I was moving guns about and started thinking about a an airgun I would pass down to my son.
In looking at all my rifles it was easy to pick out rimfire guns I would hand down but I really didn’t find a lot of airguns I’d think would be heirloom airguns.
Of all the airguns, maybe the 127T with Don Robinson Tyrol stock, maybe an FWB 300, maybe a Rapid 17 (sub 12) with a Gary cane stock. But beyond that even the artificial limited edition Beeman guns are really worthy.
What is the airgun you hope to pass on
This is a neat question, I'll add $0.02: the high quality German and British wood and steel springers would be the heirlooms, in my opinion. No magnum springers. Any modern springer with structural polymer is out, they don't last. PCPs I'm doubtful about. I love my Gen 1 Marauder rifle, it's amazingly good at its job but it's so plain looking, it won't stack up against the PCPs of the future.
Look at how the Sheridan pumpers that became Benjamin Blue Streaks and then 397 and 392 have dropped in overall quality as time went by. Now the old pumpers are held in high esteem, even though they're so dag gum much work to use. Its the quality of build that makes something worth keeping, as long as it functions as expected and if replacement parts are available, people will want to keep using it and giving it the TLC it occasionally needs, IMO. So yes, I agree that your Beemans are heirloom quality because they look good, are well made and are able to stand the test of time.
Charlie
Will you please adopt me? Lol
I'm with you guys....good quality springers stand the test of time. In fact all of my really good airguns have already been through the generational exchange. Instead of going to uninterested children, I was the benefactor! Lol
Probably I would leave a set of FWB 124/127 rifles.
May I also contribute here in that I would also suggest including any hand written notes, records, thoughts, research, in a well organized binder to reflect upon such heirlooms and to accompany those personal/special guns to be considered as heirlooms to be handed down. I can assure such personal touches will be appreciated by or loved ones long after we're gone and will more likely be handed down to further generations. Just think what we might have left for our great, great, great great grand children that we never knew at least in this world!
Cheers
I would only leave a nice airgun to one of my kids if they were into the hobby.
If they are into the hobby, I think I would ask them which one they want. It might surprise you. I value guns my dad shot a lot more that his prettiest guns. Inheriting a gun from you father is more about memories than anything else.
David Enoch
The older I get the less emotional attachment I have to anything material. My dad obsessed with his machine shop stuff to the point of it became more important to him than family. I swore not to follow in his path. So as far as what guns, recreational toys or whatever the two kids can have it all. I was in charge of my dads estate and I will have to give siblings credit in that they didn't fight over anything. Just told me to do what I want with it and send a check when the dust settled. ?
I'll be ashes spread over my favorite riding area and lake so what will it really matter at that point. ?
The older I get the less emotional attachment I have to anything material. My dad obsessed with his machine shop stuff to the point of it became more important to him than family. I swore not to follow in his path. So as far as what guns, recreational toys or whatever the two kids can have it all. I was in charge of my dads estate and I will have to give siblings credit in that they didn't fight over anything. Just told me to do what I want with it and send a check when the dust settled. ?
I'll be ashes spread over my favorite riding area and lake so what will it really matter at that point. ?
I really agree with you. I have the honor and burden of dispursing and disposing of a lot of my fathers things. I am seriously questioning if I want any of his firearms myself. I don't shoot firearms anymore and I don't see doing it in the future. Having another gun in the safe doesn't bring me any joy. And, like you said, I may be leaving the burden to my family if I don't get rid of stuff before I pass. That is a fine balance. I want to be able to keep and use what I want as long as I want, but I don't want to burden the family.
David Enoch
Interesting thoughts here and I've wondered the same as I have no kids.
I would suppose that if one were not into airguns, there would be little reason to pass them down as they wouldn't appreciate them at best and at worst, would ruin them.
I think of the ones that I have that are truly unique, I will follow Mr. Robinsons path of sending some out to folks who I know would cherish them and then selling off the rest, likely very cheaply depending on my condition at the time.
Fortunately, I am in my mid 40's and so I hope to not have to think too much about that for a while... unfortunately, most all those who I would consider passing some of my oddities along to I've met during this journey are older than me and it doesn't appear the up and coming generation cares for much other than video games.
