Last weekend, I was at a shooting range/gun store and a young fellow came in with a gun case saying he wanted to sell a rifle. They open the case and there sits a beautiful Model 70 - Monte Carlo stock, 270 cal., in great shape. Why do you want to sell it? Turns out his grandfather gave it to him before he passed away, but the kid doesn't shoot and would just as soon have some cash as to have it "taking up room in my apartment".
I've seen this before, where a son or grandson inherited something nice but just doesn't give a crap about it. Folks, PLEASE, before you leave something to a loved one, make sure they actually want it! If not, sell it or give it away to someone who will appreciate it. Seeing the old man's rifle sold off just broke my heart and bothered me all week.
This weekend, at the same range, I asked about the rifle. It was sold the day after it was brought in, but the buyer hadn't picked it up yet. While waiting to check out, the clerk asked if I minded letting him take care of a customer that had been waiting awhile. This guy says, "I'm here to pick up my Winchester Model 70." Here was a young man, about the same age as the worthless grandson, and so I talked to him while they retrieved his rifle. He said he had an AR, but this was the first hunting rifle that would be his personally. He came in the week before and asked to look at used rifles he could afford, and "I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it." We talked a bit more. Great kid! He even said, "This looks like a rifle I could pass on to a son or daughter. I can't wait to get it out and shoot it." The universe had righted itself. The departed grandfather can rest now that someone who does appreciate the rifle now has it.
I've seen this before, where a son or grandson inherited something nice but just doesn't give a crap about it. Folks, PLEASE, before you leave something to a loved one, make sure they actually want it! If not, sell it or give it away to someone who will appreciate it. Seeing the old man's rifle sold off just broke my heart and bothered me all week.
This weekend, at the same range, I asked about the rifle. It was sold the day after it was brought in, but the buyer hadn't picked it up yet. While waiting to check out, the clerk asked if I minded letting him take care of a customer that had been waiting awhile. This guy says, "I'm here to pick up my Winchester Model 70." Here was a young man, about the same age as the worthless grandson, and so I talked to him while they retrieved his rifle. He said he had an AR, but this was the first hunting rifle that would be his personally. He came in the week before and asked to look at used rifles he could afford, and "I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it." We talked a bit more. Great kid! He even said, "This looks like a rifle I could pass on to a son or daughter. I can't wait to get it out and shoot it." The universe had righted itself. The departed grandfather can rest now that someone who does appreciate the rifle now has it.
