Brother makes Colonel this week

[SloChicken]

never mind.

[Slack Jaw]

never mind.

Lol

[sfpcservice]

Congrats...I think...

[NYT]

he didnt get it?

[Doheny]

You gotta give us more than than, OP!

[SloChicken]

LOL,

A'ight. I will try one more time haha!

I deleted my post as I got frustrated that nobody answered at all until I took the initial post down.
LOL, I guess it takes what it takes ...

At any rate, here is the gist of the original post.
I put it up, as my brother is making Colonel this week after many long years of doing what it takes
I am proud of him and wanted some input from other GIs as to ideas for a memorable gift to commemorate the achievement, and to let him know how proud of him I am.

A brief hx.
We both had football scholarships after high school.
He, instead, wanted to follow in our parent's footsteps and join the Navy. (mom is a retired Commander, Dad is a Retired Sr. Chief).
I went off chasing girls and doing a bit of studying at school.
Meanwhile, my brother became a bubblehead.
I gave him a hard time when I went to Virginia to visit his pasty, never seen sunshine in months, arse. And as I was giving him a hard time, he said to me, "be patient, I have a plan ...".

Well, he did his stint in the Navy, went ROTC at U of Montana, Bozeman. Finished with a degree in Forestry, and then took a commission in the Army.
He went to flight school, and became a Blackhawk pilot
Many years, deployments, and stints in other countries and he has now made full bird!
He can retire when he chooses to a good extent, and he is only 50.
I would call him a lucky bastard, but I know how hard he has worked.

meanwhile, my dumb arse, works nights in a hospital critical care unit and I won't see retirement for some 20 more years ...
Who's laughing now, eh ???
Who had the plan, eh ???
So,
Point to all this is.

I got him a Mont Blanc pen set and placard for his desk, but that is so lame.
Cost a good bit, but still lame.

My brother is a life-long Montanan and hunter. He doesn't really have a good old fashioned revolver so I was thinking about getting him a Ruger Blackhawk Bisley and sending it off to Gemini Customs to get a bit of custom work (trigger/action work, some basic de-horning and finish work, along with basic engraving on barrel with his name/rank/date, and a nice deep blue to finish it off.
I talked to my other brother and he is down with this idea, as well as a nice holster setup for it.

I figure if we can keep the revolver in the 2k realm that would work.

As for the holster, I am pretty open to ideas, but I know my brother and he won't want anything too frilly, that is for sure. Possibly something traditional with some sort of insignia (Battallion? Aircraft? Suggestions?)
I want this to be something special, but also usable.
Firearms ain't for sittin' in this household. Or so goes the credo ...

So, what do you think of the idea?
Any suggestions on gunsmiths? Refinishing?
Holster mfr's?

Appreciate it,

And again. Thanks for your service !!!

[SloChicken]

LOL,

See !!!

Nuthin.

[flyer898]

What about a S&W pre-Model 27 or 29?

[Bionerd]

LOL,



See !!!



Nuthin.

I think the best you can do is go visit your local gunshop and ask them about your ideas. Whats doable or not, budget wise, etc.

Is there a more "classic" gunshop around there? Down here my favorite one is all about heritage guns and military surplus antiques.

Good luck, and congratulations!

[sealocan]

I think the ideas are not free flowing yet
because not many of our brothers have made full bird colonel.


On top of that,
all the "Full bird colonels are us" stores have closed.



Seriously though, congratulations to your brother and your entire family.

I like the custom single action hunting revolver idea, especially with some classy engraving, if firearms are his thing.

Whatever you give him make sure you tell them your friends here

Thank him for his service and
"patient + planning" that helps protect our country.

[SloChicken]

What about a S&W pre-Model 27 or 29?

Totally.

Believe me, I would get him a Colt if I could afford it.

He has flown Blackhawks for the most part of his service - so it seemed fitting.

I know it isn't as fitting as a Colt, or even a Freedom Arms (Can't afford Colt, and gave thought to a freedom arms in .454 but the "Blackhawk" has the name, if not the quality.

Thus the shine-up and tune at Gemini.
Tho Gemini Customs can be expensive, and I am really hoping to keep this at $2k or less (gotta set a budget somewhere).

I love my old 19-3 - but that is my only Smith Iwould really like a 29, or even a 66 or 60.
I have a 642 crimson trace, but that is hardly the Smith's to which you refere, eh?

Otherwise, I live in the middle-class world full of Rugers (7.5" SRH, .454 Alaskan, SP101, Mk 1, Mini 30, No. 1, and so on LOL).

My brother isn't foo foo, so he will really like the Ruger. The Bisley's shoot great, and with a bit of action work, and a shine-up I am hoping it will work out.

But,
Like I said, that is why I posted this here.
U all are GIs, so, you know what it takes to be a lifer, and what it takes to move along.
Just want to show my brother some respect for making a good go - I am proud of him and all that mushy ****. LOL

[SloChicken]

I think the ideas are not free flowing yet
because not many of our brothers have made full bird colonel.


On top of that,
all the "Full bird colonels are us" stores have closed.



Seriously though, congratulations to your brother and your entire family.

I like the custom single action hunting revolver idea, especially with some classy engraving, if firearms are his thing.

Whatever you give him make sure you tell them your friends here

Thank him for his service and
"patient + planning" that helps protect our country.

Thanks man,

Yeah, I know. I expect it is a pretty lofty rank.
I have been proud of him the whole way through. We all do our thing and help the way we can (I am former FF/Paramedic, now RN). But he pretty quietly goes about his business and takes care of his family. But he, as many of you, are noticed by his family and those around him/you.

I work with a Navy Capt. He is one of our pulmonologists.
Just a great man, super humble - and one of our best doctors. He is attached to the SEALs down here as their physician in some respect.
Strangely, I also have a friend for many years that I ride dirt bikes with.
He rode up to me and had a placard on the side of his fork leg. I noticed and said. U are GI Lance?
To which, he said, yep. Active.
I then noticed the bird, and asked if he was a Col, or a Capt.
Turns out he is a Naval Capt. head of the southeast region for the SEALs.
A freakin' SEAL no less.
To me, he was, for many years, just this humble guy that would ride up to my toy hauler, ask if I was going to ride, and ask if he could tag along.

Whell ****. LOL
Here I thought I was leading him around all these years.

People like my buddy Lance, and Doctor A freakin' impress the hell out of me. Quiet accomplishment says much.

Like people say, if you are that good, you don't need to tell people how good you are; others will tell them for you.

[NYT]

congrats to your brother, sounds like quite the man. your parents as well. my grandfather also attained the rank of colonel but for the Marine Corps. he is 96 now and still as sharp as ever, everyone who knows him still refers to him as "Colonel".

as far as a practical firearm for a hunter in montana, i would go the opposite route. OD Green Glock G20 (10mm) and send it off to have the slide laser cut with his name, command and any other info that would be special in his mind.

[Snoopy47]

Not gun related, but generally those in the military are too cheap to buy the fancy stuff for their uniform.

http://www.marlowwhite.com/male-army-shoulder-straps

Get him a set of the gold and silver bullion shoulder boards. Just make sure you get the correct color for his branch.

[Che762x39]

... all are GIs, so, you know what it takes to be a lifer, and what it takes to move along.
Just want to show my brother some respect for making a good go - I am proud of him and all that mushy ****. LOL

I am thinking Beretta 92FS Inox 9MM 5" which is $700.00 at Turners.

I got a S&W Model 29 four inch with my name engraved in gold and ivory grips but it sits in the safe. I would like to have something nice that I shoot frequently and not have to wait for a BBQ.