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First of all, I would like to dedicate this post to my father who has been an avid Winchester collector for most of his life and is the reason for my Winchester addiction. A few months ago, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Knowing the harsh reality that his days are numbered, he gifted a couple of his prized Winchesters to my brother and I. Mine is an 1886 takedown in 40-82 made in 1895 (photos below). My brother got a beautiful 1895 deluxe in 35 WCF. Both of these guns are in rather high condition and are borderline “safe queens.” Dad and I always thought it would be fun just to take them out and shoot them just once. Anyway, in preparation for my dad’s 86th birthday, my brother and I were able to aquire some 40-82 and 35 WCF ammo (both very spendy) and surprised him with a trip to the range. It was a real kick shooting these old gals. I attached a video of my dad (supporting his hero with the Donald Trump hat) at the range as well as my 16-year old son shooting that 1895 deluxe. Anyway, it was a day I will never forget and my dad is still tickled about it. Anyway, I would like to hear other collector’s stories about their sentimental Winchesters that will never leave the family.
Don
Hello Don,
I am saddened to hear that your dad (Don Sr.) has cancer, and I hope that he can ride it out without any negative affect on his quality of life. That was an awesome outing and a superb way to thank him for his gracious gifts to you and your brother. Is the August OAC show going to be held this year? If so, I will do my best to make the trip to Portland this year for the show.
Best,
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks for for the kind words Bert. It would be great to see you again, but unfortunately the August OAC show has been cancelled.
Don
Don, I don’t know that I KNOW you, if you catch my drift. Maybe I do, but not by your on line moniker. Regardless, I hurt to hear that your dad has terminal cancer. My great hope is that he can leave this earth with dignity and grace. That was a truly special thing you and your brother did for and with him! Tim
Don I don’t know you but am sad to hear a bout your Dad. I enjoyed hearing about your day at the range with Dad,and it’s stories like this that make me wonder how anyone,ignorant of firearms, can’t understand how they can bring family and friends together while creating lifelong memories….. I guess that makes us the lucky ones
Don – that’s very tough. I’ve been there. I lost my Dad to cancer. He passed nine years ago. He was 75. He made it 13 years after his diagnosis. His Winchester M1886 was the spark that lit my collecting passion. That .33 WCF was his first deer rifle. He was a very young man when he bought it. As a young man he was interested in the new developments. He let his younger brother use the .33 and Dad bought a Remington M740 in .280. He bought it the first year the .280 came out. In the picture below – he is carrying the .280 while I watch him with very small binoculars drag a deer in. I’m smiling to myself as I write this. My Dad favored a semi-automatic as he wanted a repeating rifle that was fast to operate. So, he went from the Remington 740 to a Winchester Model 100 to a Remington Model 7400. All single-shots! By that, I mean they were all prone to jamming. His .33 never jammed once! It was (and still is) the perfect deep woods deer rifle!
Don –
Let me add that’s a beautiful .40-82. Great condition, take-down, antique status, letters – that is quite the keeper. And that three generation range trip you took was a great experience. Very cool.
Don,
Thank you for sharing such nice Winchesters and the a great trip to the range with the guy who got you started in collecting, along with your son, who will hopefully be one of the next generations of collectors. I’m sure you made their day.
God bless.
Al
November 7, 2015
Offline
Good job! It’s tough to lose someone to cancer but memories like this will give you something to smile about in years to come.
Mike
Don, I’m so sorry to hear about your dad’s cancer.
What a wonderful thing you did for him – and your son! Looks like a terrific experience and treasured memories for three generations of your family. Well done!! Mark
“Anyway, it was a day I will never forget and my dad is still tickled about it. Anyway, I would like to hear other collector’s stories about their sentimental Winchesters that will never leave the family.”
Don – apparently you and I are the only collectors who have sentimental Winchesters. I’ll add another one. A family used Model 1897 pump 12 gauge. It was my Dad’s that he bought as his first shotgun. When he moved away from the farm, he left it there part of each year for my grandfather to use. My grandfather had a single-shot .410 and that worked ok for grouse. It wasn’t good on ducks however and he enjoyed using my Dad’s ’97 for them. I did some hunting with it as well, starting at a young age.
Surely some of the other guys around here have a sentimental Winchester story?
steve004 said
“Anyway, it was a day I will never forget and my dad is still tickled about it. Anyway, I would like to hear other collector’s stories about their sentimental Winchesters that will never leave the family.”Don – apparently you and I are the only collectors who have sentimental Winchesters. I’ll add another one. A family used Model 1897 pump 12 gauge. It was my Dad’s that he bought as his first shotgun. When he moved away from the farm, he left it there part of each year for my grandfather to use. My grandfather had a single-shot .410 and that worked ok for grouse. It wasn’t good on ducks however and he enjoyed using my Dad’s ’97 for them. I did some hunting with it as well, starting at a young age.
Surely some of the other guys around here have a sentimental Winchester story?
Those are some great memories and photos. Thanks for sharing. Were you lucky enough to hang onto that old 1886 and 1897 and keep in the family? Guns like those are very special since you were around when many of those stories were in the making.
deerhunter said
Those are some great memories and photos. Thanks for sharing. Were you lucky enough to hang onto that old 1886 and 1897 and keep in the family? Guns like those are very special since you were around when many of those stories were in the making.
Oh yes, there are in the family and will remain so.
Sorry to hear about your father.
I reload and shoot my 40-82 quite often. Its my favorite rifle, and means alot to me. Its my first rifle I bought myself. Not in super nice condition like yours. ive done alot of work to it to make it mine.
It also took forever to get good loads, it was a picky caliber to figure out , but I got it in the end. 
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