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
51
Upvotes
14
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.