Brewster

I think that's a great idea. I'm no expert but I would think a strong layer of rust inhibitor grease should be applied to ALL the metal parts, including the inside of the bore, wheel holes, springs, etc. and have it stored in an airtight ammo container with a large pack of Silica gel desiccant. But before all this I'd clean it while wearing latex or cotton type gloves as to make sure not to get any moisture on it.

jlh820

Very cool idea, grandpa! My collection is willed to my kids and in turn their kids. I have made suggestions as to who gets what but I'm going to leave that up to them. I have 4 kids and 7 grandkids, the oldest being 11. I haven't yet begun to think about great grandkids! I don't think my list of grandkids is finished yet.
I also have a heart condition along with a handful of other maladies so I understand your wish to leave some parting gifts. However I shoot all my guns and maintain them very well. In my opinion part of what makes them special is them knowing how much they've meant to me. A gun is a gun on it's own merit. But great grandpa's gun... well that's something special!

daleeman

That is a risk, not having a great grandson by my grandson Ross. I will have to make some previsions in the will and place some of that in the time capsul if you will.

I never knew my great grandfaters. On my father's side they were tough farmers. On my mother's side he was a store owner. I have photographs of both and some stories that I hope to include for the future.

Actually as I talk this over inside our family it has started a movement to document the family better and that is a wonderful thing.

Enjoy all your comments.

daleeman

This is the best statement about enjoying the gun before packing it away.

Heart conditions in others are close to my heart ! We really have to make an effort to strengthen our selves so we can be not only good grandpas but "great" grandpas.

Thanks

jlh820

That's really great advice. It may be a little off topic, but it's advice I had a hard time realizing. I was very healthy and worked out at the gym all the time. My condition hit me out of the blue and didn't present with a heart attack. Mine was caused by a genetic condition. I was out of town and waiting a couple of days for some friends to join me when I started feeling really sick. I couldn't stay awake, I was sweating non-stop (in a cold area), I was dizzy, thirsty and literally dazed and confused. I walked around like a drunkard and my speech was so slurred, the hospital tested me for alcohol and every drug they could think of. I hadn't had any alcohol and no drugs, so I stayed there about 10 days before they came up with my diagnosis. It hit me in Sept of 07 and hit me hard. Even though they eventually figured out what it was, I continued to spiral down until mid December that year. My kids and I don't live in the same area, but thanksgiving I made a trip to see them all. I was going to say goodbye. Nothing seemed to work and the doctor's didn't give me any hope. Then around the middle of the month (actually, I remember the date - it was Dec 17, 2007) I began to get better. I could start to think again, stay awake, walk without staggering. In about a month, I felt very good. My cardiologist said, "The medicine is working"!

But to your point, I'd given up. I felt beat and without hope. And it really gave me an opportunity to see how much my kids love me and how much my death would hurt them. That really opened my eyes.

I'm no image of health anymore, but I can take care of myself and generally get things done. I really related to the song, "Live Like Your Were Dying". Actually, too much because I'd had stopped living like I wasn't dying!

So, thanks for your advice. I hope we both have time to see those great grandkids!

daleeman

Jlh820 thanks for that. We do need to take care of ourselves. Glad you are doing better.

rsc

If you want to leave it for a REALLY long time, cosmoline is your friend. If you want the person you give the pistol to think of you fondly, do not use cosmoline.

All oils will eventually dry up and can stain the finish of the metal (ever get a really, really old milsurp? ) Either clean it and apply a very light coating of a light gun oil or clean it with solvents, wipe it down with clean cotton gloves and a silicon rag and put it away dry. If stored in a sealed container with dessicant it will store well. The foam in gun cases (pelican cases too?) can attack the bluing on some finishes and if paper or plastic contacts the pistol you must be sure it won't transfer or bleed color out. Waxed paper can be used here to wrap it in.

If I were to receive a gift lift this from my grandfather, it wouldn't matter to me if he had used it daily and had memories attached to it or not. The memories that matter most will he HIS memories of YOU, not what your memories of the pistol are or were. I do agree that a personal note included with it would be a good touch.

johnjohn

I have an old single barrel shotgun I inherited from my grandfather about 50 yrs ago. He bought it new in1901. It hung over the door in the bedroom and never got any special care other than a little oil once in a while. While not pristene it's not in bad shape. I have no sons so my grandson will wind up with it.

James6591

At this stage I have no children who are interested enough to inherit my collection.
They would have to have the applicable licences and jump "through all the hoops" to be able to own them.
Hopefully that may change in time.
And no, I'm not accepting any adoption papers.....