Just bought my Uncle's Gun Collection! Tell me what you think LOL! I Love it!!!!!!!!!

[big_gus]

I wasnt even aware that my uncle had this. I had saw it sitting in the back corner but never had a clue what was inside, I always thought it was just a trinket chest... My uncle worked at the Department of Corrections for over 20 years and worked in the boiler room. He had an inmate assigned there that he was very good to (by his nature he is good to most everyone). This inmate knew my uncle was a big gun guy. He had a very long sentence and was very talented with his hands. One Christmas in the 80s he told my uncle Ive got you something for Christmas. My uncle was amazed at what he gave him. Its hard to tell how many months of work it took to complete. Everything is made out of wood and the double barrel breaks down, the pump trap shotgun pumps, and I believe the bolt on the boltaction works but Im not going to risk breaking it. There are 5 long guns and a set of single shot pistols. The only flaw in the set is one of the pistols has the top part of the hammer broke off which Im going to have repaired, professionally if need be. The handmade woodcase is also amazing with the plastic glass part picture of the buck deer in the grass/sage being what appears to be hand scratched into and looks fantastic! My uncle has seen hard times lately (divorce and personal/health issues) and already sold his real guns. He told me he was thinking of putting it on ebay and what I thought it would bring. I told him I honestly didnt know but someone needed to see it in person to appreciate the detail and the many many hours of hand work in it. He priced it to me and I bought it, of course I plan on never selling it. What do you guys think of it? I am really proud of it as you can tell. This inmate was a moonshiner that got into the cocaine business and amassed a fortune until it all got seized by the DEA/Government as the story goes. Actually the man over my uncle was so jealous and he wanted it (he was a gun guy also, but is an ***hole), he tried to seize this set from my uncle, but my uncle and the inmate had done completed the paperwork for him to have it so there wasnt nothing he could do. There is a pump trap shotgun, a bolt action rifle with scope, a lever action rifle, a double barrel shotgun with double hammers, a single shot rifle, and the set of 2 single shot pistols. Everything is very well done. My uncle said this was the only set he made. My pics may not be too good but I tried...

[VaqueroAZ]

Wow! That's amazing! I couldn't tell, but are they full sized!
Thanks
God Bless
Daryl

[big_gus]

Wow! That's amazing! I couldn't tell, but are they full sized!
Thanks
God Bless
Daryl

No I gues I should have said but they are minitures. I put the toothpick in the picture with them lying on the table to show their size. They are very small which in my opinion makes them harder to make with as much detail as they have. Thanks for your comment and thank everyone for their LIKES!

[capstan]

Really neat. And looking at the size, as compared to the toothpick, they are really small. really intricate work

[grandpawj]

I am impressed! You can tell many hours were spent making these. I am certain they have or will have great collector's value (not that you would want to get rid of 'em). Once you mentioned the toothpick, that made me really appreciate the intricate detail. Nice about sums it up.!

[Bart45]

Amazing........

[broknaxl]

Very neat set !!! And a great story to go with it. You ought to document the story with names and your Uncles signature for the future. It's nice that you were able to keep them in the family.

[Kanatak]

What a collection!. I was trying my best to figure out what king of firearms they were, and couldn't make sense out of it. The tooth pick blew me away! Great story big_gus.

[big_gus]

Thanks Guys for all your kind comments and the MANY LIKES!!! I actually had just got them last night right before I posted the pics and was really excited as you can tell. As soon as I got in the door, I thought Ive got to immediately clean them up quick (over 20 years of dust on the cabinet, lol) and get them posted on the Coltforum asap! And did, I had them posted within one hour of coming through the door, lol. Thanks Guys!

[Collects]

WOW! What a talented moonshiner/druggie. Too bad he "went bad," as he could have accomplished much had he pursued legal avenues of work instead of choosing a life of crime. What a waste of some fine talent, from which your uncle and you benefitted. ...and, of course I am SHOCKED to learn that somebody working at a prison is an A&*%$&E!

Thanks for showing, Big_Guy/Big_Gus.