An Old Friend Returns Home

Absolutely great piece. Both the story and the rifle. It has meaning which is priceless. I certainly hope you document the story of your GGF and put a few pics together for the future generations to see. Maybe one day one of the nephews will be looking for it. All the best !
 
Great story & classic rifle. I have one that looks like it's twin brother made in 1935 . It has no great story .
I bought it from a man across the lake from my cottage , in Manitoulin Island , in mid Ontario.
I hope to shoot a deer with it , there on the Island some year.
 
A WONDERFUL STORY!!!! Since you come from Lloydminster ... I wonder if you ever hunted in the Battle River valley? My grand parents homesteaded along the Battle River then my Dad farmed the land and then I farmed it. Grampa had a big old Winchester 1886 40-82 that my Dad as a 16 year "young buck" just HAD to try shooting a coyote off the back of his saddle horse. To quote my Dad ..." I thought it was a good idea but the horse didn't ... it was a long hard 3 mile walk back to the ranch buildings dragging that big '86 ... the horse was waiting for me at the corral.... I inherited it and it now sleeps in my gunsafe complete with the battle scars on the stock. Like most old Winchesters shooting Black powder the bore was toast so I installed a barrel liner ... that gave it a new working life for the next generation...
 
Keep the story with the gun and will it to them.
Time has a way of working things out.
Today they may see no use for it but in time they will probably understand its value as an heirloom and see the connection to the family before them.
Great story, thanks for sharing.
 
That is a neat story! Good that the old rifle has found a safe haven. Just looking at it in the picture, one can tell it is special. Happy for you!
 
Cool history to go with the rifle. Incredible to have something passed down that many times in a family and really cool of your sister to pass it back to you since your nephews aren’t interested .... no sibling rivalry there. Your nephews might change their minds later in life and hunting isn’t the only reason to own an heirloom. I have a buddy that will not part with any of his deceased father’s rifles even if they’re not collectible and he doesn’t hunt .... they’re for memories.
 
superted said:
A WONDERFUL STORY!!!! Since you come from Lloydminster ... I wonder if you ever hunted in the Battle River valley? My grand parents homesteaded along the Battle River then my Dad farmed the land and then I farmed it. Grampa had a big old Winchester 1886 40-82 that my Dad as a 16 year "young buck" just HAD to try shooting a coyote off the back of his saddle horse. To quote my Dad ..." I thought it was a good idea but the horse didn't ... it was a long hard 3 mile walk back to the ranch buildings dragging that big '86 ... the horse was waiting for me at the corral.... I inherited it and it now sleeps in my gunsafe complete with the battle scars on the stock. Like most old Winchesters shooting Black powder the bore was toast so I installed a barrel liner ... that gave it a new working life for the next generation...
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No never hunted there. I’m a fairly recent transplant(5yrs) but I have a buddy here that was given a quarter section off the family farm and it backs onto the river. No shortage of big game on his trail cams and beautiful scenery, especially in fall. Thats a great story and a great heirloom, thanks for sharing.
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
Great story and lovely M64.:cool: Now git to work man and give the ole gal a full tear down and cleanin'. Lube er proper, reassemble then hunt the bugger!;)
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I don’t have the faintest idea how tear down a winchester lever gun? Removing the stock would be about it. Beyond that I’d probably do more harm than good and end up having to bring it to a gunsmith to be put back together. I’ll just give the bore a good cleaning and lube the working parts. Last time it was fired was 2010 or 2011 and that was probably the first time in close to 30 years. I can remember my grandfather carrying it one afternoon/evening for blacktails on vancouver island while I carried the 4:10 for grouse as we walked a powerline near the Nanaimo Lakes chain around 1980 or 81?
 
Great storey. I’m a retired Game Warden. When I first started we had a pre 64 30-30 for use on problem wildlife and patrols. Man I would have loved to have been able to hang on to that piece of history. That was 37 years ago. I still remember the rifle!

You are lucky to inherit such a treasure. If only the ole girl could tell stories!
 
Jesus H Christ, with the pedigree of a VC recipient alone, I'd have every piece of GGF's legacy preserved and shadowboxed as a matter of family pride!

But the rifle itself, with the story and provenance...extraordinary! I feel sad for your three nephews, they obviously have zero clue as to the irreplacable treasure they just passed up on. Gobsmacked!
 
fraserdw said:
NB Museum?
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What do you mean? Donate it to a museum? We already put his VC, tunic and cap, pocket watch with VC engraved on the back face with the date of the action he earned the VC, presented to him upon his return from overseas by the city of Bathurst and most of his letters home from 3 years fighting in France to the National War Museum in Ottawa so everyone can see them. The legion in Bathurst is named after him, the Herman James Good VC Memorial Branch. I think everyone got enough....the rifle is staying in the family along with a few other heirlooms, at least until I pass on....lol
 
A quick question? The finish is 3/4 gone from the stock and what is left is dried and peeling. The forend is about 99% bare wood. Should I just leave it as is or rub on a light coat of linseed to protect the exposed wood from the elements while hunting? There are no cracks in the wood and I would hate to see one or more develop from moisture causing swelling then drying.
 
the spank said:
I don’t have the faintest idea how tear down a winchester lever gun? Removing the stock would be about it. Beyond that I’d probably do more harm than good and end up having to bring it to a gunsmith to be put back together. I’ll just give the bore a good cleaning and lube the working parts. Last time it was fired was 2010 or 2011 and that was probably the first time in close to 30 years. I can remember my grandfather carrying it one afternoon/evening for blacktails on vancouver island while I carried the 4:10 for grouse as we walked a powerline near the Nanaimo Lakes chain around 1980 or 81?
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For folks wanting to disassemble a model 94, there are numerous tutorials out there on the web. If ye got minimal gunwork experience though, I'd let a decent smith give 'er a go-over. As for the stocks, I would strip off the old finish and give 'em a hand rubbed coat of tung oil or BLO to make 'em decent. No need to re-blue the metal though to keep the bugger lookin' nice.

I hunted Nanaimo Lakes area in the mid 70's and the conditions were fine & critters plentiful. These days it's bow or buck shot in limited areas.:(
 
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