Deeds Most foul.......

[Bob Wright]

Saw a discussion on another foprum concerning buying a gun that had been used to take the life of another person, or used in a suicide. One correspondent went so far as to say he could "feel a presence" from ten or fifteen feet away on any gun use in a suicide or maniac way in some bizarre act of violence. Further, any gun used in a "clean" killing, such as law enforcement shooting or defense shooting held a "good" presence. (Not his words, my interpretation)

To my knowledge, none of the guns I own have been used in such a way, though I have mentioned that several guns I have once belonged to someone now dead. I'm not trying to start a brouhaha here, but wonder if anyone on this forum feels the same way. Do you pass up a gun because it was used to take a life? Can you feel any "presence" or forboding with such a gun?

I have read of demon possession and such, but in each case, the person was the one possessed, not any inanimate item. I'd like to hear (read) your views.

Bob Wright

Bob Wright

 

[RKB]

I sold a suicide weapon - coincidentally for this forum, a .357mag Blackhawk in stainless steel - that a friend used to end his life. His widow gave it to me but I did not want to keep it around so I sold it and gave her the proceeds. I did tell the buyer about it but he had no problem with that. I did not feel any 'presence' or anything like that, it just reminded me of Mike and that was not the way I wanted to remember him.
I would not have a problem buying such a gun, provided that I did not directly know the person involved.
After all, as we tell the Anti's, a gun is just an inanimate object.

 

[AJGUNNER]

I happen to have a M-77 in 7mm that has some strange happenings in it's background. This rifle is responsible for killing 5 spike bull elk. I think it puts off a smell or something that keeps the mature bulls miles away from it. :wink:

 

[6gun]

Personally I wouldn't want to own a gun I knew was used in a suicide or used by a criminal only cause I knew about it, there aint no present of past owners or any non sense like that it's all in peoples minds.

If I ever had to fire in self defense and some criminal died by my gun while attempting to take my life owning that gun would not bother me I'd put a notch on the grip.

I own a few Winchesters old enough to have been in Indian wars I have often wondered if any of them have taken a life but there sure aint no presents or sprits coming out of my safe. :lol:

My deer rifle has never haunted me at night either, no ghostly antlers jabbing me or nothing. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[SC-REBEL]

I would have no problem with the background.

 

[6gun]

only time I ever had me a present coming form a inanimate object it was the tires on my truck after a skunk run out in the road and I hit him, the present of that skunk haunted me for weeks.

 

[mjpchief]

I own an M1 Garande, M1 Carbine, 1903-A3, all made in 1943 and a Mosin Nagant. The only time they haunt me is when they call my name from the safe.

 

[bsnake]

A firearm is nothing but a tool.

 

[volshooter]

I would/do not have a problem with the history of how a tool has been used. It is just a tool.

 

[RugerHound]

I personally have no reservations whatsoever about purchasing a firearm that was used in a crime or was used to plug someone. As was stated above - It's a tool. I have never EVER seen a firearm pick itself up and do something diabolical with itself!

 

[toysoldier]

I remember standing in frnt of a rack of British Enfield rifles at a hardware store, back in '68. All well-used, and just about certainly had accounted for a few men somewhere along the way. I do not recall any unpleasant presence. I am haunted by the fact that I didn't have $15 to buy one.

 

[Bayouhunter]

I once owned G 1888 & 1898 8mm Mausers. I have no problem on my part as far as owning it shooting it or living with it. Both rifles had to see use in combat and then the 303 Jungle Carbine in my safe at the moment is at home enjoying itself without worry of who or what it has dispatched in its lifetime. It use now is to take the ocassional deer, but with a 10 td mag stuffed full it can always revert to its original purpose. Is it possessed for being used as the tool it was designed for, yes it is with reliability and live ammo.

 

[pete44ru]

.

IMO, folks that feel that way about inanimate object(s) have a much deeper problem that could stand some treatment.


.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I have received no bad vibes from ANY of MY three Enfields that all date from the WW2 years. When I hold them, they give me a warm fuzzy feeling of Protection.

 

[exavid]

Nope, no problem to me, but it might be a good bargaining point against someone selling one.

