snapshot762
New member
Earlier this week an old friend made it's way back into my hands, my Winchester 9422. This was my first gun given to me by my father at about 5 or 6 years old. I wasn't allowed to handle it but he made it well known that when I was old enough to learn how to shoot that it would be my gun. A couple of years later he started to teach me how to handle it safely and to shoot proficiently with it as well as how to clean and oil it. I wasn't allowed to handle it without him being present until I got a bit older and can't begin to count the number of evil beer cans and bottles that fell prey to it at our range sessions which took place at the local landfill.
Through the years we hunted rabbits, gophers, prairie dogs, among other things, and the 9422 was a constant companion. When I was in my twenties I got the proverbial wild hair in my posterior and had the idea of selling it to fund another firearms purchase and when I mentioned it to my dad he got this strange look on his face and said "If you think you really need to sell it, i'll buy it from you." which he did. Sadly enough, I can't even remember what gun I bought with the money.
Dad passed away a year ago tomorrow. Earlier this week we (My girlfriend, her kids and I) were at my mom's for dinner and mom brought the rifle out and said "He wanted you to have this back." I have to admit that my eyes got a bit watery when the gun was in my hands remembering all the times shooting with my dad, and I can guarantee that this one will never leave my possession again!
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