Appropriate on Memorial Day!?

Ron Smith · 05-30-2005, 08:25 PM

This is the rifle I almost got my first deer with. A Marlin Mod. 336 Carbine in .35 Remington. My uncle bought this with his mustering out pay after WWII or Korea. He served in both.

He took me on my first deer hunt, at a place called Indian Ridge in the coast range of the Cascades. I was 12 yrs old. It was the last day of the season and it was raining and colder than crap. I was hungery, wet and cold and did'nt really want to hunt anymore.

My Uncle nudged me and pointed. He whispered, "There he is." I looked up and saw this big 4 point( western count, 4 on each side) Blacktail Buck. He was standing about 50 yds away just looking at us. I promptly got so excited that I blew a big hole in the ground right in front of my Uncle. He just put his hand on my should and in a quiet voice said , "I think you missed him."

After my Uncle passed away. My cousin ended up with this rifle. He was'nt a hunter and did'nt care about it. Recently my cousin passed away and now it's mine. When I got it, the stock was broken nearly in two at the pistol grip and it was covered with garage grime. I just finished making a custom built stock for it today. I think it's fitting.

Hope it was a good Memorial Day and that all of your memories are gentle ones.
To Everyone~

Ron

Rod WMG · 05-30-2005, 09:40 PM

Wonderful memory, Ron. Glad you got the Marlin.

Nice woodwork BTW.

jamese · 05-31-2005, 06:41 AM

Great story Ron,

the gunman · 05-31-2005, 07:59 AM

Beautful job Ron . And a wonder piece of history for you. Hope you can pass it on. ( In many years to come)

Ron Smith · 05-31-2005, 09:10 AM

Thanks Guys!
I'm just amazed that my cousin had'nt sold it along with all of the other guns that he inherited from his dad. One of them was a pristine Luger Rig. I don't know which variation. I think it was a Mauser, I vaguely remember that it had a 41 or 42 on it.

He probably couldn't get anything for the Marlin, because it was in such bad condition.

Ron

Here it is at about 5 AM Memorial Day morning.

pipeman45 · 05-31-2005, 01:30 PM

Nice to see it get a home where it will be taken care of. Now don't ever let it get away from you unless it's going to a loved one that knows the history and will apprecate it. Or you can send it to me!

Ron Smith · 05-31-2005, 08:14 PM

Hi David, I'm thinkin' this one won't be goin' to Kentucky anytime soon.

It's going to the woods this season to see if it'll work on one of that old 4 point's grandson's , several times removed. I've alway's had a soft spot for these old brush busters. I may start buying them up and restoring them.

Ron

pipeman45 · 05-31-2005, 10:30 PM

Thats the only thing that sounds better than me getting it. I have a soft spot for them too,(wife says it's a soft spot in my head) but pay her no mind. Good luck on that hunt!

Jack Lawman · 06-01-2005, 08:42 PM

Ron,
Thanks for posting. I don't have any "tender moment" stories like that from my youth. I grew up in the city. One of my more tender moments (age 10) went something like this...

me: "What happened?"
Mom: "You're in the Emergency Room. You ran your bike out in front of a car on the service road (Long Island Expressway)."
me: "What's in my hair?"
Mom: "Glass from the windshield... I think I've got most of it out."
me: "Can I go to sleep?"
Mom: "No, the doctor said that wouldn't be a good idea."
me: "Okay."
Mom: "You'll be all right."

I still live real near the city, but drag my kids into the woods every chance I get. Your story will help me to remember to be a bit more tender when they try to eat yellow snow, pick three-leaved lillies-of-the-valley, or drink from the stream.

Thanks,
Jack

05-30-2005, 08:25 PM	#1
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Appropriate on Memorial Day!? This is the rifle I almost got my first deer with. A Marlin Mod. 336 Carbine in .35 Remington. My uncle bought this with his mustering out pay after WWII or Korea. He served in both. He took me on my first deer hunt, at a place called Indian Ridge in the coast range of the Cascades. I was 12 yrs old. It was the last day of the season and it was raining and colder than crap. I was hungery, wet and cold and did'nt really want to hunt anymore. My Uncle nudged me and pointed. He whispered, "There he is." I looked up and saw this big 4 point( western count, 4 on each side) Blacktail Buck. He was standing about 50 yds away just looking at us. I promptly got so excited that I blew a big hole in the ground right in front of my Uncle. He just put his hand on my should and in a quiet voice said , "I think you missed him." After my Uncle passed away. My cousin ended up with this rifle. He was'nt a hunter and did'nt care about it. Recently my cousin passed away and now it's mine. When I got it, the stock was broken nearly in two at the pistol grip and it was covered with garage grime. I just finished making a custom built stock for it today. I think it's fitting. Hope it was a good Memorial Day and that all of your memories are gentle ones. To Everyone~ Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-31-2005, 06:41 AM	#3
jamese User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 789 Thanks: 0 Thanked 84 Times in 34 Posts	Great story Ron, __________________ The "truth" is a matter of Perception

05-31-2005, 09:10 AM	#5
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Thanks Guys! I'm just amazed that my cousin had'nt sold it along with all of the other guns that he inherited from his dad. One of them was a pristine Luger Rig. I don't know which variation. I think it was a Mauser, I vaguely remember that it had a 41 or 42 on it. He probably couldn't get anything for the Marlin, because it was in such bad condition. Ron Here it is at about 5 AM Memorial Day morning. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-31-2005, 01:30 PM	#6
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Nice to see it get a home where it will be taken care of. Now don't ever let it get away from you unless it's going to a loved one that knows the history and will apprecate it. Or you can send it to me! __________________ Dave

05-31-2005, 08:14 PM	#7
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi David, I'm thinkin' this one won't be goin' to Kentucky anytime soon. It's going to the woods this season to see if it'll work on one of that old 4 point's grandson's , several times removed. I've alway's had a soft spot for these old brush busters. I may start buying them up and restoring them. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-30-2005, 09:40 PM	#2
Rod WMG User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Edge of Texas Posts: 514 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wonderful memory, Ron. Glad you got the Marlin. Nice woodwork BTW.

05-31-2005, 07:59 AM	#4
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Beautful job Ron . And a wonder piece of history for you. Hope you can pass it on. ( In many years to come)

05-31-2005, 10:30 PM	#8
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thats the only thing that sounds better than me getting it. I have a soft spot for them too,(wife says it's a soft spot in my head) but pay her no mind. Good luck on that hunt! __________________ Dave

06-01-2005, 08:42 PM	#9
Jack Lawman User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Near NYC Posts: 428 Thanks: 30 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	Ron, Thanks for posting. I don't have any "tender moment" stories like that from my youth. I grew up in the city. One of my more tender moments (age 10) went something like this... me: "What happened?" Mom: "You're in the Emergency Room. You ran your bike out in front of a car on the service road (Long Island Expressway)." me: "What's in my hair?" Mom: "Glass from the windshield... I think I've got most of it out." me: "Can I go to sleep?" Mom: "No, the doctor said that wouldn't be a good idea." me: "Okay." Mom: "You'll be all right." I still live real near the city, but drag my kids into the woods every chance I get. Your story will help me to remember to be a bit more tender when they try to eat yellow snow, pick three-leaved lillies-of-the-valley, or drink from the stream. Thanks, Jack __________________ Why do you guys hate black circles so much?