Glenn B
.308 Win
Was a Remington 870 Express combo with a 20" fully rifled barrel, 26" ribbed smoothbore barrel and a laminate stock. Truly the nicest looking 870 Express I have ever seen, wish I had pics of the gun and not just the label to post here and if I think of it will take some tomorrow.
I also sure wish I had a video camera going when he opened it up and saw what was under the wrapping paper. I have not seen him smile and look as happy as that since I gave him his first tackle box while we were fishing at my uncle's pond upstate many years ago or maybe when he insisted on just 5 more casts at Taughannock Falls State Park and I kept insisting we leave. Then - on the very last of those last 5 casts - I thought he hooked a rock, took the pole and handed it back to him because I was wrong. Man, I don't know that I was ever so wrong as evidenced when he reeled in this brown trout:
He was probably around 10-12 then and is 27 now. It was a long time between to have to wait to see that same sort of ultimate in happy smiles once again and yes I have seen many smiles of his over the years but few like the one when he saw the 870 with its laminate stock. Funny thing was, I thought I had already shown him this gun when I bought it way back in May of this year. He swears I did not and thus the absolute surprise evident in his smile when he saw it. That was nice indeed. Made his old man feel perfectly content.
I also have a 20": smoothbore barrel around here somewhere for it, new in the package. I got it at an excellent price at an auction. I'll have to dig it up and give it to him for Christmas or as a going away present early next year if he moves to AR as planned. That way it will be an all around 870 - rifled 20" barrel, smoothbore 20" barrel with rifle sights and the 26" ribbed smoothbore with interchangeable chokes.
Heck, that reduces my 870 collection to two for myself and I have one of them up for sale. Next thing you know I will be an 870 pauper.
All the best,
Glenn B
I also sure wish I had a video camera going when he opened it up and saw what was under the wrapping paper. I have not seen him smile and look as happy as that since I gave him his first tackle box while we were fishing at my uncle's pond upstate many years ago or maybe when he insisted on just 5 more casts at Taughannock Falls State Park and I kept insisting we leave. Then - on the very last of those last 5 casts - I thought he hooked a rock, took the pole and handed it back to him because I was wrong. Man, I don't know that I was ever so wrong as evidenced when he reeled in this brown trout:
He was probably around 10-12 then and is 27 now. It was a long time between to have to wait to see that same sort of ultimate in happy smiles once again and yes I have seen many smiles of his over the years but few like the one when he saw the 870 with its laminate stock. Funny thing was, I thought I had already shown him this gun when I bought it way back in May of this year. He swears I did not and thus the absolute surprise evident in his smile when he saw it. That was nice indeed. Made his old man feel perfectly content.
I also have a 20": smoothbore barrel around here somewhere for it, new in the package. I got it at an excellent price at an auction. I'll have to dig it up and give it to him for Christmas or as a going away present early next year if he moves to AR as planned. That way it will be an all around 870 - rifled 20" barrel, smoothbore 20" barrel with rifle sights and the 26" ribbed smoothbore with interchangeable chokes.
Heck, that reduces my 870 collection to two for myself and I have one of them up for sale. Next thing you know I will be an 870 pauper.
All the best,
Glenn B
