Rifles you will NEVER sell

Hello Wyatt Smith,

Yours is an interesting thread, I’m enjoying it.
My feeble story is that, my father was not a hunter or a gun person.
He liked golf, tennis and sailing, to include watching all three of those painfully boring things on television LOL.
So, I do not have a heart warming description of any “first deer rifle”, given to me by my old pops or anyone else.
I had to buy mine.

That said, my father was otherwise a reasonable man and so, he made sure I was able to hunt and fish, as long as I did my chores and earned decent grades in school.
The first time I went deer hunting, it was with a borrowed WW II, British surplus rifle, caliber .303 that, belonged to one of my father’s friends.
I was 15 then and never got a shot at any deer until 10 years later (and a few rifles later), at age 25.
I was born and raised in Soviet Socialist California, where wildlife mismanagement was invented.

So, even seeing a buck deer, much less seeing one during deer season, between 1967 and 1977, was a truly remarkable event.
I would have compared it to seeing a real live Sasquatch or finding Black Beard’s lost gold, etc.
And as such, my taking of one scrawny little black tail deer, finally after 10 years of hunting them, played a major role in motivating me toward escaping the jack-booted tax thugs of California and settling in The United State of Alaska.

Any way, back at age 16 (working as a cook in a Sacramento restaurant), I bought my first rifle.
It was a Smith-Corona Typewriter Company built 1903-A3 Springfield .30-06 caliber, all original / as issued / not tampered with.
I did not even own a .22 rifle yet at that stage.
Perhaps I should’ve kept that Springfield but, in my early 20’s, I sold it to buy something else.

And so it has gone throughout my life (I’m in my mid-60’s now).
Buy, sell, trade.
At one stage, while I was working A LOT of over-time, I had simultaneously in possession, one hundred thirty something firearms............
Then, I went to Africa for the first time.
Today, 5 Safaris later, I’ve sold almost all of the 130+ guns mentioned, to help pay for the hunting trips and not the least bit sorry.

At the moment, my personal favorite rifle is my Brno Mauser, Model 602 Magnum, in caliber .375 H&H.
It has factory express sights (with larger white front bead added).
The scope is a 4x Zeiss, in Alaska Arms Company, lever rings.
And, I had a professional Gunsmith (Andy Hawk, here in Anchorage), replace the set trigger with a traditional single stage trigger (of South African manufacture).
One of these years, I’ll get organized and have Mr. Hawk replace the Bruno trigger block type “safety catch”, with a Model 70 style, striker blocking one.
Favorite rifle as it definitely is, I likely will sell it some day, when I get to where I can’t stand much recoil any more.

Do I own a rifle or rifles that, I will NEVER sell?
In a word, no.
Do I own one that I likely will keep quite a few more years ?
Yes.

Stay on that front sight,
Velo Dog.

I’m with you VD.

Memories made with special people in special places is most important to me.

Guns, as much as I love them, are replaceable commodities.
 
I’ve been thinking on this from the OP and all I can do is get in the fetal position and suck my thumb while rocking back and forth every time I start thinking about selling hunting rifles!

Make the bad man go AWAY!
 
PS:
I suppose if I could recover any of the rifles I’ve owned in the past, it would be my original 1903-A3 Springfield .30-06 that, I bought from a high school mate for $40. USA dollars, in the late 1960’s.

I’d also probably want my Browning copy of the 1895 Winchester, in caliber .30-40 Krag, complete with vintage Lyman peep sight / aka: “receiver sight”.
Sold that one to help pay for a hunting trip.

However, those rifles are long gone and I’m not overly sorry that I sold and / or traded them for some things I liked better, such as to help pay for hunting trips with friends and family.

If I was able to both, keep all of my toys and, do the things I’ve been blessed to have experienced in life, that would have been excellent.
However, being only a blue collar income level type of person, I could not keep a decent gun collection, (proper fly rods and SCUBA gear as well) while simultaneously paying good money for airplane tickets and hunting / fishing guides, to shepherd me to some better than fantastic adventures.

