What are friends for?

[Adam Helmer]

Last Saturday night at the square dance at my American Legion Post, a fellow in our set had just retired from his business and told me he was cleaning out his store. In the distant past, he provided merchandise to a fellow short of cash and "took in two rifles" in lieu of cash. I asked what did he accept? The fellow said, "I dunno, they are .308s I guess." I arranged to see the rifles and both were bolt actions. I asked him what he wanted in the way of money. He said I got $90 in parts, so give me $100 and the two guns are yours. I gave him two Fifty dollar bills, pronto.

I got an Excellent Rock Island High Number Model 1903 .30-06 rifle and a Very Good Remington P-17 .30-06 serial number 8XXX. This is the lowest Remington P-17 serial number I have ever seen in all my life; one of the first ten thousand ever made! Both rifles had M1907 leather rifle slings that have dry rotted from being set by for decades. One rifle had a nickeled brass oiler cleaning kit in the stock.

[Jack]

Nice deal!

[Dan Morris]

Dang it, you always find this stuff.......congrats.
Dan

[Gil Martin]

Good catch, all the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil, Dan and Jack,

To be more accurate, the store owner is a very dear friend and fellow square dance person hereabouts. He is not a "gun guy" and actually only wanted to be rid of rifles he had on hand for decades. He was vacating his store location and was relieved to be rid of the guns. I told him I did not need any more guns, but he insisted I "take them away." I did tell him they were worth more than $100 and he said it was worth it to him to have them gone.

I see that same mind set at yard sales in my area. It applies to guns as well as WWII GI kit. I obtained a large pile of WWII GI uniforms, web gear, books and medals sold cheap by next-of-kin who had no interest in the stuff. As president for the past 12 years of my county historical society, I have culled nice stuff for our military history room in our museum. The $100 rifles will be cleaned, lightly oiled and placed on display with the dry leather slings I am oiling to restore former condition.

A few years ago we were notified by a lawyer that the society was beneficiary for 187 guns. A life member, and WWII veteran major, bequeathed two houses full of stuff to us. I carefully examined the guns and retained 40 very historical arms and the rest were sold at auction. Our museum is the best I could hope for.

Adam