Around 20 years ago, my Dad sold one of his shotguns to a friend of mine in my fire department. Dad had this gun for years, and I spent many a morning in my youth cleaning it for Dad after our duck hunts. Dad even passed me his gun in the marsh and let me shoot ducks with it when I was just learning to shoot. I've always loved old humpback Browning A5's, and have wanted to own one. So after Dad passed away last year, I decided to find his gun and get it back. This morning I made it happen!!
The friend he sold it to still works at the fire department at the next station up from me. I asked him if he still had the gun, and he said that he had sold it to his brother. He went to his brother and told him my story, and his brother agreed to sell it back to me. Now Dad's old gun is back in the family and belongs to me!! I will never let this gun go again, and it will stay in our family forever.
This fall I am going to go duck hunting with Dad's gun, something I haven't done since I was 15 years old. Next spring I am going to kill a turkey for my Dad, using his gun. What a fantastic Father's Day gift this is!! :icon_thumright:
I love you and miss you Pop!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/A5enhanced_zpse82ede02.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/A5enhanced_zpse82ede02.jpg.html)
Great story and glad to hear u got it back. Ive got my grandfather's a5 and never gettin rid of it
Quote from: Rokhal07 on June 15, 2013, 10:20:46 AMI've got my grandfather's a5 and never gettin rid of it
:icon_thumright:
That is awesome!
That's great!
And they took good care of it.
:happy0064:
Awesome stuff there. Glad you got it back . Do you remember how that thing kicks? :z-dizzy:
Great story. Keep it in the family. My Dad also has one of those Browning A5's. He has had it since I was a little boy.
TRKYHTR
THATS GREAT!
Best friend of mine takes his grandads Rem model 11 humpback out for turkey now and again.
Ive used it also. hey they still work great. owe it to him for all the hunting and fishing trips.
Great story. Glad you got it back. Good luck on smashing some ducks and turks with that awesome shotgun.
great story congrats on getting it back
Great story and glad you got it back.
Congrats on your find! It's a trophy worth far more than you paid.
I have my Dad's duck and goose calls and all his bands. They are my most cherished possession.
Happy Fathers Day!
Greg
That is awsome. Happy fathers day.
That is a Great Fathers day gift, congrats. My grandfathers A5 is in the safe, think I'll take her to the woods next turkey season
sweet deal
glad you were able to get it back in the family
You need to send it my way and let me kill one with it.
Keep it in a safe place. Some things can't be replaced.
Nice story, my dads got an old Belgium a5. Great guns!
:z-guntootsmiley: congrats on gettin her back. Good luck with her.
:icon_thumright:
Quote from: guesswho on June 15, 2013, 06:54:43 PM
You need to send it my way and let me kill one with it.
Keep it in a safe place. Some things can't be replaced.
Then you can send it to me and I'll kill one with it. I see a theme here.
TRKYHTR
Instead of a traveling call we could have a traveling A5. I have a feeling that Jim would hand deliver it to everyone though.
Thanks everybody, I'm thrilled to have Pop's gun back!! And Happy Father's Day to all of you guys too!!
Quote from: turkeyfeathers on June 15, 2013, 11:18:17 AMDo you remember how that thing kicks? :z-dizzy:
Yes I do, but when the critters are out in front of me, I never feel it anyway. Besides, to be hunting with Pop's gun again will make any pain worth bearing!!
Quote from: TRKYHTR on June 15, 2013, 11:54:42 AMGreat story. Keep it in the family. My Dad also has one of those Browning A5's. He has had it since I was a little boy. TRKYHTR
I intend to Joe!! I remember my Dad's A5 from when I was a little boy as well. That's why I had to have it back. Too many memories, I had to have that gun in my hands again!
Quote from: marshboy on June 15, 2013, 02:45:15 PM
Congrats on your find! It's a trophy worth far more than you paid. Greg
You got that right Greg!! Best part is that the gun was only used twice in 20 years, so its still in great shape. And my friends sold it back to me for the same price I sold it to them years ago, even though its worth a lot more now. Great guys!! :icon_thumright:
Quote from: Gawhitaker on June 15, 2013, 05:17:07 PMMy grandfathers A5 is in the safe, think I'll take her to the woods next turkey season
You definitely should, what a tribute to your grandfather!
Quote from: TRKYHTR on June 15, 2013, 09:28:10 PM
Quote from: guesswho on June 15, 2013, 06:54:43 PM
You need to send it my way and let me kill one with it.
Then you can send it to me and I'll kill one with it. I see a theme here. TRKYHTR
Quote from: guesswho on June 15, 2013, 10:02:04 PM
Instead of a traveling call we could have a traveling A5. I have a feeling that Jim would hand deliver it to everyone though.
I'm sure we could work something out fellas. Me and Pop's A5 will head out to meet y'all, and I'll let you hunt with Pop's A5 in exchange for me getting to kill a bird in your state!! Sounds fair to me! You get to hunt with a classic gun that has history, and I work on my goal of killing a bird in all of the lower 48 states before I die!! Great idea guys!! ;D :you_rock: :icon_thumright: :funnyturkey:
Great story and loved how you bought your dad's old gun back. Remind's me of my dad's old double barrel shotgun that he loved but had to sell because of hard time's. I would love to find that gun, if I could.
You're right, I was fortunate that I knew who bought it, that it didn't go far, that they were willing to sell it back to me, and that it hadn't been used much and was still in great shape.
Great story! :icon_thumright:
RutnNStrutn,
Great story and being a Browning fan and owner of a few A5's, the gun is really a work of art and a classic.
:icon_thumright: Happy Fathers Day
great deal.
Thanks guys, and happy Father's Day to y'all too!!
Quote from: ctwny1 on June 16, 2013, 07:57:11 AMbeing a Browning fan and owner of a few A5's, the gun is really a work of art and a classic.
:agreed: Ever since Dad taught me how to duck hunt using his A5, I've always wanted to own one. But, to me, this A5 is the best one ever!! :icon_thumright:
Great story, thanks for sharing.
Awesome. Congrats on getting it back....
Thanks guys, I'm thrilled to have it back. :icon_thumright:
I spent several hours the other day tearing it down and cleaning the heck out of it. I found some rust inside the magazine tube that prevents smooth action of the follower, which will interfere with proper cycling of the gun. So I'm going to send it back to Browning, and have a new magazine tube put on. Then it will be ready to go hunting!! :fud:
Thats a great story and event in getting that A5 back in the family. I've had several over the years and have none now, wish I had them back. My favorite was a Belgian Magnum 20...wish I had it now I would shoot a turkey every year with it for old times sake.
I've always had a thing for A5's. They are such beautiful guns, and I'm a big fan of John Browning. Being able to get this particular gun back though, is a dream come true for me. I'll either pass it on to my grandson (if I ever get one ;D), or it will go to my grave with me. I cannot wait to hunt this fall and next spring with Dad's old A5!!