive, he will never handle them again.

I don’t want for any more guns. I want for more friends that can put them to use, and enjoy a day afield. I never knew how few my hunting partners were until my Dad passed away in 2009. My son will go, if there is nothing else pressing in his world. My wife will tag along on an occasional half day trip. I am blessed with a couple friends left, but, to a one, they are out of state, and only briefly available.

I dread some widow calling me to help her disperse a late friends stuff. I truly do.

Best,
Ted

The title of this thread means something different to me. I visited the coverts we used to hunt together back in the "old country" yesterday. It was a cool and pretty late Fall day and it was fun to see all those places again, and yet... bittersweet.









A nice tribute for Veterans Day. Not surprisingly, seeing his name and likeness up on that pole yesterday afternoon was still painful for me. Too fresh yet.

I'm back at home today, and back to work tomorrow.

I guess I'm lucky if you want to call it that. I have a son who is waiting in the wings and would love to have my guns. So, I guess he's the lucky one. He doesn't mind me buying all the guns I want.