Choosing is no contest for me, when it is between just sitting home and piling up the toys or, actually riding in a dugout canoe on the Amazon River, stalking abundant game in Africa, catching steelhead and salmon with fly rod on Kodiak Island, hunting pronghorn and grouse in Montana, mule deer in Idaho, scuba diving and snorkeling / spear fishing in Hawaii, Guam and Micronesia and the list goes on.
There simply is no contest, the toys will always be expendable.

As mentioned, “Sporting goods come and go but the memories remain”.
 
@Velo Dog,
I picked up a browning 1895 in 30-40 Krag after being brow beaten by @tarbe because I didn’t have one and just how the hell do we pull off a 30-40 krag only elk hunt if I ain’t got one? I saw the error in my ways and acquired two 30-40’s in short order!
AEFE7CD1-A631-4D04-BB19-FB3A99D3B9F7.jpeg

There just so happens to be a twin sister to this one only complete with the receiver sight in that same store. Let me know if you are interested and I will call them and see if it is still there. They really are a wonderful rifle!
Cheers,
Cody

P.S. you couldn’t be more correct about the memories. I would give a cabinet full of guns for a few more memories with folks that left before I was done with them.
 
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@Velo Dog,
I picked up a browning 1895 in 30-40 Krag after being brow beaten by @tarbe because I didn’t have one and just how the hell do we pull off a 30-40 krag only elk hunt if I ain’t got one? I saw the error in my ways and acquired two 30-40’s in short order!
View attachment 306266
There just so happens to be a twin sister to this one only complete with the receiver sight in that same store. Let me know if you are interested and I will call them and see if it is still there. They really are a wonderful rifle!
Cheers,
Cody

P.S. you couldn’t be more correct about the memories. I would give a cabinet full of guns for a few more memories with folks that left before I was done with them.

Thanks Cody,

Yes I might possibly be somewhat interested in the Browning 1895 you mentioned.
I will stand by for news on it.

Cheers,
Paul.
 
Thanks Cody,

Yes I might possibly be somewhat interested in the Browning 1895 you mentioned.
I will stand by for news on it.

Cheers,
Paul.
I will call them tomorrow sir!
 
Near the Kenya Somali border I handled for the first time what to me immediately became the African DG rifle "El Supremo". A genuine Rigby 416. Also btw the second time I`ve ever seen my dad and hes ele hunting friend being in kind of awe over a rifle. To cut it short I found one. The brownish-red colored action, wonderful barrelprofile supporting in my mind the best 1/4 rib of them all, superb forend grip, superb workmanship, superb material quality, superb balance and feel. To me it just can`t get better and its certainly a no-seller:A Naughty:
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The two fire arms which l will never sell are
- my 12 bore Beretta s686 special with 70 millimeter chambers and a full choke barrel over a half choke barrel. The last and 32nd man eating leopard which l shot in my life was killed with this excellent gun in 1995 using a Remington SG cartridge in the half choke barrel . I have never risked firing SG shot from the fully choked barrel out of fear of causing damage to my muzzle.
A Brno bolt rifle of .22 Long Rifle calibre which my niece ( who l love like my own daughter ) used to kill her first Sambhar deer with a single shot through the ear from the side . I am the license holder for this gun and she uses it whenever she visits Bangladesh to shoot hares , beji or mouse deer.
A fire arm which l would never sell if l had it would be the one pictured in the colourless picture where my father is teaching me to shoot in 1953. It was my father’s I Hollis 12 bore side by side shot-gun with 65 millimeter chambers and half choke and quarter choke . It would use paper cartridges and brought many quails and pigeons to the family table. Unfortunately , the Indian government destroyed this beautiful gun in 1972 . Sometimes l wish that l had hidden this family heirloom in the house’s water tank to avoid detection.
 
