My newest acquisition...true story
I made friends with a retired Navy Master Chief a few months ago. The other day, we started talking about guns and he told me that he has a revolver that's been wrapped in a towel in his dresser drawer since 1971! He didn't even know what it was. He told me that back then, a seaman was strapped for cash and needed to borrow $20. The Chief loaned him the money without asking for collateral but the seaman insisted that the Chief hold his revolver until he paid the Chief back. Obviously, the seaman never repaid the loan and the Chief has had the revolver ever since.
Today, he brought it over to show me the revolver, still wrapped in the old towel. It was a like-new Ruger Single Six, 6 1/2" barrel, flattop 3-screw "Old Model" with BOTH .22lr and .22 mag cylinders numbered to the gun! I don't think it's ever been fired and it hasn't been converted to the transfer-bar system. It also had the red felt cylinder bag, cleaning rods and a full box of .22lr's!
I asked him how much he wanted for it. He looked me straight in the eye and said "Give me my damned twenty bucks and YOU can wait for that swabbie to repay you! 36 years is too damned long for me! Hell, I'm 72 years old - that's half my life!"
I think I'll go to the range this weekend with my "new" Ruger. [:p]
...and before I get attacked for taking advantage of someone, I told him it's worth a lot more than that but he just smiled and said "I know it is but I want you to have it. And, you can pay me the $20 some other time if you want. I'm used to waiting for it!" (Yes, I paid him - and he threw in the towel!) [:D]
Today, he brought it over to show me the revolver, still wrapped in the old towel. It was a like-new Ruger Single Six, 6 1/2" barrel, flattop 3-screw "Old Model" with BOTH .22lr and .22 mag cylinders numbered to the gun! I don't think it's ever been fired and it hasn't been converted to the transfer-bar system. It also had the red felt cylinder bag, cleaning rods and a full box of .22lr's!
I asked him how much he wanted for it. He looked me straight in the eye and said "Give me my damned twenty bucks and YOU can wait for that swabbie to repay you! 36 years is too damned long for me! Hell, I'm 72 years old - that's half my life!"
I think I'll go to the range this weekend with my "new" Ruger. [:p]
...and before I get attacked for taking advantage of someone, I told him it's worth a lot more than that but he just smiled and said "I know it is but I want you to have it. And, you can pay me the $20 some other time if you want. I'm used to waiting for it!" (Yes, I paid him - and he threw in the towel!) [:D]
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Damn 0 -
Cool story. Now get him to start telling you a few sea stories... They will be worth far more than the gun. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Spider7115
...and before I get attacked for taking advantage of someone, I told him it's worth a lot more than that but he just smiled and said "I know it is but I want you to have it. And, you can pay me the $20 some other time if you want. I'm used to waiting for it!" (Yes, I paid him - and he threw in the towel!) [:D][/b]
Taking advantage of a Navy Master Chief for $20? Something's just not right. [:0][:0][:0]0 -
I'll give you $40 for it when I get that much! [;)][:D] 0 -
[:0][8D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Dave W.
Cool story. Now get him to start telling you a few sea stories... They will be worth far more than the gun.
He's got some GREAT stories and he loves telling them. Like the Naval officer who was buried at sea. The family was all there as they slid the body over the side while the bugler played taps. The family solemnly watched the body spin slowly down into the sea - and then gasped in horror as a shark grabbed it for lunch! [xx(]0 -
[^] that was just great. I love people with values like that, it is so rare. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by JWolf
[^] that was just great. I love people with values like that, it is so rare.
I agree. Some people don't like him because he's gruff and swears a lot. He was a MASTER CHIEF for God's sake - he's SUPPOSED to be like that and earned the right! The first time he growled at me I got right in his face nose-to-nose, gave him my best Marine Corps growl right back and called him a "Crusty old squid who couldn't swim his way out of a &*%$#@! bathtub!". We've been friends ever since. [:)]0 -
Tell the Chief I've got the $20 he loaned me[:)] Just kidding- congrats on a nice present from a friend. Used to work with a retired Chief- he'd tell me about testing the catapults on a carrier after repair- used junked cars for test launch. Swore they could skip a Buick a coupla miles. 0 -
HEY! i ws the guy that owed him the 20.00!
here....!!!
[:D]
once a chief, always a chief. glad to hear he's keeping the tradition going. always looking after the little guy.[;)]0 -
pictures!!!! we need pictures!!!! 0
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