Life is too short...

[dePaul]

For 23 years ago, my grandfather died. He had been a hunter and outdoor man all his life. He left some wonderful rifles and knives.



Before his death, he told my grandmother to take care of his guns and knives and eventually pass it to the next generations.



Now, my grand mother is very sick and there is no hope any more <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>



I, myself have a daughter, 13 years old and she is not at all interested of guns or knives. So here is my question:



Would you suggest that I, before me, being too week and dying, give my knife and gun collection to my daughter or should I give it to someone who really loves those items?



Take care!

[Guntaholic]

DePaul, about 14 years ago my Grandfater passed away... He was a rather goodmarksman and throughly enjoyed shooting. It was an interest they even at a very young age I shared with him. I can remember beung a junior member of the NRA at 7, and hours of hours of :gun talk&quot; with him. As he became aware of the fact that he was not going to be alive much longer (cancer they caught way too late) He was faced with question of what to do with his rifles and other prized items. At the age of 10 I was not quite ready to own theese items. My father his sister and my two cousins (much older) had no interest in guns at all. Actually my dad sad to say is rather anti-gun! However he has good enough to recognizethe bond my Grandfather and I shared and watched over them for me. Over the years and my growing curiosity my father would take me shooting, it was something he did for me and it brought us closer along the way... To make a long story short I am almost 25 now. I have a rather large collection of all types of firearms and knives. Shooot and Hunt often and hvaee very vivid memories and a strong connection to my Grandfather...
I ask you...How old is your Daughter? Is there a chance you might have a son-in-law and a Grandson someday? Even though your daughter does not share your interest perhaps her children will? Perhaps this will help....

[dePaul]

Very kind words, thanks Guntaholic!
Well, I suppose you&#180;re right. After all, she is only 13.

But several times, she has expressed her feelings, telling me that carrying any kind of weapon is wrong and she will never participate.

However, I feel you are right about the future possibility of her having a child, who like his grand-grandfather, will be interested in hunting, fishing and outdoor activities.

Well, only time will tell. But as you see, I am a bit melancholic...

Thansk again, take care!

[Clay Kesting]

Paul,

I am very sorry to hear about your grandmother. It is especially painful to lose an elderly relative as it severes our links with the past, cuts us off at the roots so to speak. For this reason, I think I would pass your grandfather's guns and knives on to your daughter so that they stay in the family. The sentimental value is, to me, the most important thing. It was my mother's birthday (86) last Saturday and she, and my sister and her family came to our house for a barbeque. I took the opportunity to give my eldest nephew the pocket watch which my father had carried most of his life (he died in 1973). I will never forget the pleasure my nephew got from the gift or my mother's gratitude that I had decided to give it to him, as he spends a lot of time with her and helps out with shopping and such. BTW I still have my father's gold wristwatch to keep in my family. As I also get older I find these ties with the past are becoming increasingly more important to me. For instance I plan to take my eldest daughter to this year's Anzac Day dawn service, so that she can wear her great-uncle's service medals, and we might also march in the parade with his old unit.

Back to knives etc.<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> As you know my daughters (7 and 9) take a great deal of interest in my knife collection but I have always taken pains to stress that they are tools rather than weapons. Even my wife, who in the past would never carry a knife, now is lost without her Ladybug. Perhaps if you gave your daughter a small pocket knife, she might realise just how useful they are. Can't help with the guns though, outside my experience <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>.

Take care friend,
Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.





Edited by - Clay Kesting on 3/11/2001 10:55:24 PM

[vampyrewolf]

I must repeat another's wise words.
Keep them, and pass them on to a grand-child, who may also share in the outdoors attitude. To emphise this, look at my family.
My mother is anti-any-thing-that-can-be-used-as-a-weapon. My father has 7 guns, a compound bow, and about 5 knives. I have 2 air pistols(300fps, and 600fps), an air rifle(495fps), and a nice collection of knives. My father is going to give me the bow and his knives when I move out. I love archery and my father did in the past. His bow now is worth about $5K. He got it for about $200.

So, keep the collection, and pass it on to the first grandchild who exibits any interest.

We all start with 10 fingers. Those with Spydies have 9 to spare, Still need a thumb. Good thing I still have 8 to spare...

[dePaul]

Thanks for your very kind words Clay! (and VampyreWolf).

I feel that you are right, I will keep the collection and eventually give it to my daughter as she grows older and wiser (?) <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

On your recommendation, I gave her a SAK! The little one, for girls (pink) :D She likes it a lot, so I believe, there&#180;s still hope!!

Thanks again, and take care!!