I have a 742 Remington and a Stevens 940 Polk Stalk

by Bob Hatfield , Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 07:50 (3 days ago) @ AaronB

as my only "Heirlooms" from my old man. He bought his 742 in the late 70's, but it was just a tool. I'll probably eventually sell it. I have a Stevens Model 940 that my mother bought him from Alden's in 1964 for I believe $49.99. I remember we were living in Chicago, and dad went out on the back porch on New Years Day 1965 and shot it up in the air. I might keep it maybe but had no immediate family to leave anything to. Might leave it to my sister's grandsons.

I should sell both of them as my old man used to sell every gun he gave to me. I remember my mother bought me an "American Eagle" 22 rifle. Single shot with stupid sights that were loose and wobbly. Couldn't hit the broad sight of a barn because nobody in my family, uncles included knew diddly squat about such things. And as a ten-year-old I didn't either. The old man sold it or traded it.

I remember the 22 rifle in 1965 cost $19.99 from Aldens catalog mailed straight to the house. I found out later in a Numrich catalog that the 22 was made by Noble. I do wish I had it back, just so I could fix the sights and reminisce about the missed squirrels.

The Old Man did have a Remington nylon 66 that he gave his dad back in the day and got it back when his dad died. I learned my excellent mechanical fine motor skills at about 16 years of age when I totally disassembled the Nylon 66. It took 4 or 5 hours to reassemble. Later in life I had a Rifle Disassembly book, and it described how far to take a Nylon 66 down. it said after removing the barrel and receiver cover "further disassembly is NOT recommended. My sister has that rifle now.

I just had a thought. Digging ditches is all he ever taught me anyway. And by Golly's I got to where I forced myself to enjoy it. It gives you a long time to think by yourself as nobody is going to bother you since they are afraid, they will feel the need to help. Once in around 2005 at 50 years old I had the chance to connect to the city sewer lines. I had to dig 36-inch-deep ditch 200 feet to connect. Put all the pipe in and covered it up. I used a pick, mattock, pointed dirt shovel and square dirt shovel. I dug 10 feet per day after working in the coal mines. Friends said I was crazy and that I should rent a backhoe. Little did they know that I was reliving my youth. Rant over about heirlooms.

Bob