Here's my Improved Marlin Repeating Shotgun.
It belonged to my grandfather who passed away in 92.
From there to my dad, then to me.
It's in the exact same condition my dad received it.
The loading gate hangs down, it has a small bulge in the barrel and the stock is broken at the wrist and has been wrapped in copper wire.
I've had thoughts of restoring it, but I think it has a ton of character the way it sits.
I remember being around four or five years old, trying to help grandpa butcher a cow that went dry.
He tied her by the horns and shot her 3 or 4 times in the forehead with his 38 spl.
She just mooed at him. He walked back to the house got this shotgun and tried that. Nope.
A couple of whacks with a sledge hammer did the trick.
Grandpa never hunted and I don't think he really knew much about firearms and cartridge energy. He did know how to put in a full day's work though.