Favorite Firearms

FAVORITE FIREARMS More Than 30 Years With The .30 Carbine

My father served in World War II. He never talked a lot about his military service, but I know that he saw action in Germany and was also in the Philippines. We have a photo of him from the war with an M1 carbine slung over his shoulder, and a similar ri e would play an important role in his life after the war, as well.

After dad was discharged from the Army, he tried his hand at farming, but would eventually join the Vermont Fish and Game Department as a warden. Dad started his career with a borrowed handgun as his sidearm, which he carried until the State of Vermont issued handguns to the wardens.

Dad still needed a ri e, so, as a Life member of the NRA, he purchased a Remington M1903A3 chambered in .30-’06 Sprg. But he also decided that he needed a lighter gun for carrying when he was snowshoeing or snowmobiling. The NRA helped out again, and in September of 1963 dad paid $20 for a Winchester M1 carbine, chambered, of course, in .30 Carbine. He changed the military sights to a Lyman peep, re nished the stock and cut down the magazines to comply with Vermont’s hunting laws.

During his 30-plus years as a game warden, my dad would use both of these guns to carry out his duties. Before his death, at age 89, my dad divided his guns between his three sons, and I was given the M1 carbine. It would probably be very easy for me to get some sights, magazines and a stock to restore the gun to its original condition, but I know I never will.

Dad’s M1 carbine is in the same condition as it was the day I wat ched him educate a pack of wild dogs not to chase deer. It’s in the same condition it was back when I used it as a 10-yearold to complete my rst successful hunt. I remember the day, in the early 1970s, it came back with a burn on the stock as a result of getting too close to the exhaust on a snowmobile patrol. Dad’s M1 carbine will still be in the same condition when I, one day, give the ri e to my son. I hope he loves it as much as my dad and I have.

STEVEN ROWELL, VERMONT

Nearly every shooter has a favorite rearm. If you would like to share the experience of owning yours with other American Ri eman readers, or on americanri eman.org, send a sharp color photograph of the gun, accompanied by its story in fewer than 400 words, with your name, address and daytime telephone number to: Favorite Firearms, American Ri eman, National Ri e Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400. Photos and submissions cannot be returned and may be edited for clarity and brevity.

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