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Show us your Guns!
- Thread starter Undertow
- Start date
Cornshucker77
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,691
- Location
- Northeast Nebraska, USA
That is outstanding. I have not seen one of these. Thanks for posting.S & W Single Shot, lettered
Cornshucker77
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,691
- Location
- Northeast Nebraska, USA
I would love to have a 19. Very nice.Mod 19, 4 inch
1955mercury
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 195
- Location
- South Carolina
Never seen one of these before EriCal. What caliber is it?S & W Single Shot, lettered
About fifty years ago I bought this Browning Grade III 22 auto. It was intended as a grandchild’s gun, never to be fired. It was expensive but I wanted it very much and traded guns I have often wished I had back in order to buy it.
It took about a year to get the rifle and it is indeed absolutely beautiful. Belgian made, with wonderful engraving and breathtaking wood. Truly the heirloom rifle I wanted.
I kept the Browning stored in a living room bookcase/gun cabinet along with a number of other lesser rifles. One day – I was in S E Asia in a squadron at the time – my dear wife was dusting the bookcases and the gun cabinet. She had removed all the guns from the cabinet and had leaned them against a table. Something happened and all the guns fell over domino-style.
For the most part, except for the Browning, the damage was not too bad. The lesser rifles were slightly damaged but the Browning was badly damaged. The bottom of the receiver – the trigger assembly – was badly scratched & dented; the forearm had a deep scratch on the bottom and the stock had a large chip near the loading port and the checkering was damaged.
Needless to say, I was absolutely sick. I don’t think my wife had any idea how valuable the rifle was or how badly it was damaged. I was upset but I never spoke of it. I simply boxed the gun away and put it out of my mind. When guests were in my home and we looked at my guns, I would not even mention the Browning.
From time to time I wistfully thought about having it repaired but concluded it would be a $600 -$800 -repair – possibly more than the gun was worth - and it would never be as new anyway so I did nothing about it.
Several years ago I happened to be looking thru the Shotgun News or a similar publication and was astonished when I saw the values of signed, Belgian made, Grade III Brownings. Belgian made? I knew mine was Belgian made. Signed???? I did not know anything about them being signed but examination with a magnifying glass revealed that mine was indeed signed by the engraver.
Apparently my rifle was worth far, far more than I had thought and maybe now it was worth that $600-$800 repair. But to whom should I trust the rifle for that refinishing work?
I explained what I have just told you to my gun dealer and asked him to recommend a gunsmith to whom I could trust the repair. He immediately responded, saying “Oh, well, send it back to Browning”! Well, I never thought of that!! I contacted Browning and began the process. I understood they would examine the rifle and give me an estimate for the repairs and obtain my go-ahead before proceeding with them.
Actually, Browning never sent an estimate. They simply repaired the rifle and returned it to me along with a bill and a certificate of authenticity of the repair. The charges were $50 for refinishing the forend and $75 for refinishing the trigger section of the receiver!! They replaced the stock rather than repair it and there was NO CHARGE for the new stock!! The total cost, including postage was about $135!!! And I had agonized about this rifle for thirty five years!!!
The repair is perfect and the new stock is every bit as stunning as the original. The rifle is as new.
My dear wife, now gone, never knew about the damage nor of the success of the repair. I deeply regret any anger I may have felt over the incident. If only I had contacted Browning right away and had it repaired, I would have had many years of enjoyment from this rifle.
To this day, it remains unfired. Ironically, both my daughters are successful career women and there will be no grandchild to whom I would leave this rifle nor any of the other grandchild’s guns I have accumulated for them. Perhaps it is time to begin shooting these wonderful guns. Oh, and I took the dealer to lunch in appreciation of his advice.
KY Gentleman
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,881
- Location
- Kentucky
I remember seeing an ad in an outdoor magazine promoting the Ruger Vaquero. It was a new offering from them and I was struck with its classic cowboy gun look. I couldn’t wait to get one and it’s been a trusty companion on many a hiking and camping trip.
Ruger came out with the New Vaquero a couple of years later that was a little sleeker, but I wouldn’t trade my “Old Model Vaquero” for one.
Kirk H.
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,196
- Location
- Charlotte NC
I remember seeing an ad in an outdoor magazine promoting the Ruger Vaquero. It was a new offering from them and I was struck with its classic cowboy gun look. I couldn’t wait to get one and it’s been a trusty companion on many a hiking and camping trip.
