So first a story, then followed with a question.
I took my daughter to a local range here in Central NC a few days ago. While there I saw a family sighting in a few hunting rifles. Really nice seeming family. I marveled over an older semi-automatic hunting rifle of theirs laying out on the table behind the bench, and called my daughters attention to the beautiul figured wood stock. I didn't recognize the rifle, but just knew that it was gorgeous. I was shooting my Yugo Mauser. The father struck up a conversation with me after seeing me shoot, asking if I collected old war rifles and if I was a veteran {he noticed a USMC patch on my rifle bag}. I told him that I did collect old WWII era rifles, despite my collection being meager, and that I was a veteran and current National Guard. He mentioned that he had an old rifle like mine at home and wanted my phone number. I gave it to him, expecting him to have questions about it.
The gentleman calls me the next day trying to sell his rifle. I find out its a type 99. As thrilled as I was, as I want all the major bolt action rifles of WWII and I dont have an Arisaka yet, I told him I just couldnt buy it from him now with Christmas coming up. He even offerred to take a $100 deposit and I could take the rifle and pay him the rest after Christmas. I told him I didnt feel comfortable doing that, and told him I would call him when I got the money to see if he still had it. I thanked him for the offer though. He wanted $300 for it... not the best price ever but fair. He called a couple days ago and offered it again at $200. I again had to decline, but told him I could probably scrape that up quickly.
Today he called and told me that he wanted to give me the rifle. Free. He told me that he thought about it and he felt compelled to give it to me. I didnt know what to say, and I told him that. I told him I wasnt dirt poor and it wasnt a need, per se. He insisted that he wanted to give it to me. I had mixed feelings, but I almost felt as though it would be an insult to not accept it. I met him and vowed to either repay him, or pay it forward. Ive only met this man once before, and only spoke to him like 10 minutes.
So that is the background. Now with the question. I have offered several things to this gentleman to repay in kind. I do leather work and wood work. He has declined. I fully intend to do something nice for him, and also to pay his kindness forward. I plan to make something nice for him out of walnut, though I havent figured out what, and to also offer a gift to someone else. If nothing else I will donate to a charity in his honor. Back to the question.... are these appropriate responses? What would you do? Did I do the right thing by accepting the rifle? I am open to discussion, debate, and suggestions.
I took my daughter to a local range here in Central NC a few days ago. While there I saw a family sighting in a few hunting rifles. Really nice seeming family. I marveled over an older semi-automatic hunting rifle of theirs laying out on the table behind the bench, and called my daughters attention to the beautiul figured wood stock. I didn't recognize the rifle, but just knew that it was gorgeous. I was shooting my Yugo Mauser. The father struck up a conversation with me after seeing me shoot, asking if I collected old war rifles and if I was a veteran {he noticed a USMC patch on my rifle bag}. I told him that I did collect old WWII era rifles, despite my collection being meager, and that I was a veteran and current National Guard. He mentioned that he had an old rifle like mine at home and wanted my phone number. I gave it to him, expecting him to have questions about it.
The gentleman calls me the next day trying to sell his rifle. I find out its a type 99. As thrilled as I was, as I want all the major bolt action rifles of WWII and I dont have an Arisaka yet, I told him I just couldnt buy it from him now with Christmas coming up. He even offerred to take a $100 deposit and I could take the rifle and pay him the rest after Christmas. I told him I didnt feel comfortable doing that, and told him I would call him when I got the money to see if he still had it. I thanked him for the offer though. He wanted $300 for it... not the best price ever but fair. He called a couple days ago and offered it again at $200. I again had to decline, but told him I could probably scrape that up quickly.
Today he called and told me that he wanted to give me the rifle. Free. He told me that he thought about it and he felt compelled to give it to me. I didnt know what to say, and I told him that. I told him I wasnt dirt poor and it wasnt a need, per se. He insisted that he wanted to give it to me. I had mixed feelings, but I almost felt as though it would be an insult to not accept it. I met him and vowed to either repay him, or pay it forward. Ive only met this man once before, and only spoke to him like 10 minutes.
So that is the background. Now with the question. I have offered several things to this gentleman to repay in kind. I do leather work and wood work. He has declined. I fully intend to do something nice for him, and also to pay his kindness forward. I plan to make something nice for him out of walnut, though I havent figured out what, and to also offer a gift to someone else. If nothing else I will donate to a charity in his honor. Back to the question.... are these appropriate responses? What would you do? Did I do the right thing by accepting the rifle? I am open to discussion, debate, and suggestions.
