A family gun comes my way

[gun papa]

My Grandfather was a first generation American from Italian decent, bar owner, and ex beer delivery driver in San Francisco in the early days. He had passed away a decade ago. I am waiting for my Uncles to provide me with a bit more of the gun's history. I believe that my Grandfather carried the gun when he drove the beer trucks. I remember seeing the gun throughout my lifetime.

This weekend, at my belated wedding reception, 3 of my uncles presented me with his pistol as a gift. A Beretta mod 70 of approx 1964 vintage based on the date code and 3 digit serial number. Like the shotgun I had received of my Grandfathers some years earlier, the Beretta is in poor shape, but I am proud to have it. Inspecting the pistol shows a poorly cared for finish. The gun as I received it could not be disassembled. Upon further inspection I found that at some point the gun had been dropped on the rear of the slide while in slide lock. The slide rails had been lightly peened from the fall with just a bit of the metal curled inward preventing the slide from moving forward off of the frame. I lightly honed the rails and now the pistol breaks down as it should. It is a sturdy, smooth pistol in firing condition. I will shoot it today.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/gunpapa/photobucket-10486-1378149462701_zps9a77110a.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/gunpapa/media/photobucket-10486-1378149462701_zps9a77110a.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/gunpapa/photobucket-17665-1378149378277_zpsfbea1b2e.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/gunpapa/media/photobucket-17665-1378149378277_zpsfbea1b2e.jpg.html)

[RevRay]

It's a really cool looking gun. Let us know how the range visit goes. My dad died about four years ago and left behind a pistol. But I wasn't into guns ten, so I'm not real sure what ended up happening to it. It must be special to hold something like that from your granddad.

[Mjcollier73]

I can't wait to hear how she shoots. It is great to get gifts like these. If it were me, I wouldn't refinish. I like holding an older, well worn weapon.

[gun papa]

Right. No refinishing. Cleaned and oiled. I most likely will carry it. I use mu guns.

[downtownv]

I would have a gunsmith look it over first.... call it horrible event insurance.

[Alfonse]

That is a super cool. Is the caliber 7.65? Would that be the same as .32? Congratulations. Old family guns are the best.

[ripley16]

Always nice to be remembered by family.

Not long ago I bought a 70 series Beretta. It is a very nice pistol. You'll enjoy shooting it. Magazines may be scarce.

[gun papa]

Yes, .32acp. Not a lot a gunsmith can tell me. I have been through the gun. It is functional. Cleaned it thoroughly. I took it out and fired the 6 rds that came with the gun. This is not a caliber that I currently own or antipicapted. I will buy a few 50 rd boxes, but I would not reload this caliber so as not to confuse the cases with my. 380s.

The gun ran perfectly. Super smooth, fed as it should. Consistent 4 'oclock ejection. Soft shooting, really nice crisp trigger. While I was shooting for function only, it shot where I aimed. No doubt, it shoots well enough for its intended purposes. I think my, "Nono" would be happy to see his old pistol out of a dark drawer, and being cared for and shot by his Grandson.

[kahrnut1]

I've got same gun in 380 bought used in 58. the finish is worn from carrying without holster for years but like new wear wise.

[Tslepebull]

My most precious material object is my fathers High Standard HD-Military .22. He purchased it in 1947 when firearms became available to citizens again after the war. Like your Beretta it has surface blemishes but I would never have it refinished. Each mark, every nick and scratch were the direct result of his hands. It was the gun he taught me to shoot with and the gun he taught me safe handling with. I take it out and shoot it every so often to remind me of him.

I have a grandson now and the High Standard will some day be his.

Please don't ever sell it; it can only be a gift of love to someone you care about.

[AJBert]

I bought my wife a Mod 70 in the same 7.65 Browning/.32 ACP going on twenty years ago. She's never been the best shot but she can hit what she's aiming at with it, though her grouping is...how shall I put this...non-existent.

Nice little gun but she's getting where it is too hard to rack, so she'll be getting an LCR in .357 here shortly.

Enjoy your grandfather's Beretta. I've got a few firearms passed down to me over the years. I treasure them more than any I've ever purchased and each and every one will be passed on in time to those deserving youngsters in my family.

[CJB]

Hey very very cool. I had a 70-s from the 1980's production, with more traditional safety. Also had a 76, which was the target version with shrouded barrel. Both shot great. The 76 especially... was a really good shooter, and I managed to make my own shroud for it out of stainless - and it ended up as a bench rest pistol

My dad, at my step mother's insistance, left everything to her son. Thanks dad.

[Bawanna]

Hey very very cool. I had a 70-s from the 1980's production, with more traditional safety. Also had a 76, which was the target version with shrouded barrel. Both shot great. The 76 especially... was a really good shooter, and I managed to make my own shroud for it out of stainless - and it ended up as a bench rest pistol

My dad, at my step mother's insistance, left everything to her son. Thanks dad.

I feel for ya dude.

I saw it coming when my dad was near the end. I asked for his rifle a 17 Enfield and got it before he passed. Stepmom's kids got everything else.
I had planned to assist her and help after his passing but at his funeral she gave me a form to remove myself from their bank accounts. I signed on it in case something happened to both of them. I wasn't in a big hurry and week later she said if I didn't sign it she'd just close the account and open a new one.

My wife knew the manager of the bank when I went to sign the form and get it notarized. I asked her if I was entitled to know what was in the account. She said it's like my account, I could do anything I want. It wasn't a ton of money or anything.

I told her to leave just enough to keep the account open, take the rest out and hold it for a week, then put it all back in. Flagged it so if the B!tch wrote a check it wouldn't bounce.

I never saw her or spoke to her again, or her kids. She passed about a year ago, dad about 10 ago and I was busy on the day of the funeral too.

gun papa, cherish that thing. Guns passed down through family are priceless.

[CJB]

Bawanna, its not the value in dollars of any of it. Dad had two service revolvers. A very worn Model 36 and a practically unfired Model 10. I would have liked those for sentimental reasons. I would have liked his shield, and also my grandfather's shield which dad kept. In those days - in the 1940's and 1960's, they put the officers name on the shield... makes it special. He had a Winchester Model 88 - made by Seiko for Winchester. Its not like I need a rifle.

For me - the most sentimental thing to get would have been his ratty tool box. I look at the tools I own... I've collected tools and a set of tools better than most professional mechanics have. Yet, to use those old finish worn Craftsman and SK and Proto wrenches that I used as a kid on my bicycles and later on my own motorbikes and the family cars.... those would have been the most cherished of all.

Instead, her kid got it, and sold it all for cash money I later found out. Used it for spending money on a vacation. Nice to think that my memories ended up as piss going down a urinals drain in Atlantic City.

[Bawanna]

Precisely! Money meant nothing to me. I wanted to wander through his shop and look at trinkets. Little stuff he'd had forever. Special fence tools we both used, nothing of any value. He wasn't a gun guy.

Her adult son owns a flooring company and packed his shop with carpet. I couldn't even get in and she wouldn't let me anyhow.

She was counting coin and I couldn't care less. Most of the stuff I would have loved probably just got hauled to the dump.

[Popeye]

Very nice. The value is not always in the condition of the pistol and how well it shoots, and in terms of dollars and cents. Hell man that's family history that's been past down to you for safe keeping. Can't put a price on that sort of thing. Congrats

[dkmatthews]

That's a nice piece, gun papa. Enjoy the memories. Otherwise, it's all just stuff.

[b4uqzme]

My dad's still around but he's given me all his military pins, patches and medals and all his company service pins too. I feel blessed on all accounts. Thanks for the reminder guys. :yo: