Heirloom/Legacy Shotgun

[SeamusMac]

Hey All,

I was looking at a knife that used to belong to my grandfather the other day and got to thinking lately that it might be nice to create an heirloom shotgun for my family that would be useful for hunting and serve as a record of lineage. I'm still not sure how I want the lineage to be engraved into the shotgun but just as an example I might start off with something similar to what's shown below. Names would be added in chronological order as it gets passed down. I'd have a professional do the engraving so hopefully it would look nicer than the example as well...

I'd like to avoid (within reason) any shotgun that is likely to be targeted by future anti-gun activists while still be versatile. My initial thought is the Remington 870. I've never owned one but they seem to be well-regarded, priced appropriately and easily adapted to suit most hunting situations simply by changing the barrel, plus there's plenty of room on the receiver for engraving.

Does anyone on CGN already have a piece like this or thought about creating one? I'd love to see some examples or hear your feedback on the Rem 870 in this role. I can't think of any other firearm out there that would be better-suited in terms of flexibility and longevity.

 

[canvasback]

If semis get banned, pumps will be the next target. Break action would be the safest.

It was pumps and semis that Australian went after. Pumps have a magazine tube and that's damn scary!

 

[brybenn]

The pic didnt show but an ithaca 37 can be ordered with blank sides on the receiver or custom engraved at the factory. The 37 ejects out the bottom leaving a canvas on both sides of the receiver. It is a pump action

 

[Jay]

I am curious what your price range is, if it's to be a heirloom piece you'll want to buy something nice...

What about a nice cased double? And rather than engraving the firearm, which would be very difficult to do 'tastefully', how about a custom label inside the cover of the shotgun case, with space to add future owners names?

Something like the pic below, but tailored to suit your needs?

Cheers
Jay
P.S. My wife & I both have custom Cooper rifles, the serial number is our initials & year of birth... Just another idea for you, should you go the custom shop route...

 

[kamlooky]

That's good thinking Jay.
This way a nice piece isn't bubbuhhudditted.

 

[leveractionjunkie]

I’d go with Jay’s idea I’m some version or another. Whichever suits you best.

 

[Butcherbill]

Just get an electro pencil and have everyone that it’s passed down to engrave their DL# or SIN# on it, it’s a Canadian tradition lol. Seriously though, I like Jays idea. Much nicer that engraving the gun repeatedly.

 

[Mark Mags]

Although Jay's idea (paper in case) is good, here's my take:

A 870 WINGMASTER (not express!) is a great shotgun. It's even better when it gets used. A professional engraver could add your name to start HOWEVER...it's one thing to pass down a object, it's another thing altogether to pass along a item that has memories attached to it.

Buying a safe queen will sure look nice in the decades to come, but that's it. A good looking shotgun.
A 870 (as op asked about) that has been used, and used WITH the person next in line, with pictures, laughs, and stories, now that's what makes it priceless. And that person will do it with the next and so on etc etc.

As far as worrying about pump and what will happen in the future...I find it's better to live "in the now" and NOT restrict my purchases now for fear of the future grabbers.

 

[Jay]

Mark Mags is right, the memories is what matters. And I like the idea of including photos and stories, your custom case could include a spot for them...

But I still think something nicer is in order... Case in point... I imagine whichever family member inherits my Parallelo will be very very happy. (Hopefully my daughter has some interest in hunting/shooting... If so, a custom stock will be in order before I kick off...)

Cheers
Jay

 

[leveractionjunkie]

Pretty sure there are British doubles shooting driven pheasant and grouse from the same station as they were 100 plus years ago by the descendants of those who were doing so 100 plus years ago. Just because a gun is a beautifully crafted, well stocked and engraved piece does not mean it can’t be taken out and shot every season. I’d argue it almost criminal not too.

Having said that if the OP’s tastes lean towards an 870 wingmaster or similar then they’ll work just as well. Most decent guns will outlast many lifetimes. It’s the wear and marks and memories that make them an heirloom. The nice thing with Jays idea is the record kept within the case as to who has owned the piece through the years.

 

[Jay]

I'm loving this thread. I'll be including the two pics below with my o/u when it is passed on.

With any luck, my daughter will...

Cheers
Jay

 

[Ganderite]

I have a picture of my mother, taken when she was a young teenager, with a single shot 410 shot gun in hand. Her father was a homesteader in northern B.C. and they ate off the land. Her job was partridge and rabbits.

I have that shotgun. I know it is the same one because of a distinctive mark on it. My brother has my father's 12 ga pump that I recall him buying in 1955, and I went on a number of duck hunts with him in Alberta and saw him and that gun in action.

Those two guns are as close as we have to "family heirlooms". I have a number of guns, but they are just tools and toys and I doubt anyone in my family would consider them "heirlooms".

What make my mother's gun special is the picture of her with it in 1930. If she had engraved her name on it, that would not have made it more special, but would just have identified it as hers.

OP, I think the only gun your family will remember is the one that you actually use a lot, and especially if you shoot it with the kids. If you engrave you name in it, make is small and simple.

