I'd be curious the know the brand of that coat.

I asked him what brand it was the other day, he said he thought that it had a tag inside. When we got out of the car I forgot to look.

I did take a couple pictures of him wearing the coat, holding his shotgun and my .22. I'll find out.

Our rifle deer season starts today, I've got 16*F now. It'll take me a little bit to get bundled up, then I'll be gone. At least the wind is calm.

Bill's coat is a Hunter brand.

Do a search, looks like they are still in busisness.

Who knows what Pap paid for the thing? One thing for sure, he got his monies worth!

Looks like the company has changed a little. No canvas to be seen.

Carhartt makes coats and jackets very much like Bill's old coat. Bill's has a game pouch on the back. I have a Carhartt coat, it was my buddy Ronnie's. After Ronnie died his daughter said she'd washed it 2 times and wanted me to have it. So, it's here on the rack. It's insulated and has a hood, pockets on the inside and out. It's faded some and has a lot of miles on it, but I figure it'll do me out. It's heavy in a way, but it's warm.

I want to tell you this about Bill, he's told me this story probably a dozen times. Years ago Bill had a Winchester Model 12, 12 gauge. The Model 12 is a pump gun, that's been in service for years and years! Bill gave the gun to his son, and his son traded it off.

I honestly don't know excatly why Bill quit hunting? I think part of it was his job, and the property where he hunted, kind of changed hands. Long story short, he gave his Model 12 to his son.

The other day when we were sitting in the car, Bill started telling me about his Dad. I don't remember his father, not sure if we had ever met? Anyway, Bill said that his Dad and a bunch of his friends would go out and drive deer.

I started putting 2 and 2 together, and I asked Bill: Now that Model 12 that you gave you boy and he traded off, wasn't your Dad's gun was it? I can't quote Bill, but he said something like this: Hell yes, I gave him Dad's gun and he traded it off for a damned old muzzloader! Bill said that was one of the dumbest things that he's ever done in his life.

Bill is mad at himself. He's pissed!

But you know, that should be just common sense. The unwritten rule. If someone in your family or a close friend gives you something, they expect you to use it and take care of it the best you can. One thing for sure, they expect you to keep it.

But in this case, to take your Granddad's gun out and trade it or sell it. That's just stupid.

I've said this before, people have and own stuff, and don't have a clue as to what it's worth. But his son got burnt. To trade off a Model 12, for a blackpowder cap & ball gun. Who knows what the M12 was worth?

Lesson learned.

Bill's brother that gave him the Model 1200, he probably doesn't realize the value of his Christmas gift. No, it's not Pap's old M12, but Bill is back out in the woods, and he'll have a lot of enjoyment with his new gun.

That son should be written out of the will. When I was a kid, I knew what a model 12 is. His father gave him a legend and he threw it away.

I have a Carhartt coat. Love it.

Glad Bill is back out and about. Hopefully, he'll hunt a little with his son ....

Bill and I talked a little bit about that too. Bill has a grandson, the little man is only six years old. Bill told me that when the time comes, his M1200 will belong to his grandson. And he'll make it very clear, he's never to sell it or trade it, but to keep it forever. And pass it on down the family line.

Well, Bill's "new" M1200 has a little bit of "family value", since his brother gave it to him and all. Still nothing like Pap's M12, but that's water under the bridge.

Our squirell and rabbit season is in until the end of February. I need to take Bill out one day in the truck, and give him a tour of the farm. On a new property I always like the landowner to show me the property lines too.

While it's fresh in my mind, I'll give you the latest, Breaking News. The day that Bill and I were hunting, and he told me that his son traded his Dad's gun. I asked him then: Did you give him hell about it? Bill said that he didn't want to stir up a big stink, and make his boy feel bad.

Bill stopped by last Saturday, told me his son and daughter were going to visit for the day and were bringing his grandkids. He has 3, two girls and a boy.

We were just joking, I told him that if his son was coming in, he'd better put that M1200 in the back corner of the closet and hang a coat over it, or slide it up under the couch, or something.

Bill told me then that he was curious, as to exactly what did happen to his Pap's gun. He said at one point, it was just an old gun. (You and I both know, that's not true.) That old pump gun is part of the family!

I talked to Bill again yesterday, just joking with him and asked if he still had his shotgun. Bill was all excited and told me that he'd asked his son about Pap's M12. Turns out that the boy still has the gun, he told Bill that he kept in some kind of trunk in the basement, takes it out and cleans it every now and then. I told Bill that I'd ask him to give it back.

Years ago there was a man here in town that bought and sold guns, Bill said that the man almost begged to buy the gun for $500, and that was back in the 50's.

Bill said the forearm/pump slide thing will fill your hand. Had rings cut into the slide and all. Pretty sure I've seen them like that, but I'm not familar with that style.

Long story short, Bill is to have his son bring it home. I know Bill would like to see and feel his Pap's old gun. So would I. Old guns have character. Maybe it's just silly or maybe it's just me? But there is something about pulling up an old rifle/shotgun/pistol and looking down across the sights and drawing a bead. And it means even more when you know the story of the gun.

I'll admit, I'm looking forward to getting that M12 in my hands. Another thing that I'm thinking about, I'd love to get a picture of Bill wearing his Dad's old coat with Pap's M12 in a hunting position. I'll take him out on the farm and pick a good spot, and get an A#1 picture! I'll have an 8x10 picture printed and post it on the wall. Bill would like that.