Posted on 07/07/2012 5:51:46 AM PDT by marktwain
Fairfax, Virginia - After safely stored away in his grandfather's closet for years, the Springfield rifle above almost found it's way to the scrap heap. Luckily Carl was there to save the day. And lucky for us, he brought it in to the National Firearms Museum's for inspection.
"A few of my family members were go through my grandfather's closet and found this stuck inside some plastic wrap," Carl began. "Their first reaction was to give it to the local police department for disposal — to which I exclaimed,'Hold on a minute there.'"
That's when Museum Director Jim Supica grabbed his chest. Crisis, of course, was averted. Richard picked up the rifle, took it home and eventually brought it here to the museum. That's when Supica went to work.
"It's a U.S. Trainer, a .22 long rifle bolt action gun. A Model 1922 Springfield Armory and it's just in exceptional, exceptional condition. I bet it looked like this when it came out of the armory."
Supica continued his inspection of the gun as Senior Curator Phil Schreier made his way into the room. After a quick examination, he escorted Carl into the museum library for a look at a collection of similar rifles on display. They talked more about the gun's history, took a few pictures, packed up the rifle and parted ways.
All thankful that Carl was able to save his grandfather's gun.
Picture at site.
Last one I saw in that condition was going for $2400.00.
TSA confiscates knives daily and some pretty darn nice.....They all dont make it to trhe scrape heap,for some unknown reason.Think thats what happens to collector firearms these PD’s grab during these buy backs??
Sadly, the first thought was to turn it over to the cops! See, brainwashing does work. Guns evil! Must destroy! Thankfully at least one clear thinker was present.
Helping keep mankind warm for 65 years.
I don’t understand what is the big deal? My husband bought a .306 Springfield of the same vintage (military surplus) by mail order from the NRA in 1959 for $35. It had never been fired until my husband sporterized it and has used it for deer hunting ever since. Although my husband’s gun is a different calibre, I’m sure that these surplus trainers were probably sold in the same way and there are probably 1000s of them out there.
My husband’s gun was stolen once, about 25 years ago, but the police got it back for us. It is now safely stored in a Browning gun safe with my sterling silver.
These people are just lucky that gun didn’t sneak down in the night and shoot them all.
Nice!
But why would some fool think to turn it into the police for disposal? It would end up in some cop’s private collection.
These are fairly rare. There’s a big difference in numbers between a Springfield ‘03 from wartime production, and a training rifle for the standing army of the ‘20’s. I’ve seen beat one’s go for $1000+.
I need to point out that I have a special connection to my husband’s Springfield rifle because when I went into labor with our first child, my husband drove the opposite way from the hospital and took me to the gunsmith to pick up his new bolt (made to specially fit the long stock he’d crafted for his gun). It wasn’t until I screamed at him to “TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL, I’m having a baby!” that he turned around and took me to the hospital where our darling daughter was born 12 hours later. 9 lbs, 1 oz.
I remember details like this. LOL.
OK. Point taken, but see my special connection to the .306 in #9.
Yes, family guns have a worth that transcends dollar.
Women, when slighted, have memories that would make an elephant jealous.
So you demanded to be taken to the hospital immediately, even though you then made everyone wait 12 hours.
And women wonder why we don’t understand them :-)
LOLOLOL! I have an equally memorable trip to the hospital with the birth of our 4th child where the terrifying ride actually STOPPED labor for a while. That birth took only 3 hours. I’m still arried to him 54 years later.
arried=married
I was so bummed when I lost my Kershaw Chive to the TSA. I just forgot it was in my pocket. Its always in my pocket.
It was my favorite knife.
Happy ending, I bought another one and I am sure some TSA person is enjoying my first one.
I have a friend who’s mother had the late father’s WWII ACP .45, complete with all the trappings. Had never been fired any more than necessary for the dad to qualify. wrapped pristinely and put away for 75 years.
Mom gave it to the cops for a $50 gift certificate in a buy-back-and-destroy scam. I’m betting the house that gun is in some cop’s private stash.
Heartbreaking. ‘twas worth what, $3k? $4k? I mean, it was new in the box with original paperwork, holster, ammo, etc.
Sheep being led to the slaughter, my FRiend. Somewhere Stalin, Mao,Lenin, and Kruchev are smiling
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