I miss the one I traded off to my dad and I need a fix. I'm hoping I can find an older pristine one in Tulsa in April but I need a hold over.
Thanks so much for posting this story , I loved it ..TOOTYI've recently found my Dad's long lost S-A 54 Sporter. It's been here in this house since 2003 when I moved in here to help care for my mother shortly after Dad died.
I remember it; he used that rifle to kill squirrels after he bought it new in 1979. I was 7 years old and still remember him bringing it home. I got to shoot it, naturally, and tag along with him in the woods. I carried a 20 guage single shot. My job was to back him up, if he missed and the squirrel took off I took over, which never happened because he never missed a squirrel. When I finally started carrying a rifle, around 12 years old to think, I used an old Browning T-Bolt. I could hit anything (the size of a squirrel's head, at least).
When I came back from the Persion. Gulf War, and squirrel season rolled around, he'd switched rifles. He used an ANCIENT Sportsmaster with an even ANCIENT-ER Weaver 4x scope on it. Said he could see as well as he used to. I never questioned him about that S-A 54 rifle. I assumed it was in a safe or at one of my Brother's homes. He decided he liked the Sportsmaster better, because he could load up shorts, sit under a Hickory-Nut tree and pop Grays out one after another. Their teeth squeak so loudly when cutting hickory nuts that they couldn't hear the rifle go off
Well, I found that rifle in a closet of a room where my parents' possessions were shoved crudely into a closet (not to get them out of my way, but to get them out of my sight, as they would bring me to my knees with sobbing). The other day when I found that rifle in that closet (with a couple other firearms) I did the same thing. I must have spen an hour just staring into the depths of that closet, sadness overwhelming me. But I am HAPPY to report that, even though it's sat cocked in that closet since at least 1991, it suffered no damage to the wood or metal. It fires, though a bit meekly I think. I've already ordered a set of Kelbly's Rings, a Leupold 6.5-20x40mm AO EFR TD scope, a plus 10% striker spring and Trigger Spring Kit from J&P, and a Win 94 sight hood for it, and I will take photos and post soon.
I add this to my collection of Annies from my 4H Shooting Sports as a kid, and rimfire competitions throughout my adult life. This one means the most. I rarely post here, but after finding that rifle and reading all the threads that are either dedicated to, or otherwise mention it, I had to. Sorry it was so long winded!!