Ruger came out with the New Vaquero a couple of years later that was a little sleeker, but I wouldn’t trade my “Old Model Vaquero” for one.
I too bought the "Old Model Vaquero" when they first came out and I still prefer the feel of that to the new model. They are just solid workhorses.
Cornshucker77
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,691
- Location
- Northeast Nebraska, USA
The engraving is impressive!
About fifty years ago I bought this Browning Grade III 22 auto. It was intended as a grandchild’s gun, never to be fired. It was expensive but I wanted it very much and traded guns I have often wished I had back in order to buy it.
It took about a year to get the rifle and it is indeed absolutely beautiful. Belgian made, with wonderful engraving and breathtaking wood. Truly the heirloom rifle I wanted.
I kept the Browning stored in a living room bookcase/gun cabinet along with a number of other lesser rifles. One day – I was in S E Asia in a squadron at the time – my dear wife was dusting the bookcases and the gun cabinet. She had removed all the guns from the cabinet and had leaned them against a table. Something happened and all the guns fell over domino-style.
For the most part, except for the Browning, the damage was not too bad. The lesser rifles were slightly damaged but the Browning was badly damaged. The bottom of the receiver – the trigger assembly – was badly scratched & dented; the forearm had a deep scratch on the bottom and the stock had a large chip near the loading port and the checkering was damaged.
Needless to say, I was absolutely sick. I don’t think my wife had any idea how valuable the rifle was or how badly it was damaged. I was upset but I never spoke of it. I simply boxed the gun away and put it out of my mind. When guests were in my home and we looked at my guns, I would not even mention the Browning.
From time to time I wistfully thought about having it repaired but concluded it would be a $600 -$800 -repair – possibly more than the gun was worth - and it would never be as new anyway so I did nothing about it.
Several years ago I happened to be looking thru the Shotgun News or a similar publication and was astonished when I saw the values of signed, Belgian made, Grade III Brownings. Belgian made? I knew mine was Belgian made. Signed???? I did not know anything about them being signed but examination with a magnifying glass revealed that mine was indeed signed by the engraver.
Apparently my rifle was worth far, far more than I had thought and maybe now it was worth that $600-$800 repair. But to whom should I trust the rifle for that refinishing work?
I explained what I have just told you to my gun dealer and asked him to recommend a gunsmith to whom I could trust the repair. He immediately responded, saying “Oh, well, send it back to Browning”! Well, I never thought of that!! I contacted Browning and began the process. I understood they would examine the rifle and give me an estimate for the repairs and obtain my go-ahead before proceeding with them.
Actually, Browning never sent an estimate. They simply repaired the rifle and returned it to me along with a bill and a certificate of authenticity of the repair. The charges were $50 for refinishing the forend and $75 for refinishing the trigger section of the receiver!! They replaced the stock rather than repair it and there was NO CHARGE for the new stock!! The total cost, including postage was about $135!!! And I had agonized about this rifle for thirty five years!!!
The repair is perfect and the new stock is every bit as stunning as the original. The rifle is as new.
My dear wife, now gone, never knew about the damage nor of the success of the repair. I deeply regret any anger I may have felt over the incident. If only I had contacted Browning right away and had it repaired, I would have had many years of enjoyment from this rifle.
To this day, it remains unfired. Ironically, both my daughters are successful career women and there will be no grandchild to whom I would leave this rifle nor any of the other grandchild’s guns I have accumulated for them. Perhaps it is time to begin shooting these wonderful guns. Oh, and I took the dealer to lunch in appreciation of his advice.
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Cornshucker77
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,691
- Location
- Northeast Nebraska, USA
Great story.
About fifty years ago I bought this Browning Grade III 22 auto. It was intended as a grandchild’s gun, never to be fired. It was expensive but I wanted it very much and traded guns I have often wished I had back in order to buy it.
It took about a year to get the rifle and it is indeed absolutely beautiful. Belgian made, with wonderful engraving and breathtaking wood. Truly the heirloom rifle I wanted.
