My Grandpa bought a Marlin 336 30-30 years ago. There's no telling how many critters he shot with it in Oklahoma, Alaska, and Wyoming. My Grandma used it to kill her first elk sometime back in the 70's. A spike that they tracked through the snow and shot at about 50 yards. Later my Uncle used it to kill his first deer. When I became old enough to hunt my Grandpa lent it to me and I killed my first deer with it. After me, my brothers both used it on their first deer and before we knew it, it had become a right of passage for any new hunter in our family! Eventually, my Mom even used it to shoot her first animal. I took my wife, before we were married, and she shot her first antelope with it.
A few years ago, my Grandpa gave it to me and it is my most prized possession! It's beat to heck and sure isn't a pretty gun anymore, but it's a shooter! I've got two daughters and someday, they will use that same gun, open sights and all, on their first hunt. It's definitely a challenge to get within range and to use open sights, but it really adds to the memory of that first hunt.
I wish I had a picture of that gun, but I have a picture of my first deer back in 2003 that I shot with it! #beforekuiu&sitkawehadbluejeans&sneakers
