WOW...Did I do Good or What???

[Tolly]

Hi guys, I don't post much but I thought I would share what happened to me earlier today with y'all. I received a visitor at about 7p.m. who came bearing gifts. The visitor was a very sweet lady named Nancy who informed me that she was the daughter of a long time client of mine who had recently passed away after a long battle with cancer about two months ago at the age of 97. After telling her that I was very glad to finally meet her after having heard so much about her from her father over the last 17 years I invited her in. (I guess I will give a little background on who her father was before I finish my story)

I met her father the day before Thanksgiving in 1989 at a car dealership where I had just went to work as a new salesman two days earlier. It was a cold miserable day when I see this old(80 at the time) man get out of a taxi cab and start walking towards the door. All of the old timer salesmen just let him walk right past them thinking he must be headed to the back to pick up a car from the service department. I greeted him when he got inside and nervously asked if I could be of service to him(my first customer ever) and he said "Well, I sure hope so Son." He then went on to inform me that he wanted to buy a new 4x4 truck with one of them fancy extended cabs so that he could tote all of his stuff when he went hunting. After spending all day with this character I wound up selling my first vehicle and making a customer for life. Since that day I went on to sell he and his family and church members over 100 vehicles which I feel he was directly responsible for as he hand delivered them all to my office. After that first day we met we became great friends despite him being 62 years my senior, and we hunted, fished and shot together. ( Back to the story)

Anyways, his daughter started telling me that about a month or so after his funeral they were going over his will and belongings when they came across a document in the will with my name on it stating that his three favorite guns were to be given to me with orders to me to pass them down to my son or some young man I might see fit upon my passing some day. After sitting there almost in tears and thoroughly shocked she asks me to follow her to the car and retrieve the package. After getting the package out of the car and bringing it into the house she asked if I would please open it in her presence, so I did. Upon opening it I found a NEW unfired serial number 1xxNM Colt 1911 with the documentation with all the order information, magazines and a rolled up cleaning cloth with the Colt pony on it. I am not a 1911 expert, but I have never seen a serial number that low on one of them. Also in the package was a Colt 1903 hammerless model M 3.75"brl in about 95% new condition with absolutely beautiful engraving work all over it. It also came with original Colt box and a custom made full quill Ostrich skin clip holster from a leather shop in El Paso, Tx stamped 1931. Rounding it out was a pre 64 Winchester Model 70 in .375 H&H that she went on to tell me he had carried all over the world in his younger days.
I am sorry to come on here and ramble on and on but I was very touched by this happening and thought I would share it with fellow gun people, thanks for listening/reading.

PS Can any of you tell me anything about either of the pistols or the significance of the low serial number on the 1911 if any?

PSS I know, I know This thread is useless without pics but I am a computer idiot and don't know how to do it. I did take a bunch of pics though and will be getting them 1-hour processed tomorrow. I might could scan them in if someone walked me through it.

[okcorral1881]

I found a NEW unfired serial number 1xxNM Colt 1911 with the documentation with all the order information, magazines and a rolled up cleaning cloth with the Colt pony on it

Hi Tolly,

I think that you have a 1958 Gold Cup but I'm sure a few experts are gonna wake up soon and ask you a few questions about it.
I can give you $350 Canadian for that gun, LOL, sorry when I read you were a car salesman, I couldn't resist... :D

Certainly we would like some pics...

Most probably a member named Hunter will answer your post, if you must sell that gun I think he would be one of the best persons (among a few other ones on this forum) you could trust to take good care of it! ;)

Nice story Tolly!

OK

[OD*]

My condolences on the loss of your friend.
Congratulations on him thinking enough of you to leave three classic to.

Clawson lists 1957 National Matches as, 26-NM to 2275-NM serial number range.

If you wouldn't mind, what is the serial of the Model 70?
It could be worth a small fortune too.

[rollback88]

Great story - thanks for sharing. Tells us something about the value we add to other's lives when we just take a little time. A greeting to a seemingly obscure old man lead to nearly two decades of friendship (aside from any business benefit).

Great on the guns - greater on the impact this gentleman had on you and so many others (who hand-walks a friend to a car salesman???).

Thanks again.

--jcd

[Hunter]

Man that was a good story. It always pays to never judge a book by it's cover. my grandfather was a farmer and run a sawmill. He stayed dirty most his life due to him working all the time. He was a good man and made a good living. He visited a car dealership many years ago (he has passed away now almost 10 years) and no one seemed to pay any attention to him I reckon because of his dirty overalls. He finally got some help and paid cash for a new pick up and drove it home. The Gold Cup sounds like a keeper. Check out these sites to help you know it's history.
http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/nm.htm
http://proofhouse.com/index.htm
I would love to see some pictures of the old Colts and the Winchester. I am a Winchester man and love their long guns. I have a few bolt and lever action Winchester rifles and a few older Winchester shotguns.

[191145]

Great story, and thanks for telling it. I would not fire that GCNM or 1903. I'm assuming the rifle has been used, carried and fired a lot, so it probably wouldn't hurt to shoot it a few times (if you don't mind a stout recoil).

[bslamb]

I was very touched by this happening and thought I would share it with fellow gun people, thanks for listening/reading.




Great Story - Thanks for sharing. Good things happen to good people :D . I am sure that many a great story of the times spent with your late friend will be shared whenever those wonderful pieces are shared and passed on.

[Hawkmoon]

Pictures would be nice, but the flood of salty droplets on my keyboard suggests that this particular story was not "worthless" without them.

Yeah ... you done good.

