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Greetings from the Rockies!

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:16 am
by tlaloc007
Hello,
I just joined and wanted to say how incredible this site is! I've learned an amazing amount of information in the last 2 days about these incredible rifles. Thank you so much for taking the time to make a gathering place for people who appreciate what these guns have to offer. So a bit about me.... My father had a beautiful Model 81 in 300 Savage that he bought in 1955 from his boss with a case of ammo for $75 (His wife said he had too many guns, luckily for my Dad!) I heard many great hunting experiences my Dad had in South Dakota with it. He said it was an incredibly hard hitting rifle and a fantastic brush gun. He created an obsession in me. I remember sneaking into the closet as a kid and pulling it out and dreaming of incredible hunts (to me as a kid, the magazine and barrel was how I envisioned a safari rifle should look like :D ) I never shot it with my Dad, but when I was 16, I snuck it out of the house and took it on a camping trip. I think my eyes popped out of my head when I went down range and saw holes all the way through good sized pine trees! I'd fired lots of shotguns, but never experienced anything like that. Years passed and when my Dad had a stroke and passed away, my brother and I divided up his 4 guns.... he got the Model 81 and the Nylon 66. I didn't fare badly, I got his A-5 Light 12 and the single shot .410 my dad worked the whole summer when he was 9 to earn $8 to buy with a box of shells. It was my first gun when I was 12 and my Dad and I had many incredible pheasant hunts with him carrying his A-5. Sentimentality won out of course, but there has been a hole about the 81 since. So 10 years later and I have a Nylon 66 and my Model 81 is on it's way. The internet is a wonderful thing to get me access to a rifle that looks to be in great shape, but I feel like I'm going to have kittens until it gets here!!! As you can see, I have a 40 year connection to these guns, and now I'm on the edge of owning my first! Thanks for reading my story and again, thanks for making this site!

Re: Greetings from the Rockies!

Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 2:38 pm
by Sarge756
Welcome from N.Florida. We know you will enjoy the long awaited 81 when it arrives and hope you will share some photos of it. Your feeling of "having kittens" may be more prophetic than you realize. These old rifles tend to do just that. Before you know it ,just like cats, two or three more will show up at your door. :lol:

Joe

Re: Greetings from the Rockies!

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 7:22 am
by 81police
Great story tlaloc007! It sounds like you and your brother both ended up with wonderful heirlooms. Please post some photos of your incoming 81, we'd all love to see it!

Re: Greetings from the Rockies!

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 4:06 pm
by tlaloc007
So I finally got it! It looks pretty great to me! I've added pictures of it and one with my Dad's A-5. It was a Sophie's Choice situation. All good now. I might be feeling some Jackitis coming on already, but if I come down with a full case, I'll update ;)

Re: Greetings from the Rockies!

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 4:08 pm
by tlaloc007
One pic didn't post so here's a second try....

Re: Greetings from the Rockies!

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 4:22 pm
by tlaloc007
Oh I forgot the details.... manufactured June, 1946 by the barrel code and serial number. A few scratches and wear, but I hope I show as good when I turn 68! It'll be a couple of weeks til I can get to the range. Hoping to get my brother there with my Dad's 81 and we can have a 300 Savage day out.