"JUST AN OLD LEVER NINETY-TWO".

[Bernard de Silva]

"JUST AN OLD LEVER NINETY-TWO".

I opened the gun case, a chest of memories,
lost to thoughts, the way we old hunters do.
There among the Brownings and fancy stuff,
it caught my fancy, a well worn ninety-two.
Picked it from the cabinet, worked the lever
left it open as I clasped the weathered stock,
Checked breach and action, closed it firmly,
eased down the hammer…set it at half cock.

Then memories of a lifetime filled my mind,
told in sequence, as if the old gun spoke to me.
And a vision of its first owner, my late father,
graced them, so his face and being I could see.
Seemed to tell he bought it back in the thirties,
early thirties, he recalled, hard time thirties too.
That vision sort of grinned, like he used to do,
said it was pricey then…bought it brand new.

Then we lived again the old times by the yarns,
of things and hunts a father and boy had shared.
The old Winchester I held fast, lost to memories,
cradled it gently, as all grand years we compared,
Ways hunting and of manhood, his firm guidance,
a father’s doctrine that in life has served me well.
That old rifle always a reminder to far finer years,
 in a world perhaps more just…if truth it is to tell.

 My old eyes scan printing, see calibre and type,
.25-20, Winchester Arms Company, Model 1892,
I wonder, will it brighten my boy with my memory.
some future day, when my life and time is through.
But I'll wipe and oil the weapon, drop the hammer,
place it away gently, the way all we old hunters do.
Bid farewell to visions and memories, 'til next time.
lock them safe away with that treasured ninety-two.

©.Copyright: Bernard de Silva..

[Sort of like a powder powered slingshot these days,
and I have some fine high powered rifles, and expensive
shotguns, but that old rifle always holds pride of place.]

[James]

Thanks for the memories again my first purchase was a browning .22 trombone action weighed 4.5 pounds did a lot of travelling . It cost 28pounds ten shillings in 1952 and it is now in my youngest daughters care.  I did not train my elder two girls how to hunt or shoot but the one who has the Browning always came out in front of her 4 brothers Good on ya Bernie James

[Bernard de Silva]

G'day James,
                  Have a late model Browning .22 Magnum Pump...but I still have fond memories of a little Browning 'take down' semi auto I used to have as a young bloke. In more liberal times the travelling showmen used the same type of firearm firing the .22 short round in large steel tube in shooting galleries on the show circuits...wouldn't happen these days and its likely best that latitude no longer exists!           
                  Cheers old Mate,
                                         Bernie.

[r. magnay]

G'day Bernie,James, and anyone else that may be interested,

My first rifle was a Brno .22 Mk1, still the best rifle made I reckon, I also have a Lee Enfield .303, got rid of the 410 and the 12 guage, I rarely shoot now, my son uses them from time to time, I only kept them when the buy back was on because I could, and believe I should. I have been shooting since I was a kid, never pointed a firearm unless I meant to fire it, and never shot up a sign, tank or anything else that shouldn't be shot. We used to hunt for tucker a bit, but mainly shot vermin, which included 'roos, foxes etc.

[Bernard de Silva]

G'day Ross,
                 Agree with the Brno addiction and the sane shooting concepts...Guess I'm not alone in finding as I got older, the SLR Camera got to hold more appeal than the SLR firearm...
                  Shoot mostly clay pidgeons these days...keeps the reflexes sharpened...but I don't think they're much chop for the pot...
                                   Cheers Mate,
                                                    Bernie.