View attachment 307519 View attachment 307520 View attachment 307521 The two fire arms which l will never sell are
- my 12 bore Beretta s686 special with 70 millimeter chambers and a full choke barrel over a half choke barrel. The last and 32nd man eating leopard which l shot in my life was killed with this excellent gun in 1995 using a Remington SG cartridge in the half choke barrel . I have never risked firing SG shot from the fully choked barrel out of fear of causing damage to my muzzle.
A Brno bolt rifle of .22 Long Rifle calibre which my niece ( who l love like my own daughter ) used to kill her first Sambhar deer with a single shot through the ear from the side . I am the license holder for this gun and she uses it whenever she visits Bangladesh to shoot hares , beji or mouse deer.
A fire arm which l would never sell if l had it would be the one pictured in the colourless picture where my father is teaching me to shoot in 1953. It was my father’s I Hollis 12 bore side by side shot-gun with 65 millimeter chambers and half choke and quarter choke . It would use paper cartridges and brought many quails and pigeons to the family table. Unfortunately , the Indian government destroyed this beautiful gun in 1972 . Sometimes l wish that l had hidden this family heirloom in the house’s water tank to avoid detection.
Really nice , Mr. Rahman :) . I got a couple of questions .
1) Regarding the Beretta O/U , why don't you have the full choke reamed out to Modified ? That would allow you to fire Buckshot through both barrels .
2) In the pic with the Isaac Hollis side by side , l notice that you aren't wearing a glove in your non shooting hand. From my experience , the splinter fore end of English shotguns is so thin that a guy's hands can get burnt as they grip the barrels directly after just two to four shots . How did you keep your hand from getting hurt ? :)
Really beautiful pics
 
Really nice , Mr. Rahman :) . I got a couple of questions .
1) Regarding the Beretta O/U , why don't you have the full choke reamed out to Modified ? That would allow you to fire Buckshot through both barrels .
2) In the pic with the Isaac Hollis side by side , l notice that you aren't wearing a glove in your non shooting hand. From my experience , the splinter fore end of English shotguns is so thin that a guy's hands can get burnt as they grip the barrels directly after just two to four shots . How did you keep your hand from getting hurt ? :)
Really beautiful pics
Thank you for your kind words , Hoss .
Firstly
I do not want to alter my Beretta in anyway. I purchased it brand new and this particular model stopped getting imported into Bangladesh in 1993. I do not think it is manufactured anymore and l wish to keep it as pristine as is possible . It came with full choke and half choke ( which is what you American gentlemen called modified choke )
Secondly ,
That was the very first day of my life when l had fired a gun . I just fired two shots and then gave it back to my father. When my father would go for quail Shikar , he always wore leather gloves . This is common practice among owners of British shot-guns to comfortably fire the shot-gun repeatedly without one’s hands getting blistered . In the bird shooting picture with my client holding the shot-gun from the firm , John Dickson and Son , you can clearly see him wearing gloves . Good observation .
 
Thank you for your kind words , Hoss .
Firstly
I do not want to alter my Beretta in anyway. I purchased it brand new and this particular model stopped getting imported into Bangladesh in 1993. I do not think it is manufactured anymore and l wish to keep it as pristine as is possible . It came with full choke and half choke ( which is what you American gentlemen called modified choke )
Secondly ,
That was the very first day of my life when l had fired a gun . I just fired two shots and then gave it back to my father. When my father would go for quail Shikar , he always wore leather gloves . This is common practice among owners of British shot-guns to comfortably fire the shot-gun repeatedly without one’s hands getting blistered . In the bird shooting picture with my client holding the shot-gun from the firm , John Dickson and Son , you can clearly see him wearing gloves . Good observation .
The Beretta s686 Special was made from 1987 to 1993 :)
And yes. I experienced this disadvantage with British guns too . You need a glove to stop your hand burning :(
 
The Beretta s686 Special was made from 1987 to 1993 :)
And yes. I experienced this disadvantage with British guns too . You need a glove to stop your hand burning :(
I do not see it as much of a disadvantage , Hoss . These side by side barrel British guns are traditionally fired by holding the barrels , as my father is showing me in the picture. Even my old Ishapore shot-gun which was a local copy of the Birmingham Small Arms duck shooting models had this kind of wood fore piece . I usually wore an old leather glove on my gripping hand during Shikar. If l forgot to bring a glove , a piece of cloth would work too. The first over under guns l have ever seen were Japanese pieces. Before they came , a glove was a standard part of any bird shooting kit with a side by side.
 
