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My wife is an Army Vet (medical) however she's pretty hardcore - she like target shooting, but really isn't big into gun or rifle collecting like me.

After a recent visit to the range with my AR she was really proud that she was able to shoot and hold a .50 cent group at 200yards. With a scope and all that. Very impressive.

Today she came to me and asked why don't we have our rifle hanging over the mantle like my dad and my grandfather used to do. I said that it had never crossed my mind, since their weapons were usually a service weapon for the ranch or property, 30.30 or .22. I said that most people would be surprised if they walked in and saw a AR15 sitting on the mantle.

But after some thought, I agree with her. "Why not?" We have kids and I will lock up the bolt housing group, but yeah, I think I will continue to uphold the family tradition of displaying a weapon over the mantle just as my grandfather, and my dad did (both war veterans just like me and my wife) . My kids are very educated in the use and safety of weapons, it's their friends coming over to my house I worry about, that's why I have a gun safe.

But do any of you guys do this? Still display a rifle over the family fire place mantle?

Not 200, but 100 - sorry wrong button. lol

If I had a fireplace mantle, I'd hang something over it. Wouldn't be my primary defensive rifle, but I would find an older, more historic arm, probably. I used to have a house with a fireplace, and then I had a short sword and a collection of fixed blade knifes I had gathered in my military travels.

But an AR-15 over the mantle would be pretty cool.

do not have a fireplace but am currently looking for an older antique rifle to hang on my entertainment center. It actually has a really nice place for it.

An AR in my opinion reflects me and my wife's history with fire arms. We are not active hunters and most of our experience is with military type weapons, M16A2, M4, 1911 and the baretta 9mm. So I think an AR would be appropriate and does represent our generation with weapons. Granted my Grandfather had an old M1 in his inventory and my father, even though he used a M16A1 rifle in Vietnam he displayed a 30/30 - but the ammo was right there on the mantle and it was ready to use.
I don't think it would be responsible for me to have it ready for use or have the bolt in and ammo accessable because kids today don't have the respect they had when I was a teenager. Not my kids, just thier hippy friends,which I don't really care for. But that's a different story.
AR on the mantle fuflills that 2nd kind of cool though. lol

I have a flintlock muzzleloader replica on our mantle. I switch it out periodically with two others.
It never occurred to me to hang an AR there.

I'd like to hang my .54 Hawken over the fireplace, but the wife prefers her painting.

threoh8 wrote:I'd like to hang my .54 Hawken over the fireplace, but the wife prefers her painting.

Fortunately, my mantle is big enough for all of the above.

Why not reflect all 3 gen. on your mantle? One from your granddads time, your dads time and now your time. Would make a nice display

Target1911 wrote:Why not reflect all 3 gen. on your mantle? One from your granddads time, your dads time and now your time. Would make a nice display

Good Idea

UncleBob wrote:

Target1911 wrote:Why not reflect all 3 gen. on your mantle? One from your granddads time, your dads time and now your time. Would make a nice display

Good Idea

sounds sweet!

We will expect photos, of course!

I would, if I had a fireplace.

Rex B wrote:I have a flintlock muzzleloader replica on our mantle. I switch it out periodically with two others.
It never occurred to me to hang an AR there.

I wouldn't put an AR there myself...with a 10 yr old boy who has friends over, I believe the "real" guns belong in my safe if they're not under my direct control. However, I do have my "real" Pennsylvania flintlock hanging there...it's a great Italian model made by Davide Pedersoli.

Rex B wrote:We will expect photos, of course!

LOL - I will be shopping for a while to get the deals on that. But I like the idea. When my dad past away, my brothers took all of my dad's and grandfathers belongings. So I will have to go a different route.