r/canadaguns • u/Ok-Raise-5115 • Apr 23 '26
Misc Advice on family heirloom
I have an antique Gras infantry rifle that was converted to a 12 gauge shotgun sometime in the 1890s, it was my great grandfathers duck gun. 2 weeks ago my brother used it to kill himself. It’s currently in OPP custody. I’m torn between letting the cops keep/destroy a family heirloom versus keeping something that is a stark reminder of the worst day of my life, my father understandably never wants to see it again and my other brother wants to keep it and destroy it himself
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u/Iokua_CDN Apr 23 '26
This is such a hard thing, and I want you to know, as a gun lover, there is nothing wrong with destroying it.
Sure it makes me sad to see guns get destroyed, but people, and family are more important. You don't have to feel any guilt about destroying it. Sure it's not the guns fault, it's an inanimate object, but that also means there is nothing wrong with destroying it.
To be honest, letting the cops keep/destroy it means never having to deal with it again, vs what, selling it or destroying it yourself? I'd probably take that path myself, and let myself focus on other matters.
I can understand your brother maybe feeling a sense of vengeance to be able to destroy the gun himself, but I see nothing wrong with letting the police handle it.
Sorry all this happened OP, hope you and your family are able to hold on as you heal from this. No judgment whatever you decide to do with it.
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Apr 23 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ok-Raise-5115 Apr 23 '26
Thankfully they aren’t overreaching, they called and asked what we wanted done. Doesn’t really excuse the fact that the day it happened they were a massive pain in the ass and difficult to deal with
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u/FarFetched9 Apr 23 '26
Sorry for your loss OP, like others have commented i dont think anyone would fault you for having it destroyed.
Anecdotally, my great uncle is still Hunting with his uncles P14 bringback from ww1. His uncle later used that rifle to end his own life in the 70s. Great unc used it deer hunting since he got it back from the police and still uses it every season. We've talked about it briefly in the past, he mentioned he doesn't think about that day, but it does bring back positive memories of their times together.
Personally I dont know what I'd do in that situation either.
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u/airchinapilot Apr 23 '26
So sorry for your loss. Whatever you decide, please take care of yourself and your own mental health. Don't be afraid of seeking counselling. I had a friend who died tragically in a firearms accident and I sought help myself to understand how I was feeling.
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u/chemdaddy1040 on Apr 23 '26
I’m so sorry you’re in this situation. Maybe a local museum could take it?
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u/Yvr1986 Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26
Having been in this situation, my advice is to destroy it. If you get it back, it will not be cleaned up from the event, or at least it wasn’t in my situation. Dealing with that alone I think makes it worth not doing.
Edit to add if you want to talk at all shoot me a message. All that’s helped me is talking to people who dealt with the same thing. No other type of loss hits the same way, at least so far. Super fucked up.
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u/Bohdyboy Apr 23 '26
No one can tell you what to do with it. But i know in my opinion, Id destroy it.
To me, heirlooms aren't about value, price, or even rarity. Its about honouring a memory.
And that's not a memory anyone wants to have passed down.
Again, just one guys opinion
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Apr 23 '26
That really sucks my condolences to you and your family. I went through a similar experience, I kept the firearm just because I wasn’t going to let the police destroy it if anyone was going to do it, it would be me. I didn’t destroy it tho I ended up keeping it, in my case none of the family had an opinion or objection .
I don’t shoot the gun I take it out and clean it every so often and now when I look at it I think of him and all the good times . He had things going on we didn’t know about that’s just what it came down to , the gun wasn’t to blame even though it was easy to blame and I definitely did at first . End of day I don’t think the item is worth making waves with family over if they feel strongly about it it may be best to let it go or let your brother have something that might give him a little closure.
No gun owner would judge any decision you guys make about it they’re all valid and your families choice alone. I wish you and your family the best through your grieving and healing processes.
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u/Leading_Apricot8620 Apr 23 '26
Id keep it. Still a family heirloom just one with a darker side to it. Remember the gun didnt do anything in the end its just a tool loke any other. In a way you could go duck hunting with your brother i guess. Thats just me tho, its a very personal and i dont think theres a good or bad choice in those options. You do you
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u/16gaugeguy16 Apr 23 '26
I'm sorry for your loss. Sounds like a deeply personal decision at the end of the day, but I don't think I would keep it after that.
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u/No-Night-48 Apr 23 '26
Let your brother destroy it if it gives him closure, and nobody else wants it as a grim reminder. Or, alternatively, ask another family member if they want it. Maybe they'll see past the event.
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u/Response-Cheap Apr 23 '26
Very sorry for your loss. I personally wouldn't want anything to do with it. No matter how cool of a relic it is, it would only ever remind me of what happened.
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u/DustyPotatoes22 Apr 23 '26
I’m so sorry for your loss OP. This sounds like a tough decision, and nobody here can tell you what’s right for you and your family. Whichever route you decide to take, I hope it can help bring some peace and closure in this difficult time.
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u/outline8668 Apr 23 '26
There's no good answers to this. Sorry for your loss. I can't imagine you would ever be able to handle this gun again without thinking about your brother.
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u/slvrus Apr 24 '26
Generally the only situation where it's okay to destroy a firearm is when it was used in such circumstances. You don't want to pass on or own such an item with that attached to it.
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u/AdeptArt Apr 23 '26
What to do regarding this is a personal matter and I think likely more to do with you than with the opinions of internet strangers, but I am very sorry for your loss.
If seeing it is too painful then maybe giving it away or destroying it is the better option, in order to get closure. But if you value it as an heirloom and want to keep it out of respect for the fact that it's been your family for generations nobody will fault you for it.
Hang in there OP.