Sadly that's not really an option in the UK. I have to keep the number of guns I own to around ten, give or take a couple. Any more than that and the police start to make a fuss - upgraded physical security of the house, monitored alarm system with a yearly fee etc. It's just not worth it unless you're willing to waste good hunting money on a safe full of guns you'll never fire.

What you have is a Government problem.....

HWL
 
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This one, a Montgomery Wards Mannlicher Stocked 30/06 built by Heym in West Germany
 
Never is a pretty long time......:cautious:.
However, I would be hard pressed to sell three of my rifles: A Winchester 94 in .30/30, an Interarms Mk X Viscount in .30-06, and a CVA St. Louis Hawken in .54 caliber. The Winchester was a Christmas gift from my parents in 1976 (bicentenial year). My dad passed the following fall. The interarms was just a plain jane rifle from Kmart; it was a birthday gift from my mom for my 17th birthday (about 6 months after my dad passed). That rifle went to Africa with me and took 4 of the 5 heads of game I took there. It's also been out west a few times for mule deer and antelope, and on a few hog hunting trips. The .54 cal Hawken was a gift from my wife when I graduated from perfusion school; I took a bison with that rifle, and it's sparked a whole new interest in muzzleloading/history for me.

.....as for other firearms, I'd be hard pressed to sell my Mossberg 5oo pump shotgun (nothing special, but it was my first firearm and I bought it with money I earned doing odd jobs when I was 14 years old......took it deer hunting a month later on my first deer hunt). I have a cheap Boito 20 gauge single shot that belonged to my grandfather; it's the only thing of his that I got when he passed (nobody else wanted it)......VERY special to me, as my grandfather sparked my love of the outdoors by taking me fishing, and I shot my first game animal (rabbit) with that gun. The last is my Colt Trooper Mk III in .357 magnum......first handgun I ever owned.
 
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Everything is for sale if you are willing to write a big enough check.

Having said that, the Remington M7MS Custom Shop in .257 Roberts commands the highest price. It's the rifle I bought myself, in '06, a time when I told myself I'd finally "Arrived" in business. 13 years later it's claimed 15+ deer, a half dozen hogs, couple coyotes and scared a few bobcats.

It's also a rifle I can shoot deep into my later years...which I hope is a long, long time away.

I'll sell it, sure.

But yer gonna pay for that one. :)
 
] This one, a Montgomery Wards Mannlicher Stocked 30/06 built by Heym in West Germany

That's a very nice Heym .30 - '06. I wouldn't mind having one.

Allow me to point out, however, that what we Americans tend to refer to as a "Mannlicher stock" is more accurately called a stutzen, or full stocked carbine. The Mannlicher Schoenauer M1903 stutzen was a 6.5X54 carbine of (well deserved) legend in its day and it seems that we 'Yanks' have since associated all fullstocked carbine sporting rifles with it and deemed them 'Mannlichers'. The style is (was) more prevalent in Europe, primarily the Alpine region, than in the Americas but was never exclusive to Mannlicher designs or to Steyr built rifles.

Mauser Stutzen from 1939 Stoeger catalog:
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Mannlicher Schoenauer offerings from the 1939 Stoeger; Notice they were available as stutzen (full stocked carbine), half stocked sporting rifles, or in takedown form:
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In 1939, Stoeger also offered 'Peerless Conversions' of customer submitted rifles or do - it - yourself parts to modify WW1 surplus Springfield, Mauser, Enfield, or Krag to stutzen sporters:
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