A little help for Bawana

[Bawanna]

My last, youngest child, son # 3, actually #2 but a daughter in the middle graduates in a little more than a month. Yes that means I'm older than dirt.

Anyhow mom has assigned me the task of securing his graduation gift. She doesn't want to do like money towards a car but wants something he'll likely keep as a keepsake for a long long time.

He's not really addicted to guns like myself and his brother. He's comfortable shooting and enjoys it but just doesn't live for it.

He's left handed which muddies the waters some what as well. He has a trap shotgun and a Marlin 357 lever action.

I'm pondering on a Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle since it would be a darn good have only one bolt rifle type of a gun. Could hunt, or range or fight Zombies if the election goes wrong.

My other thought was a Henry Golden Boy in 17HMR or similar?

I guess I'm looking for more ideas. Kind of want to do it right and this is my last graduation for this life time. Don't want to blow it, know what I mean Vern?

Toss me some idears as they strike ya. No reward offered this time YET.

[Tinman507]

What about a 1911 as basic and as GI as you can get with a set of grips carved by his dad? Pure simplicity with elegance on the sides? Maybe his monogram carved into it?

[bonjorno2]

J frame Smith with laser would be nice!

[kahrseye]

What is his profession?

[kahrseye]

Or is this a High School graduation?

[Barth]

If he's not into guns maybe you need to shift gears?

My dad bought me a nice watch for my college graduation.
I didn't wear watches.
Never have and still don't.
Would have really liked a Delta Elite though...
But I digress.


Find out what he's into.
He's a boy so he's lusting for something more than
that pretty young thing at the Fosters Freeze.

[Bawanna]

What is his profession?

Right now he's just a Democrat living off me like his older brother. If he had his wish he'd be playing professional baseball but he's also the runt of the litter and coaches can't see past that.

He has aspirations of being a personal trainer and I think he would do well there, he's constantly working out and lifting weights and such. I should be his first customer I guess.

The basic 1911 with the special grips is a good thought. Doubt he would ever carry that so it would be a range or perhaps an under glass keepsake. Not a bad thing.

I know where there's a shiny new Remington R1 reasonable that might fill the bill. Got vetoed for me but I'm sure she'll bless it for him.

Keep the wheels turning, the J frames not a bad idea either really.

[Markis82]

This is better than it sounds and years later might be a cherished item. Find out his favorite thing or subject etc... And buy a good book on that subject or topic. Then write the author of the book and ask to have it signed and personalized to your son. My stepdaughter is a tennis player who really loves the sport. For her graduation I bought Andre Agassi's book, wrote him through his publisher. I sent him the book and he signed it and personalized it to her. When I gave it to her she looked a little disappointed. But when she open the cover and saw Andre's signature made out to her, she cried. It was one of the most touching moments of my life.

[DeaconKC]

A good .22 pistol like a Buckmark or S&W is a lifetime gun and will always see a lot of use.

[Tinman507]

I suppose you already know this but it's damned hard to impress an 18 year old kid.

I guess what I was going for is to give him a personal piece of yourself. The 1911 is simply a canvas for the art that would be a piece of you. Find a nice wood display case it can be kept in. It's going to be pulled out in 30 years and admired.

It may not mean the world to him today or next week or even next year, but when he's 40 or 50 it's going to mean a ton to him as it's a legacy of you.
That's when all the soppy weepy eyed stuff takes over. Trust me on this.

[Bawanna]

Well mom really liked the canvas idea. I looked and I can get a Rock basic GI 1911 which has very good reviews for about 400 bucks at Buds.
And I really should order a 91/30 Mosin Nagant to go with my Nagant revolver and my M44. Only right I think and it's only 109 bucks.

That way for sure a Ruger SR1911 will show up and my marble sack is low again.

A vicious circle me thinks.

Now I gotta come up with a set of knock your socks off one of a kind grips huh?

[TucsonMTB]

I suppose you already know this but it's damned hard to impress an 18 year old kid.

I guess what I was going for is to give him a personal piece of yourself. The 1911 is simply a canvas for the art that would be a piece of you. Find a nice wood display case it can be kept in. It's going to be pulled out in 30 years and admired.

It may not mean the world to him today or next week or even next year, but when he's 40 or 50 it's going to mean a ton to him as it's a legacy of you.
That's when all the soppy weepy eyed stuff takes over. Trust me on this.

Yeah, but . . . I am easy to impress. Adopt me!

Oh, never mind. One house payment is enough I am sure.

Glad you are rolling on Mr. TinMan's suggestion. I predict a big return on the investment . . . in only a few decades.

[itsthelaw]

Take him to see his favorite baseball team play ball and make a weekend of it. You could also get him an autographed bat, picture, ball from his favorite player. If it is someone popular, it will also retain value, and he will probably be proud to have it. My son loves baseball too. He loves the Yankees, and so does his grandmother. She is taking him to NYC to a Yankees game. Pretty high $ in that case, but he will alway remember it. His favorite player is Derek Jeter, and he has an autographed picture in his room. It is the only thing on his wall.

[chrish]

I'm kinda new here, but from what I've seen and read...I'd have to go w/ the 1911 and some of your custom grips. Like someone else said, that's something very personal you could give him that'd be a keep-sake, whether he shoots it or not. My dad has guns that have never seen one round thru them, and there is nothing wrong w/ that. It's actually kinda nice I think.

Anyway, just my thoughts. I'm no youngster anymore, mid life crisis at every turn these days. But if my dad were into making grips for guns, I'd have to say nothing more I'd want from my dad as a gift. But if it were my dad making 'em, it'd probably be grips for a .45 schofield or colt.

I guess that's another option, if he's at all into cowboys and westerns. I good .45 long colt something or other. I lust after a .357 ruger vaquero SASS some day.

[kerby9mm]

What is ones response when they receive a gift they really don't want? “Thanks/Wow this is great”. If you ask what someone would like then there is no doubt or wasted money.