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Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Minnesota

As I was out shoveling snow tonight (shoveled snow 4 times today), a memory flashed into my head from 3 years ago in early fall when I was mowing the neighbor's lawn and getting anxious for grouse season to open. Norm, the next door neighbor, always had a story and on this particular occasion he was telling me a hunting tale, of the old days and trusty hounds he had owned back in the 40's/50's, now I never pictured him as a hunter, but apparently after Norm came back from Korea he was working at a hardware store in South Minneapolis which he eventually purchased in the 60’s and ran for 30years, but before buying the place he had plenty of time to chase birds and Norm's first major purchase after coming back from Korea was a shotgun from that hardware store.

That day 3years ago after mowing Norm’s lawn and hearing some great tales of chasing pheasants way down South in Bloomington, MN, he went into his house and came out with his shotgun, 16ga Remington model 11 28" barrel w/VR and a modified choke in perfect condition, he even keep it in the original box and packaging. After showing me the gun, he wanted to give it to me for helping out around the house/yard as there was no one in his family that was interested in having it. I told him that I could not take it, but I would be interested in purchasing it from him, over the next few days after that conversation he ended up getting vary sick and 3 months later in November he died.

His wife is still living in the house and I had asked her last summer if she was interested in selling Norm's shotgun, she gave me a blank face... she had no idea that he even had a gun, as he did not get married till he was in his 40's and had no longer hunted, she had never seen the shotgun...

So as I was shoveling out the end of our driveways tonight after the snow plow went by and buried us in, the thought of that model 11 was running thru my head and how I should have accepted the offer when the opportunity presented itself. Somewhere in that one level 800 sq/ft house is hidden a 16ga Remington model 11 28" barrel w/VR in great condition...

Just thought I would share the story, as that was the first time I held a 16ga in my hands.

Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 989 Location: Las Vegas

Great story Mattson! If it were me I'd be tempted to wait till the widow was picking up the mail and then sneak up behind her and hit over the head with the snow shovel and ransack the house till I found the gun! Very Happy

(Just kidding!)

Yeah, you should have taken him up on his offer. I don't have kids and when I die (if I do) I don't know what will become of them. Probably won't care!

Matt

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

Just goes to show we never know what the future -immediate or long term holds in store.I have a senile great aunt in possession of a original "Yellow Boy" Winchester---claims her husband never owned any guns Shocked

I remember seeing this rifle in my youth---can't help but wonder if it is still in the farmhouse under the mattress Rolling Eyes