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David is an occasional blogger, software engineer, Nintendo fanboy, liberal, news magazine addict, voracious TiVo user, and bibliophile. He was born in St. Louis, grew up in southern Indiana, and returned to St. Louis to attend Washington University. He hasn't managed to escape yet. He's a fan of free wine tastings, too many tv shows to name, and eating out. David makes his living developing web applications used internally by his employer. He doesn't blog about work because he's heard too many stories about that causing workplace troubles. There's more on the about page. |
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8 November 2003 - 8:42 pm
I've written before about my grandmother and her tendency to give odd gifts of things from her house for occasions such as Christmas. She's in the process of moving to a smaller condo, and I was over at her house today to retrieve a few things that I'd been storing there. Well, because she's in the process of (reluctantly) downsizing anytime I see her I'm forced to leave with a new possession or two. The last time I was at her house I came away with my grandfather's old briefcase. Today was a bit more interesting. The first item I was given was an old "Indian" blanket that smelled heavily of moth balls. I've been assured by my grandmother that this is an extremely valuable piece of Native American hand-crafted artwork. I suspect that it was machine-produced in Mexico sometime in the twentieth century. But the other item was much more interesting.
Apparently, somewhere in the depths of her closets, my grandmother had an old shotgun. After informing me that it had been my grandfather's grandfather's shotgun and making me swear never to sell it, she entrusted it to my care. So now, as I type this I have a four-foot long shotgun resting on my bed. This is all very surreal. Prior to today, I don't think I've ever even held a gun before, much less fired or owned one, and I have no idea what to do with this one.
This shotgun is a Winchester Model 1897. The serial number, 37637, dates it to the second year of Model 1897 production, 1898. Apparently the model 1897 was produced by Winchester until 1957 and it saw service in both World Wars. My model, based on a quick internet search, could be worth $400 - $600 if it still works. Of course, I can't sell it and I don't know if it still works, but the action seems to still operate. Anyway, to prove I'm telling the truth, here's a photo I snapped of the dumb thing:
If anyone has some suggestions on what to do with this, let me know. I was thinking that the back of my closet might be an appropriate place to keep it for the present.
Posted by on 8 November 2003 at 8:45 PM
Comments
Mount it over the television! That'll keep the Debaliviere people from showing your apartment...
Posted by jim on 9 November 2003 - 12:21 AM
An interesting idea, Jim. It's also been suggested to me that I buy a gunrack for my Echo.
Posted by david on 9 November 2003 - 11:22 AM
The gunrack was what I had in mind. This would ease your transition should you ever decide to move to Texasx, where gunracks in cars aren't just standard equipment---they're mandated by law.
Posted by rkc on 10 November 2003 - 6:28 AM