I need advice, and would love input.

D

Dolsak

New member
Greetings all!

First a little background.
I'm currently a senior in High School, and an NS4, (4th year Cadet), in my School's Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, (Hereafter referred to as NJROTC), program.
It has become something of a tradition in our unit for the graduating NS4s to present our Senior Naval Science Instructor, (Hereafter referred to as Captain), with a gift at or near Graduation. Past years have given Captain Plaques and the like, and the seniors last year gave him a shadowbox with the Uniform nametags of all the NS4s along with a group picture.

It's early in the year, but I've already been brainstorming ideas for my class' gift to Captain. Earlier today, I was toying around with an Idea, and it's definitely taken root in my mind.

Captain is an avid shooter, and loves the .45 ACP, so what if we gave him a 1911?
But not just any 1911. This one would be personal.

Using one of my airsoft guns, (I'm 17, don't hate), I can kind of give you an idea of what I'm thinking.

039.jpg


Now, in my mind, I see "NJROTC CLASS OF 2012" engraved about where "US Combat 1911" is in the picture, perhaps with Captain's name engraved beneath it.
I also envision the names of the Cadets, (14 of us) carved into the stocks, 7 on one side and 7 on the other.

Now what I'm wondering is what kind of price tag would I be looking at for that?
I'd also appreciate hearing, (or reading :p), your thoughts and opinions on the idea.

I haven't presented the idea to my fellow cadets yet, because I want to have a ballpark estimate of what it'd cost us before just throwing it out there.

Captain is an incredible man, and has been kind of a father figure for me since my father was taken from us by cancer last April.
I really want to be able to make this work.

I think it's a gift he'd remember, don't you? :D

As always, ANY input is appreciated, and I look forward to bouncing my ideas off of y'all as this pans out.

Thank you in advance,
~Dolsak
 
First I strongly recommend you give this gift outside of school. My best advice to you is to bring it somewhere that does engraving and get a quote, that will be your best bet of getting an idea price wise since every place varies in price. As an alternative gift idea, why not find out what his prized pistol is and buy real grips (they're called grips on a pistol, not stocks) And get the grips engraved with whatever you feel comfortable with.
 
First I strongly recommend you give this gift outside of school
Click to expand...

I agree with you about 98%.
I have a good reputation with the staff, and with enough prior planning, MAY be able to swing an in-school presentation by the Principal and Security officer.
But I certainly wouldn't just waltz in with it.
 
The engraving is the wild card. Perhaps just custom grips with the names on them on a good quality 1911a1. I would expect this to run a grand at a minimum...

Tony
 
gifts

You may also want to check with a senior NCO in your unit, there may be a limitation on the dollar amount you can spend, additionally many schools have similar restrictions on dollar amounts.
 
Depending on what brand and model you get, a new 1911 pistol is going to be at least $650 - $800 for any of the basic models of mainline brands like Colt, Springfield Armory, and Kimber. Taurus or Rock Island may run $450 - $600. Nice walnut grips may be another $35-$50, plus engraving. These are just ballpark figures.

If that is too much then just the engraved walnut, cocobola, faux ivory, or even aluminum (maybe with gold leaf inlay) grips would still be very nice.

You could also get a nice presentation case for his favorite pistol with a engraved plaque on the lid. Felt lined.
 
Darkroommike has a very good point. I think I was limited to accepting gifts with a value of less than $100.00. (If I did want to keep a gift that was valued at over $100.00 I would have had to pay for it. I believe the money went to the US Treasury.)

Just the grips alone would mean a lot to him (If another class has not already done it :eek:).
 
Having nothing to add to what the other forum fellows have said, I'd come with a suggestion just in case budget is a concern.

What about saving a little on pistol engravings?. Maybe your Captain's name on the slide would do. Then get a nice box for the pistol, a quality one, and either on the outside or the inside of it, engrave your "class of 2012" thing and the names of you guys. I guess it would be cheaper than engraving the pistol, and on the other hand, you won't saturate the pistol's looks with all those engravings. Perhaps it's a good idea to keep the looks of a good 1911 as unaltered as possible, ain't it? ;).

I suggest this because we'll be doing something similar for our boss (also a Captain, gets retired next year) in the form a handcrafted pen-knife, which will be engraved with his name (on the blade), and contained in a wooden box with a metal plaque inside, with a dedication. The outside of the box will be engraved with our unit's badge.

Hope that helps ;)
 
Mi amigo de Espana (sorry, Noredeste, don't know how to put the ~ over the n) beat me to it. My thought was to get a pistol that he would appreciate with a presentation box, and have a local trophy shop make a brass plate with your choice of engraving to go on or in the box. That would personalize it while not adding engraving to the gun itself that you can't be sure your mentor will like. Lots of guys like the clean look on their pistols, as Nordeste said.

Since he is military, he might like a Beretta 92 or M9 if he doesn't already have one. Very nice guns and might come in a shade cheaper than a 1911 of comparable quality.
 
You may also want to check with a senior NCO in your unit, there may be a limitation on the dollar amount you can spend, additionally many schools have similar restrictions on dollar amounts.
Click to expand...