 

[blackhawknj]

IMHO no different than owning a milsurp that was used by our enemies.

 

[wolfsong]

.

IMO, folks that feel that way about inanimate object(s) have a much deeper problem that could stand some treatment.


.

There it is, there.

 

[DA_TriggR4Ruger]

If only they could talk. I bet the old ones would have some pretty interesting stories. I'm sure my guns will be around long after I am. It's a sure thing some of the guns we all have had could tell some tales. I don't feel one way or another about it. But I did know an older gent who owned a captured K98 from WW2. He said the German sniper took several lives in his unit that day. He said he could feel their presence in that rifle and he wanted to keep them close...

 

[DGW1949]

My view is that as far as I know, only in witchcraft, voo-doo, and various other forms of satan worship, is a personality assigned to an inanimate object.

Now I don't know about you, but that sorta tells me something.

DGW

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

My Mosins date from 1945 and 1946, my Enfield from 1949. Not knowing the history of any of them, it's POSSIBLE any one may have taken a life, though I'd suggest only the '45 M-N is a very likely candidate. Doesn't bother me a bit: does kinda spark some curiosity of the "if only this rifle could talk" kind!

Not sure I'd feel the same way about a suicide gun. Yeah, it's just wood and steel (or whatever combo of materials), but there are some things that just don't "process" in my mind quite right. Taking one's own life is one, so perhaps that's where my trepidation comes from. One of my clients took his life a few years ago, and one of my hunting buddies had a friend do the same. I don't think I'd want either of the two guns involved, "just cuz" I'd rather have pleasant memories of their owners' better days, not thoughts of their last dark moments. As for crime guns, I've never seen one released that had been used in a homicide, so that's probably a moot subject for me.

Rick C

 

[ChiefMuzz]

It's an interesting question.
For me I don't think I'd really want to purchase a gun involved in some type of criminal activity. Not because of bad juju or anything, just preference I guess. Although I've never really had the option of buying something like that so, who knows. If the price is right I guess.

The other side of it is those who collect. If a tool is a tool, who cares that it was owned by so and so. How many times has someone tried to sell you on the history of a gun, making it worth more. If it is just a tool, then Elmers #5 ain't worth much more - or carry any more significance than Bubba's #5. "This is the gun that won the west" isn't much different than "this is the gun that my uncle used to kill himself". A tool is a tool.

Assigning more or less significance and value to inanimate objects is something that we love to do. Too bad the gun doesn't know the difference.

 

[tookalisten]

I have a friend who purchased a revolver from the son whose Dad had used it to kill himself. Only issue is that the cylinder would not close easily/quite right. He and I wonder if it received damage when it fell from his hand onto the floor somehow.

I have bought several used guns and have often wondered about their history; more curiosity than anything. Similarly, I have a loving, wonder yellow lab that took up at my house several months ago. Never found the owner; but I wish he could talk and tell me his story too.

 

[Tallbald]

If there's something strange attached to a gun, I'd reckon my dogs would pick up on it. They are a lot sharper than I am. I trust my dogs more than I trust some hoomins. Don.

 

[Kevin]

I would pass up a gun if I knew it had been used to kill a person. I don't hunt but do have a Savage 243 that brought down a deer.

If I were in the situation of knowing a close friend who had killed themselves, I would want to have the gun. Not to shoot but to have a close tie to the person. However I do not personally know anyone who has committed suicide.

I do not think guns are mere tools. They have soul. Just a tool? What about grandpa's gun? Ever here thr song by Blake Shelton "Grand daddy's Gun." What an incredibly moving song. Elevating guns from mere tools to the soul of grandpa.

 

[contender]

It isn't the gun, knife or whatever that has feelings, or is "possessed." It's is us human who feel emotions & how WE look at each & every feeling we experience.
And lots of good comments above.

I like so many others, own & enjoy old military firearms. My Dad brought back a 7.7 Japanese rifle, a few swords, & other knives from his time in WWII in the Pacific. Yes, I know these items likely were used to kill Americans. I look at one of the older swords, and know that it's likely to have been used by a Samurai to kill others, and likely innocent people as well.
I'm honored to be the current custodian of such history.