 

[MK2750]

I would go with a gold or silver stock oval on the bottom of the butt stock. Initials or family crest on an oval is the traditional way of marking an heirloom shotgun without ruining the value. As mentioned, calling a gun an heirloom doesn't make it one. It needs some history.

 

[gunsaholic]

Jay's idea of a case is a good idea. I have been thinking of doing that for a Superposed 20 gauge I have. It was bought new by my uncle, then when he passed away it went to one of his son's for awhile. However it happened, the stock managed to get snapped in half at the wrist and the gun sat, obviously getting unused. My dad (brother to my uncle who bought it new) got ahold of it and I found a stock for it. My dad used it for a couple of years and now I have it. It will be passed on to someone else in the family when I'm done with it. Having this information kept in a case is a great way to record and pass on its history.

 

[SeamusMac]

Hey all,

Thanks for all the great responses! Lots of very insightful input in this thread already.

I like the idea of a cased shotgun but I wonder about the price, versatility and availability of replacement part for a double. I'll have to do some more research on what my options are but ideally I'd like to start with a shotgun in the $500-$700 range that is capable of hunting everything from rabbits and grouse to deer and possibly even moose when properly setup. There certainly could be a double on the market that would fit the bill but my current situation doesn't allow for the purchase of a higher-end firearm and I reckon I should get the ball rolling on this sooner rather than later because, well, you never know... Which is why the 870 Express is my current front runner. Not sure if a super mag would be necessary; going to have to talk to some buddies who waterfowl as I'd like to try goose hunting some day. I'd like to be capable of hunting all maritime species by simply swapping out the barrel; this could include wild turkey and feral pigs some day.

Adding a case at a later date that is customized to include spaces for multiple barrels, optic, chokes, cleaning kit and pictures/stories (maybe a hunting journal?) is an excellent alternative to repeatedly engraving the receiver and I'm totally sold on this idea. The cased shotgun below is a pretty high-end example, but you get the idea. I'm thinking of spaces for the following:

• Receiver & Butt Stock
• 28" Rem Choke Barrel w/ Vented Rib
• 22" Rem Choke Barrel w/ Vented Rib
• 20" Rifled Slug Barrel w/ Cantilever Mount & Optic
• Rem Chokes
• Cleaning Kit
• Case for photos, family history & stories/journal

Going to need to do a lot more research on which barrels I should eventually purchase but I reckon three would cover me for waterfowl, upland game and big game.

 

[canvasback]

Okay, I've thought about this one for a while. Partly because I am the current custodian of a Fox bought in 1909 by my great grandfather. And while we have no pics of him using it, I do have a photo of my grandfather with it, showing off a mixed bag after a day's hunt in 1946. My brother has a Winchester Model 1894 SRC bought by another great grandfather in 1903. Both of us treasure these guns.

The Fox is an A grade 12 gauge, and in it's un-restored condition would only fetch about $700 in today's market. When it was about 95 years old, I had it completely restored. I use it every year. Absolutely not a safe queen. In fact, every turkey I have taken in the last 10 years has been with that gun. I like that because in the mixed bag photo from 1946, my grandfather has a turkey, among other birds. The gun is doing what it should and developing new stories and history each year. And IMHO, that's the critical part of the deal for your descendants. Are there stories that go with the gun. If it sits in a safe, it loses the sentimental value.

You may not be aware of this but right now, the case you describe will cost more than the gun you have your eye on. I would suggest you need to think of the project in the long term. Not what you can afford now but what can you afford over the next 10-20 years as you assemble all the different things you would like to have be part of it. You don't have to get it all next week, much as you would like to. In fact, by not rushing out and buying everything as soon as you are able, you have a chance to let the search for different components be part of the lore of the gun.

Having said the quality of the gun is not a key issue, if you are talking about something that will be valued and used 100 years from now, you better not buy a disposable gun. A current, new 870 express is a disposable gun. Now, I have a 870, and love it. So don't get me wrong. But if you are going with an 870, buy something from the era when they were made with the greatest quality. A current Express has been cheapened to hit a price point. Part of what I'm suggesting here is not to worry about whether it's bought new or used. 80 years from now that won't matter. Don't worry about parts availability 50 years from now......odds are they will have to be made from scratch, like most parts I might need for any of my vintage SxS. A guy with a Model T doesn't expect to pop down to Crappy Tire to pick up a new running board.

I still think a pump gun, while not as risky as a semi, is a risky choice. When they get around to banning shotguns, like Australia, it will be semis and pumps. A break action is a much safer choice. And there are many very good quality used break action guns that can be had for under $1000.

And finally, I would not engrave the gun, unless in a very discreet and hidden spot. If the gun gets passed down, as you hope, you will run out of room. I'm not sure where I would engrave the names and dates of all the different owners of my Fox. There are metal crests designed for this that go on the underside of the stock. Most guns that have them just have one, but there is no reason why you couldn't have a series of them. Lots of room and don't get in the way or change the way the gun feels. But mostly, I just wouldn't. I'd have the gun as the maker intended, and I'd fill the case with hunting diaries, photos and other mementos.