That's my next step after determining a rough cost for the whole shebang.
A valid point though, thanks. :)


Then get a nice box for the pistol, a quality one, and either on the outside or the inside of it, engrave your "class of 2012" thing and the names of you guys.
Click to expand...

I'm liking this idea. :)
I think you're right, that it would look a LOT less cluttered than having all that writing on the pistol itself.


Quick question.
Actually, two of 'em.

1.) When engraving the slide, you don't have to worry about reducing structural integrity, or chamber pressure, or anything like that, right?

2.) How involved is installation of new grips on a 1911? Is it as simple as it looks from the outside?
 
As others have said....I'd forgo any engraving and spend that monies getting a better quality firearm. I doubt if your instructor will forget those that gave it to him. The presentation box with an engraved plate with the names of those in the class is a much better idea.
 
I would first go to the principal of your school and find out if there are any dollar restrictions as to the "gift". As has been said, a lot of public law has been written to discourage "bribery", and while this is not bribery, it may very well be covered under such law. At the same time your principal can clear your for the presentation, or not. Another thing you really need to know

Be careful. There have been many laws written with good intentions that can unintentially turn honest men into criminals.

If the guys in your group can afford an engraved pistol, and it is legal, I would go for it. If not as has been suggested already, a set of grips would be a very nice gift.
 
So now, I'm seeing a pistol in a presentation box.
The box has a brass plate on the inside of the lid with the Cadet's names, etc. inscribed on it.

The pistol itself has Captain's Name engraved on the slide, and perhaps the O-6 Eagle carved into the grips, about where that Triangle emblem is in the picture.

Assuming there are no rules or codes in place to prevent this gift, how does that sound?
 
sorry, Noredeste, don't know how to put the ~ over the n
Click to expand...

Try setting the keyboard layout to "spanish", the "Ñ" should be next to the L character ;). Alternatively, there's a combination of keyboard buttons that'll bring up a window with alternate characters, but I'm sorry I can't remember which one...

Assuming there are no rules or codes in place to prevent this gift, how does that sound?
Click to expand...

Sounds perfect to me :D. You bet your Captain will like the gift.

And good luck with your naval career. It looks like you'll become a competent and sound Officer in the near future.
 
Engraving does not effect any structural integrity, it is simply a cosmetic thing. The grips can be changed on a 1911 very easily (it requires no gun smithing)
 
The grips can be changed on a 1911 very easily (it requires no gun smithing)
Click to expand...

Like 'pop out those two screws, replace grips, reinsert screws' easily?

Thanks to all who responded. :)
I'd still be glad to hear any opinions you all may have.

I'll probably follow up on this as the situation evolves. :D
 
See posts #5 and #7. It's been a few years since I was active duty Navy, but there used to be a $100 limit on gifts. You could put the Captain in a bad ethical position by giving him a 1911, even though it is a very nice idea. He would have to refuse it, and you'd be out the money you had put into it.

The other issue being, you'd have to involve an adult third party, to make the gift purchase... It would be complex, and would probably violate military limits on gifts.

That doesn't mean you have to give him a plaque. Be creative, just keep your costs down.

Edit: For instance, if you can determine if your Captain already owns a 1911, you might be able to find a shop that would custom engrave some 1911 grips for $100 or less. The Captain could add those to his personal sidearm.
 
Thinking about this, one of our members, Sarge43, makes custom 1911 grips. I know, I have a pair on my CBOB. His grips are top-notch; he is also former military. I'd bet if a NJROTC student contacted him, with a request like yours, he'd cut you a deal that would keep you within legal/ethical price limits.
 
The other issue being, you'd have to involve an adult third party, to make the gift purchase... It would be complex, and would probably violate military limits on gifts.
Click to expand...

The Adult third party in this situation would most likely be my mom.
Captain's a retiree, how affected is he by military limits on gifts?
Do those limits affect gifts given by civilians or other retirees from outside of his chain of command?
Do those limits refer to price of the gift itself, or price per person?



Clearly, I have a lot of research to do.
I genuinely appreciate these alternate perspectives.
Keep 'em coming. :D
 
Yes, those limits would include retirees, since he is serving in an official function (my dad had looked into doing NJROTC or Blue and Gold as a retired O-6, but those positions were taken in his area at the time; they are considered official functions, if unpaid).

It's the price of the gift itself.

The idea is to prevent those in power from creating a culture where subordinates feel compelled to give expensive gifts in order to succeed in a command.

Remember also that when it comes to some issues, the appearance of a thing is as important as the fact of it. For example, one of the legs in establishing a charge of fraternization is that there is a perception witihin the command that improper relationships have occurred, and that such relationships might yield benefits.

In addition to all that, a group of high school students should NOT be spending a bunch of money on any instructor. Most good teachers prefer things that have a personal touch, but that don't necessarily cost all that much.

Edit: Honestly, one of the nicest gifts you can give a teacher you really liked is to check on them every so often after you've graduated, and let them know how you are doing, and how they helped you achieve your goals. My sister used to visit a few of her high school teachers whenever she'd go home to visit our parents. One of the ladies died last year; she still had my sister's picture up on her mantle, and my sister had been in contact with her to that point, 22 years after graduation.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top