But, I also see how owning a firearm that is a link to a friend who used it to end his life could be both good & bad, just like explained above.
I know of a handgun, that was used (unfortunately unsuccessfully) in self defense of a murdered friend. My friend was a Vietnam vet, surviving a VC overrun, (seriously wounded,) and yet, was murdered here at home by a hired killer. His last act before being killed was using this handgun to fire one round at the second assailant who had him distracted while he got ambushed by the first murderer.
This gun is now owned & treasured by his nephew.

We can all put an emotional attachment to anything. But to think an inanimate object is "possessed" is wrong. Anybody who feels the way the OP described does have more serious mental issues.

 

[ken s]

do I think (feel) an object can 'possess' bad luck? yes
I don't think any of my antique guns, civil war, Indian war, have ever given me bad vibes....
HOWEVER. I don't own or would I use an Ouija board, or a suicide gun. just me.....
I'm not going to push my luck!
ps. had a strange experience once in a 100 year old house in North Carolina on a business trip.
footsteps in the attic and NO ONE UP THERE FOR YEARS. the owner said.
didn't sleep the two nights it happened...and I wondered why no one else was staying in this
big old house.....all rooms empty, during a trade show...just me..and the footsteps....
so can objects hold feelings...probably yes...
Ken

 

[ChiefMuzz]

Contender - I respect and agree with most of your points, but would caution you saying anyone that feels something is possessed has serious mental issues. For any Christian the idea of possession is real, that is unless you don't believe the Bible - and I'm not directing it at you personally.

Just one story to illustrate (and I could tell more). I have a very close relative, salt of the earth man, and of sound mind. Many years back his grandfather held Church meetings in their house. There was a dispute at some point and the man kicked the church out and would not hold any more meetings. The man passed away and left the house to one of his sons. My relative is a carpenter and would do work around the house for his uncle. Every time he would do something, another issue would come up that was worse. The roof collapsing, foundation cracking, etc. He was talking to his brother about it one time and they both agreed that something wasn't right about the house. The last time he went there he had to do something in the room where they had the meetings at. He said immediately upon stepping in the room he felt bone cold. He got halfway across the room when he was physically picked up off his feet and carried out of the room. He weighs 270ish pounds and is strong as an ox. He said he felt like a rag doll. He immediately left the house and never stepped foot in it again. That was probably 10 years ago. You can't convince him or his brother that there isnt an evil presence in that house. The scripture says when an evil spirit is removed, if it comes back and finds the house clean it will bring 7 more with it. Sometimes it's very easy to just say something is a mental issue, but I believe we write off many things that aren't.
Just my .02 though.

 

[Number9]

My brother-in-law committed suicide in 1980. The rifle was a Marlin 30-30 that I sold him to deer hunt with. I was asked if I wanted the gun back..I said, no. It wasn't the gun, but the circumstance.

 

[Ruger Packer]

I have a Colt Frontier Six-Shooter that belonged to a great-uncle which he used to kill an escaped convict back in the 40's. This uncle owned a barber shop and the property next to it. The barber shop had living quarters in the back and a hallway connected the two properties. One night he heard a noise coming from the next door property and grabbed this Colt and went to investigate. There was a guy in there (presumably looking for money), they saw each other at the same time, they bad guy aimed and my uncle shot from the hip hitting the guy in the chest killing him.

Someone else had also heard noises and called the police. They showed up just in time to hear the shot, they saw my uncle with the gun and shot at him, missing him (fortunately). When they found out who the dead guy was they were relieved that he was off the street. My uncle later found the bullet embedded in a door frame, he pried it out and wore it on the end of his watch chain for the rest of his life.

A police captain offered to buy the Colt from him. He declined the offer.

When the great-uncle passed away (early 70's) my dad inherited the Colt. He gave it to me in '95 and I have still have it. I know its history, but it doesn't bother me.

As a side note.... this great uncle owned quite a gun collection which he displayed in his barber shop. Many were Civil War rifles and a sword or two. Sadly, he sold these before I was old enough to appreciate what they were.

 

[6gun]

Ruger Packer,
That's a real cool story thanks for sharing I'd be very proud to own a gun with my family history like that and I'm sure your very proud to own it.