Whatever you decide to do, it's a great idea. And if you are lucky, your heirs will value it as you do, although there are no guarantees of that. All you can do is set the table. They have to decide to pull up a chair. Here's hoping they do!

 

[Butcherbill]

Hey all,

Thanks for all the great responses! Lots of very insightful input in this thread already.

I like the idea of a cased shotgun but I wonder about the price, versatility and availability of replacement part for a double. I'll have to do some more research on what my options are but ideally I'd like to start with a shotgun in the $500-$700 range that is capable of hunting everything from rabbits and grouse to deer and possibly even moose when properly setup. There certainly could be a double on the market that would fit the bill but my current situation doesn't allow for the purchase of a higher-end firearm and I reckon I should get the ball rolling on this sooner rather than later because, well, you never know... Which is why the 870 Express is my current front runner. Not sure if a super mag would be necessary; going to have to talk to some buddies who waterfowl as I'd like to try goose hunting some day. I'd like to be capable of hunting all maritime species by simply swapping out the barrel; this could include wild turkey and feral pigs some day.

Adding a case at a later date that is customized to include spaces for multiple barrels, optic, chokes, cleaning kit and pictures/stories (maybe a hunting journal?) is an excellent alternative to repeatedly engraving the receiver and I'm totally sold on this idea. The cased shotgun below is a pretty high-end example, but you get the idea. I'm thinking of spaces for the following:

• Receiver & Butt Stock
• 28" Rem Choke Barrel w/ Vented Rib
• 22" Rem Choke Barrel w/ Vented Rib
• 20" Rifled Slug Barrel w/ Cantilever Mount & Optic
• Rem Chokes
• Cleaning Kit
• Case for photos, family history & stories/journal

Going to need to do a lot more research on which barrels I should eventually purchase but I reckon three would cover me for waterfowl, upland game and big game.

Look at the 870 express 3 barrel combos, they come with a 28” vent rib barrel and 20” barrel with f/o rifle sights that are threaded for chokes, as well as a 23” rifled slug barrel with a cantelevered mount. I bought one last year and can’t find anything to complain about, well except for the price of sabots but that’s not the guns fault haha. You’ll get the 28” for waterfowl and upland, the 20” for upland and other small game in thick bush plus foster slugs for deer with the rifle sights are very accurate and then the rifled slug barrel for sabots out past 100-150y.

I swapped out the synthetic stock for a nice laminate stock set and added a couple parts to upgrade factory items, it’s been a great shotgun. I did the math when I bought it and the package saved me a couple hundred bucks when I priced out buying the extra barrels separately, it has quickly become my favourite shotgun to head into the woods with.

 

[SeamusMac]

Thanks for the thoughtful replies canvasback & Butcherbill; greatly appreciate your input.

canvasback, definitely agree with you about buying bits and pieces over the years as I can afford them and the final case will probably be close to the last piece I get. I'll buy a cheap case for the time being just to keep everything together but I'd like to build the final case myself if my skills are a match for the challenge. I'm still a bit torn over the pump vs. break-action dilemma... The break-action is without a doubt the safer bet but I'm not sure that I'd be able to find one that will tick-off all the boxes. I'm going to have to do a bit more research on rifled slug (or rifled choke) accuracy and see how they compare to a fully rifled slug barrel. An older 870 would certainly be preferred over a new production shotgun, not sure where the sweet spot for quality/age lies but Google will help me figure that out.

Butcherbill, the 3-barrel combo is what I'm aiming for at the moment. Seems to me that with those three barrels you listed I'd be set for all the game species in Nova Scotia. It would be ideal to have a receiver capable of handling barrels with a 3.5" chamber but I'm looking at purchasing an older 870 so I'm not sure if they made the heavier receivers back in the 60's-70's... More research!

 

[Bait ban]

Here’s an idea I had: my first firearm purchase I bought I nice rifle that was intended as an heirloom. Instead of engraving the rifle, I had a leather sling custom made for it, with a series of pockets to accept coins. I found a mint condition Silver coin dated 1979 (my birth year) and had the back polished and details like my full name and birthdate engraved in it. I did the same for my son, who one day will own the gun, and when he has a child, I will do the same as well. The rifles value isn’t compromised, the coins are common and at best are worth their weight in silver, but there still is a record of lineage present with the rifle.

 

[jric1308]

Here’s an idea I had: my first firearm purchase I bought I nice rifle that was intended as an heirloom. Instead of engraving the rifle, I had a leather sling custom made for it, with a series of pockets to accept coins. I found a mint condition Silver coin dated 1979 (my birth year) and had the back polished and details like my full name and birthdate engraved in it. I did the same for my son, who one day will own the gun, and when he has a child, I will do the same as well. The rifles value isn’t compromised, the coins are common and at best are worth their weight in silver, but there still is a record of lineage present with the rifle.

That's a great idea!