I collect guns, there I said it. Those of us that collect have to speak in whispers about or hobby. We have been called gun nuts and several other things by the media. We are questioned about why we have so many, or asked what we need them for. Few other hobbies draw as much criticism as an avid gun collector. I don\u2019t hunt, I do not have any moral objection to and will gladly assist my friends that do. I am adamant about firearm safety.
\nOne of the things I enjoy most is seeing kids under proper supervision learn to shoot. I am often asked what I recommend as a first real rifle for a kid, my answer is a Henry Lever action .22 caliber youth model. It\u2019s made in the USA and I do not think a finer rifle can be had at any price. I know for a fact that if you send the president of that company an email he will respond personally. Now I have not been paid a dime or given any incentive to say kind things about that company. I will say everyone who has shot my .45 colt big boy or my .22 have owned one of their own within a few months.
\nI am going to talk about one of my favorite guns in my collection. It is a Mossberg model 44 US trainer .22 caliber. Mine was made as close as I can figure in June of 1943. It has a bull barrel with Lyman peep sights that are original. I found it in a pawn shop several years ago and after some haggling got it for 55 dollars. I already had a Mossberg Model 35a and figured that the 44 US would shoot as good or better.
\nI had wanted a Model 44 US for a very long time. I fell in love with it when I was 11 years old and went to Boy Scout camp for the first time. At that time the rifle and shotgun merit badge course was taught by an active duty Soldier on loan from Ft Bragg. We used the model 44. He was very strict about range safety but he let us have fun. It was at that camp that I became fascinated with how a firearm worked and the things that would cause them to malfunction.
\nAll of my kids learned to shoot first with the model 44 and then with my 35a (I scoped it). They have all been given a Henry of their own with one exception, my middle son wanted my Marlin Model 60 that my parents had given me as a boy. A range trip with one or more of my kids consist of several guns being taken. They love the AKs and ARs as well as the bigger stuff like the 1903 or the 1919 (Yes I have one) but when it comes down to who can out shoot the other the .22s come out. Tic Tac Toe at 100 yards, looser has to clean. More often than not I loose but I don\u2019t mind. I still love the smell of Hoppes 9.<\/p>\n
The pistol in the in the photo is my 1953 Colt Detective Special. \u00a038 special with original mother of pearl grips. \u00a0It is in near mint condition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"