Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire I'm Not Worthy...Greatest Gift

Today was a day I'll never forget and I'm still a bit in shock as I write this. Most of my adult life has been spent working in two different gun shops, 9 years at the first one and going on 12 years at the current one. While I have encountered some real dregs of society over the years, I have also had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know some of God's finest creations. One in particular is a man I'll just call L.T. I first met him in the mid to late '80s at the first shop when he was an English professor at a local technical college. I attended that school for awhile but unfortunately was not in his class. He was one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet, always had a smile and a kind word. I lost track of him when the first shop closed in 1995 and didn't see him again until I went to work at the current shop in 2003. We rekindled our friendship and became much more than just a gun store clerk and customer. He is retired now and has been like a uncle to me and I've spent time out of the shop with him shooting clays and traveling around to various gun shops and gun shows in the state. I've always enjoyed writing and have had a desire to break into some freelance gun writing. He encouraged me and was my "editor". So far, I have not been able to get either of my finished articles published but he still encourages me to write. Just a prince of a fellow and I wish I really was related to him.

Several years ago, we took in on consignment an unfired in the box Browning Citori that I was instantly smitten with. It was an English stocked Superlight Upland Special in 28ga with 24" barrels and was # 41 of 100 guns made for Quail Unlimited. It was simply a gorgeous little shotgun and I am a sucker for 28 gauges and English stocks. I couldn't afford it at the time and it gave me a lump in my stomach when I gazed upon it. I showed it to L.T. the next day and he was equally smitten. He bought it for $2350. As he filled out the 4473, I told him if he ever decided to part with it to give me first shot at it and he assured me he would. I was glad that it was going to a good home. A couple years later he had a mild heart attack and after he recovered, he mentioned to me that he might sell off a few guns. I told him that if the little Browning was one of them, I wanted it but that I'd have to "lay it away". Over the last couple months, I've sold several guns for him on Gun Broker and today he called and told me he was bringing in a couple more guns that he wasn't using. He came back to my office and pulled out an unfired in the box Winchester 94. We wrote up a consignment sheet and chit chatted awhile then he pulled out another case and as he unzipped it he said, "I know I'm going to get into an argument with you but we're not going to sell this one because this one is yours." With that, he handed me the Browning and I said "Yeah, that's the one I want and after vacation, I'm going to start giving you some money towards it." He said, "No you're not, it's yours." What he said didn't register and I said "What are you getting at?" He said "It's yours, it's a gift." Still not understanding, I said "No way!" He said, "I'm not going to argue with you, it's YOURS. Neither of my kids give a damn about guns and I realize I'm getting to be an old man. I want YOU to have it, enjoy it and give it a good home because I love you like a son, you're family to me. If you turn me down I'm going to be insulted so don't argue, it's YOURS!" I just stood there with my mouth open, speechless. I insisted I HAD to give him something for it but he wouldn't hear it. I tried to talk but teared up. So did he. Then he lightened the mood and sensed what I was thinking. He said, "Don't get the wrong idea, I'm in perfect health! I'm just thinning the herd, that's all, and it means a lot to me that you're getting the gun you wanted in the first place." I felt like a bumbling idiot and I tried to express my gratitude but all I could do was hug him. He only shot one round of clays with it and then put it in the safe. I can't wait to carry it on the dove field!

I am not worthy of this gift. This the second time something like this has happened. About 12 years ago, another "adopted uncle" gave me a 1941 vintage Winchester 71 .348 that I had lusted after for years. I told the story of that one on this forum at the time. I just don't get it because I'm just not that likeable.... I will treasure both of these guns until the day I die.













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