[jaybo292]

Pictures would be nice, but the flood of salty droplets on my keyboard suggests that this particular story was not "worthless" without them.

Yeah ... you done good.

I second that!

Jay

[Phil]

What a touching story. Don't even think of firing any of these, and if you ever even think of selling them, I'm sure that old man will personally show up in the middle of the night to pull your toes.

[clughog]

Tolly, the story you've told reflects pretty highly on you as an individual and your integrity and friendship. The best rewards are those that come unexpected. Congratulations! Can't wait to see those pictures!

[Tolly]

Thanks for the words everyone. I will try to post up some pictures as soon as I can, A little more info on the guns. The Model 70 is in the low 200,000 serial number range and it is a super grade gun. Model 70s are what I know best and have been collecting for about 15 years but this one is my new favorite. Also after looking through a field bag with misc. other stuff in it that the daughter gave me I came across a new in the box apparently never used .22-.45 Colt conversion unit that has no serial number on it which I thought was odd. Oh yeah, since I have received a number of people asking through PMs, no, they aren't for sale.

[pwtyddlewyddle]

Hi guys, I don't post much but I thought I would share what happened to me earlier today with y'all. I received a visitor at about 7p.m. who came bearing gifts. The visitor was a very sweet lady named Nancy who informed me that she was the daughter of a long time client of mine who had recently passed away after a long battle with cancer about two months ago at the age of 97. After telling her that I was very glad to finally meet her after having heard so much about her from her father over the last 17 years I invited her in. (I guess I will give a little background on who her father was before I finish my story)

I met her father the day before Thanksgiving in 1989 at a car dealership where I had just went to work as a new salesman two days earlier. It was a cold miserable day when I see this old(80 at the time) man get out of a taxi cab and start walking towards the door. All of the old timer salesmen just let him walk right past them thinking he must be headed to the back to pick up a car from the service department. I greeted him when he got inside and nervously asked if I could be of service to him(my first customer ever) and he said "Well, I sure hope so Son." He then went on to inform me that he wanted to buy a new 4x4 truck with one of them fancy extended cabs so that he could tote all of his stuff when he went hunting. After spending all day with this character I wound up selling my first vehicle and making a customer for life. Since that day I went on to sell he and his family and church members over 100 vehicles which I feel he was directly responsible for as he hand delivered them all to my office. After that first day we met we became great friends despite him being 62 years my senior, and we hunted, fished and shot together. ( Back to the story)

Anyways, his daughter started telling me that about a month or so after his funeral they were going over his will and belongings when they came across a document in the will with my name on it stating that his three favorite guns were to be given to me with orders to me to pass them down to my son or some young man I might see fit upon my passing some day. After sitting there almost in tears and thoroughly shocked she asks me to follow her to the car and retrieve the package. After getting the package out of the car and bringing it into the house she asked if I would please open it in her presence, so I did. Upon opening it I found a NEW unfired serial number 1xxNM Colt 1911 with the documentation with all the order information, magazines and a rolled up cleaning cloth with the Colt pony on it. I am not a 1911 expert, but I have never seen a serial number that low on one of them. Also in the package was a Colt 1903 hammerless model M 3.75"brl in about 95% new condition with absolutely beautiful engraving work all over it. It also came with original Colt box and a custom made full quill Ostrich skin clip holster from a leather shop in El Paso, Tx stamped 1931. Rounding it out was a pre 64 Winchester Model 70 in .375 H&H that she went on to tell me he had carried all over the world in his younger days.
I am sorry to come on here and ramble on and on but I was very touched by this happening and thought I would share it with fellow gun people, thanks for listening/reading.

PS Can any of you tell me anything about either of the pistols or the significance of the low serial number on the 1911 if any?

PSS I know, I know This thread is useless without pics but I am a computer idiot and don't know how to do it. I did take a bunch of pics though and will be getting them 1-hour processed tomorrow. I might could scan them in if someone walked me through it.
Your story almost had me in tears. It's amazing what just a little courtesy will do for you. Great job. Enjoy the gifts

[John]

Tolly, great story. First of all condolences on the loss of your friend. Second congrats on the new guns. Who says guns do not have a soul??

Please do post pictures of them. Instructions on how to do it, can be found in our FAQ section, there is a link to it, near the top of every page here. If you need help, don't hesitate to contact me directly.

[dogdollar]

You have given us all a great gift by telling your story.

I am blessed to have known some fine men as well, and even though you have lost a good friend, be happy in knowing that he thought enough of you to share a part of himself in his passing. I am sure that he would have intended that you have these things to do with as you will; with no obligations or strings attached to them........men don't pass along burdens.

You honor his memory by telling his story.

Thanks and the very best of luck to you.

[CWG]

Cool story, pass them on accordingly.

As for not firing...Good Lord...what a tough, tough decision.

[Joni Lynn]

My condolences on the passing of your friend. It's quite the compliment to you that you've made such a great impression on someone as you have in this instance.
The 1xxNM is a 1957 as others have said, I have one, but mine has been fired and has a serial number just a bit over 1000.
The model 70 could be of several variations, a pre-war, transitional or the much more common one just referred to by most people as a pre 64. The rear tang on the received would be similar to a cloverleaf shape if pre-war or transitional. There's also at least three different style safety levers that were used on them through these years.
Speaking for myself, I'd love to see a bunch of photo's of them.

[1911 Shooter]

Thanks for sharing your story with us Tolly. My condolences on the passing of your friend. I think that it was a great honor to you, him passing something so cherished on to your safe keeping.