My grandfather was born in 1898 and died in 1985. He primarily loved to fish - he grew up hunting for meat and said because of that hunting always seemed more like work to him. Nevertheless, he always found the time to take his youngest grandboy (me) into the squirrel woods on a few hunts every year.

Here is his shotgun: an ancient “long Tom” 12 gauge repaired with copper wire during the Depression when the stock broke. And the metal finish worn down to nothing from his carrying it. I still have a vivid memory of him blasting the top out of an old dead snag because a squirrel had holed up in there. I was probably 7 or 8 at the time.

Sometimes guns are much more than just guns.

Cool old gun and story

Those old guns with great memories may not have much monitary value but do have millions in sentimental value.

Great gun and story! I have an old double barrel shotgun from my grandfather that's old as dirt and has similar stories.

That’ll make a good wall hanger. Hang it with a good picture of your Grandfather for the great memories.

family heirloom there

Great story. Your grandpa and mine sound a lot alike. I still pull out my grandpa's shotgun to hunt with on occasion. It's an old Iver Johnson Champion that he bought right after he returned from WW2.

I love this thread. I could hear stories all day long

Here he is in front of the cabin he built for his Momma. By then Ma Beard (my great-grandmother) had been gone many years and the old cabin was being used as a hay barn.

I have one very, very similar to yours, that belonged to my Grandfather. 32 inch full choke barrel. I have not heard that term "long tom" applied to a shotgun since I was a teenager and that was a while ago. It was the first shotgun I ever shot when I was around 10.and when it kicked, after the shot, it kept going right over my shoulder and landed behind me. I still remember that happening.
Thank you bringing back that memory.

What brand is it?

It says “Nitro Hunter” on the receiver and there are either no other markings or they are all worn off. I researched it years ago and concluded it could have been made by any number of manufacturers.

"Bridge Company". The serial number is there but is not legible.

Can’t put a price on that.

Cool old shotgun and a great picture of the original owner.

I keep dad's Model 12 16ga. over the door of my man cave. The bluing is mostly worn off too.

What an awesome piece NP

Nice. I'll take and old beater with memories over new gun any day of the week.

We have one of my Granddads, it is a Cannon Breach by Volunteer Arms, I grew up with everyone calling it the LongTom. One of Dad's brother borrowed it to quail hunt with, called us the next day and ask that one of of us could come pick it up. He had it standing in the hall corner and every time he walked by he said it would kick him on the shin. It was brutal to shoot.

I had a great uncle who liked to tell people he was born in a log cabin he built all by himself.

Yep. I have one of my Dad's- we called it the "duct-tape gun" because he had the fore end held on with tape- it's a single shot 12 gauge. I'm going to hang onto that one......

I have my grand dad's 12 ga single the name on it is "White Powder" 34" barrel.You

I remember my grandad standing in his room with his white boxer shorts and t shirt with a 22 single shot pointed at a squirrel in the backyard. Wasn’t long after that we would have fried squirrel for lunch. He never missed and was the best grandad a boy could ask for.

Great thread, and very cool to have that gun in your possession. I wish I had some of my Dad's, Grandpa's, and Great Grandpa's guns in my safe to pass down. Unfortunately they were all lost in a house fire along with most of their pictures.