I kept the Browning stored in a living room bookcase/gun cabinet along with a number of other lesser rifles. One day – I was in S E Asia in a squadron at the time – my dear wife was dusting the bookcases and the gun cabinet. She had removed all the guns from the cabinet and had leaned them against a table. Something happened and all the guns fell over domino-style.
For the most part, except for the Browning, the damage was not too bad. The lesser rifles were slightly damaged but the Browning was badly damaged. The bottom of the receiver – the trigger assembly – was badly scratched & dented; the forearm had a deep scratch on the bottom and the stock had a large chip near the loading port and the checkering was damaged.
Needless to say, I was absolutely sick. I don’t think my wife had any idea how valuable the rifle was or how badly it was damaged. I was upset but I never spoke of it. I simply boxed the gun away and put it out of my mind. When guests were in my home and we looked at my guns, I would not even mention the Browning.
From time to time I wistfully thought about having it repaired but concluded it would be a $600 -$800 -repair – possibly more than the gun was worth - and it would never be as new anyway so I did nothing about it.
Several years ago I happened to be looking thru the Shotgun News or a similar publication and was astonished when I saw the values of signed, Belgian made, Grade III Brownings. Belgian made? I knew mine was Belgian made. Signed???? I did not know anything about them being signed but examination with a magnifying glass revealed that mine was indeed signed by the engraver.
Apparently my rifle was worth far, far more than I had thought and maybe now it was worth that $600-$800 repair. But to whom should I trust the rifle for that refinishing work?
I explained what I have just told you to my gun dealer and asked him to recommend a gunsmith to whom I could trust the repair. He immediately responded, saying “Oh, well, send it back to Browning”! Well, I never thought of that!! I contacted Browning and began the process. I understood they would examine the rifle and give me an estimate for the repairs and obtain my go-ahead before proceeding with them.
Actually, Browning never sent an estimate. They simply repaired the rifle and returned it to me along with a bill and a certificate of authenticity of the repair. The charges were $50 for refinishing the forend and $75 for refinishing the trigger section of the receiver!! They replaced the stock rather than repair it and there was NO CHARGE for the new stock!! The total cost, including postage was about $135!!! And I had agonized about this rifle for thirty five years!!!
The repair is perfect and the new stock is every bit as stunning as the original. The rifle is as new.
My dear wife, now gone, never knew about the damage nor of the success of the repair. I deeply regret any anger I may have felt over the incident. If only I had contacted Browning right away and had it repaired, I would have had many years of enjoyment from this rifle.
To this day, it remains unfired. Ironically, both my daughters are successful career women and there will be no grandchild to whom I would leave this rifle nor any of the other grandchild’s guns I have accumulated for them. Perhaps it is time to begin shooting these wonderful guns. Oh, and I took the dealer to lunch in appreciation of his advice.
Desert dog
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,291
- Location
- California
@EriCal, I sure enjoyed seeing your rifles! They are all beautiful, the Browning is a real treasure. I enjoy shooting .22s very much. Here are a couple of my favorites. The Henry Golden Boy was a retirement gift from my coworkers. The Ruger single six is the first handgun I ever bought.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Desert dog
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,291
- Location
- California
A couple more .22s, a Ruger 10-22, that I built for silhouette shooting. It has a kidd barrel, Boyd stock, hornet trigger, Red/green dot site, and the inside of the receiver and bolt have been polished. My 22/45 MK III is shown with it.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Cornshucker77
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,691
- Location
- Northeast Nebraska, USA
What a nice retirement gift!! As my shoulder ages I am growing more fond of shooting .22's. I appreciate the low recoil more these days.@EriCal, I sure enjoyed seeing your rifles! They are all beautiful, the Browning is a real treasure. I enjoy shooting .22s very much. Here are a couple of my favorites. The Henry Golden Boy was a retirement gift from my coworkers. The Ruger single six is the first handgun I ever bought.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Rugers are such nice handguns. A friend of mine let me borrow a Ruger 22 cal revolver for a time. I can't remember what model it was. When she came to get it I didn't want to give it back. Nice little shooter.
Cornshucker77
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,691
- Location
- Northeast Nebraska, USA
Very nice!!A couple more .22s, a Ruger 10-22, that I built for silhouette shooting. It has a kidd barrel, Boyd stock, hornet trigger, Red/green dot site, and the inside of the receiver and bolt have been polished. My 22/45 MK III is shown with it.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
