A very dear friend and colleague asked me to lay out my idea of a perfect hunting rifle down to the "T". I told him I was great admirer of the Montana M1999 action as it (in my opinion) is the best rendition yet of the classic model 70 Winchester and Mauser actions. It is also made in a left hand model since I'm oriented in that direction. I related that I'm a fan of classic cartridges. I've long been a fan of the 6.5 X 55 cartridge. Under loaded by modern standards but still a very capable and mild shooting cartridge. Kick it up a notch in a modern action and it is even more capable. Plus, those long 6.5 bullets don't want to quit flying and will penetrate very well. I related that I'm a fan of walnut stocks even though they may crawl and shift, but a company called Accurate Innovations has largely settled that issue with thier aluminum bedding system. Us wood nuts can now have our cake and eat it too! I also related that I'm a big fan of matte blued metal.

Several months later while visiting his office he gave me a plain cardboard box, on the outside was a shipping lable from Montana Rifle Company. I was speechless and dumbfounded. In the box was the very barreled action I had described with a left hand bolt and 6.5 X 55 inscribed on the barrel. Under it was a stock from Accurate Innovations, a beautiful piece of tiger striped Claro Walnut with their famous bedding system plus Rosewood T&C. I was physically sick.

What a gift between friends. One that I'll never be able to repay in anyother way but friendship. But, I think that is what he had in mind...!

PS- The rifle shoots as good as it looks!

Beekeeper,
Please tell your friend for me that my idea of a nice gun is a shotgun from Purdy.....just kidding yuk haha. I did hear of a stock broker that was gifted a new Purdy O/U in 28 guage by a wealthy client.

well i have a few of my fathers and grandfathers guns and knives .that were given to me at each step in my hunting life . a shot gun when i was old enough to hunt small game , a remington 700 243 win when i was legal to hunt deer .( even though i started deer hunting at age 12 with a shot gun with my dad ) the shot gun and 243 were mile stone's to me in my life , and mean the world to me . i can remember the day, and all the details of it when i received them . handling my( pop ) grandfathers guns and knives i can still hear his voice and see him just as plain as day . these item's are a connection to great day's and well taught lessons from my past . happily the shot gun i got from my dad is now my 12 year olds gun i gave it to him on opening morning of turkey season this spring . mile stone #1 complete : )

2popa thank you very much for the posting it brought back a rush of great memories , it was hard to think straight for a few minuets .
my son's name is Hunter

well my wife let me name him hunter but under a bit of protest. i must admit she didn't like it when you turn his name around you know last name first type of thing because it is then Savage Hunter Michael . but she got over it .
our club has a big shoot coming up this month as well the mountain challenge we got Gander mountain to sponsor our shoot a few years ago and they have been great to work with . good luck to you at yours

I have a Marine Kabar that my Dad's cousin carried in WWII. It has his name engraved into the hard sheath. He gave it to my dad after the war and dad left it to me.
Beekeeper, That was one heck of a nice gift your friend gave you. Makes me even more proud to call you my friend. You must be one very fine fellow for someone to do that for you.

I posted this here before but I had a mentor much older than me and I lived or died on very word of every hunting story. He took me out hunting when ever he could and all the things that he told me ring true to this day. Just before he died he gave me his hunting knife. Not a fancy expensive knife at all but the knife that he wore constantly on every out door adventure. It is one of the most precious of my possessions. I think of my friend every time I strap on this knife for a day in the woods.

Dakota,

That was one heck of a work place gift. You must be a valuable asset to the company! Congratulations and keep up the good work. Oh, don't forget to take the boss hunting!