HideHunter
02-07-2021, 01:29 PM
Everything is complete – so I’ll pass this on as best I can. This may well turn into a “Thump” story – but I don’t care. ;) I’ll start at the beginning if I can figure out where that is.
Many years ago, when Bill Conine’s dad passed away, he had a pair of green Browning Kangaroo boots, almost like new. He asked if anyone on the site could wear them and because I was the only one of normal size - and the rest of you slew-foots were too big – he sent them to me - wouldn’t take a dime - even for shipping.
Somewhere after that I posted something about air rifles, wondering if anyone else fooled with them? Bill posted that he had an old Crosman pump-up – but it wouldn’t hold air. I asked if he was interested in selling it.. He said he’d had it for years and thought he’d keep it. Sometime after, as we know, Bill passed.
I wore the boots out and they even hung on the wall at “turkey camp” for a couple years. When I finally decided to pitch them – for some reason I kept the strings. All of you have seen the walking stick I made and incorporated the strings into a handle. I’ve taken it for a walk every year hunting mushrooms.
Fast forward 5-6 years; I bought a couple pretty nice break-barrel guns and was telling my dad and bil about them. Bil asked if if I had ever found a vintage pump-up. Told him no.. I’d had a handle on three but two wouldn’t sell and one guy had passed away. I get home that day, check FB and have a message from Jamie. “Diane Conine is trying to reach you. Here’s her email address.” It seems Bill had left a “to-do” list of things he’d like done. Among them was sending me the air rifle.. I could not have been more surprised as we only spoke of it the one time. She had no contact information – only knew me as “HideHunter” and even that got lost in the shuffle. All these years later – she was looking for something and ran across a Gun Blue Book that showed the gun, mentioned GH and HideHunter. As it happened Jamie had contacted her. And she told him what was up. After several emails we arranged for her to send the gun – wouldn’t take a cent – even for shipping.
I sent her pictures of the stick – and explained its origin and asked if she would like to have it.. Said she’d be thrilled. So.. I have the gun – she has the stick.. and I’m still shaking my head about the “coincidence” that we talked about the gun that very day.
What a great lady – and she sends her best wishes to you all.
12355 1235712356
Many years ago, when Bill Conine’s dad passed away, he had a pair of green Browning Kangaroo boots, almost like new. He asked if anyone on the site could wear them and because I was the only one of normal size - and the rest of you slew-foots were too big – he sent them to me - wouldn’t take a dime - even for shipping.
Somewhere after that I posted something about air rifles, wondering if anyone else fooled with them? Bill posted that he had an old Crosman pump-up – but it wouldn’t hold air. I asked if he was interested in selling it.. He said he’d had it for years and thought he’d keep it. Sometime after, as we know, Bill passed.
I wore the boots out and they even hung on the wall at “turkey camp” for a couple years. When I finally decided to pitch them – for some reason I kept the strings. All of you have seen the walking stick I made and incorporated the strings into a handle. I’ve taken it for a walk every year hunting mushrooms.
Fast forward 5-6 years; I bought a couple pretty nice break-barrel guns and was telling my dad and bil about them. Bil asked if if I had ever found a vintage pump-up. Told him no.. I’d had a handle on three but two wouldn’t sell and one guy had passed away. I get home that day, check FB and have a message from Jamie. “Diane Conine is trying to reach you. Here’s her email address.” It seems Bill had left a “to-do” list of things he’d like done. Among them was sending me the air rifle.. I could not have been more surprised as we only spoke of it the one time. She had no contact information – only knew me as “HideHunter” and even that got lost in the shuffle. All these years later – she was looking for something and ran across a Gun Blue Book that showed the gun, mentioned GH and HideHunter. As it happened Jamie had contacted her. And she told him what was up. After several emails we arranged for her to send the gun – wouldn’t take a cent – even for shipping.
I sent her pictures of the stick – and explained its origin and asked if she would like to have it.. Said she’d be thrilled. So.. I have the gun – she has the stick.. and I’m still shaking my head about the “coincidence” that we talked about the gun that very day.
What a great lady – and she sends her best wishes to you all.
12355 1235712356