Hank Jr. Offers Big Reward for Return of Grandfather’s Shotgun
Hank Williams Jr. is on the search for a missing family heirloom in the form of a Remington Model 11/48 16-gauge shotgun with a serial number that ends with 5811. The shotgun was not stolen necessarily, but could have been misplaced when Hank Jr. went through a series of moves over the years. However it went missing, a $5,000 reward has been offered up for the return of the shotgun, with a $1,000 finders fee for anyone who can locate the heirloom. It is thought to be somewhere in the Cullman, Alabama area, but could have traveled anywhere by this point.
“Growing up, I spent a lot of time in South Alabama with my Granddad Sheppard. Now I’m looking for his shotgun,” Hank Jr. says. “I want to pass that old Remington down to my children and grandchildren. I believe it’s in this area, and I’m willing to give the person who has it fifty $100 bills, no questions asked, no chance of criminal prosecution.”
Hank Jr.’s attorney, Steve Smith, is the one handling the search. “There is no suggestion that the shotgun was ever stolen and no risk of any follow-up after a successful recovery,” Smith says. “It was probably lost when Hank moved from Cullman to Paris—possibly from his cabin on Smith Lake. If the finder would prefer a gun or a guitar I’m sure that can be arranged with a proper certificate of authenticity.”
Anyone who may have information on the shotgun is asked to reach out to Steve Smith at steve@smithandsmithllp.com, or (256) 734-4721.
Hank Williams Jr. is heading out on the road this summer, with 15 dates between May and August, starting with an appearance May 31st in at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford, NH as part of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s farewell tour. For more information on live tour dates, CLICK HERE.
READ: Hank Jr. Should Be in the Hall of Fame, Whether He Wants It or Not
Keepin it Country
May 22, 2019 @ 7:46 pm
Hank lookin for his granddaddy’s shotgun . About as country as it gets
Asphalt Gator
May 22, 2019 @ 10:19 pm
Well if I had it or knew where it was I would give it to him for free just to meet him. I have been a huge Hank Jr fan for a most of my life and I love his Daddys music also.
Luckyoldsun
May 22, 2019 @ 10:24 pm
Hank Jr. spent a lot of time with Hank Sr.’s dad? I never heard that.
Or is it Audrey’s dad that he’s talking about?
Yeah, that’s probably it since he grew up living with Audrey.
Trigger
May 22, 2019 @ 10:29 pm
Yes, mother’s side. Hank Sr.’s dad was mostly out of the picture. He was an injured Veteran in and out of hospitals. Hank Sr. barely knew him, let alone Jr.
Angela D. Moore
February 4, 2022 @ 3:26 pm
Did he ever get his grandfather’s shotgun back? I’ do feel for him, I’ve been robbed several times & even knowing who did it doesn’t bring the sentimental stuff of my Papals,’ my dead husband & my kids stuff. WWJD, I guess.
Angela D Ebster
May 22, 2019 @ 11:08 pm
Yes wish I could find and give to you for nothing. Just to meet ya all. With the best of luck to you.
Black Boots
May 23, 2019 @ 9:18 am
Well, it’s a weird name for an album, but you gotta write what you know.
Now that's country!
May 23, 2019 @ 10:44 am
It’s shooting up the charts.
Bill "100%" Wood
May 23, 2019 @ 2:22 pm
Honest confession: I’ve listened my fair share of Sr. and III (actually, I’ve probably listened to those two combined more than any two artists over the last decade), but where does one start with Hank Jr.’s albums? Sadly, I only know him from Kid Rock and Monday Night Football.
Thanks in advance.
Trigger
May 23, 2019 @ 3:09 pm
To me, you start with his last release on MGM Records, “Hank Williams Jr. and Friends,” and then you go to the string of releases on Curb starting with 1979’s “Family Tradition,” “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound,” “Habits Old and New,” “Rowdy,” “The Pressure Is On” (one of the best), and “Strong Stuff.” Each record has a few stinkers, and each record has some excellent songs. Later his stuff becomes more hit and miss in my opinion.
Stork
May 23, 2019 @ 6:03 pm
Can’t sleep on the new south and one night stands. I appreciate pretty much anything from hank jr and friends to major moves
10-GEN-NC
May 24, 2019 @ 9:15 am
New South for sure
Jacob
May 23, 2019 @ 3:30 pm
For my money, I’d go with And Friends, Habits Old And New, and Whiskey Bent and Hellbound for his later stuff.
toddxolsen
May 24, 2019 @ 4:09 am
Habits Old and New
Brent Rice
March 9, 2022 @ 4:23 pm
Old Nashville Cowboys is such an obscure but great song!!
Jack WIlliams
May 24, 2019 @ 5:55 am
My favorites are Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound, Habits Old and New and The Pressure is On. I also have and enjoy The New South and Hank Williams Jr. and Friends. There’s also a great (and very affordable) 2 CD collection out there called 35 Biggest Hits that filled in some holes for me,
Simon
May 23, 2019 @ 4:55 pm
I don’t mean any disrespect, but I’ve never understood the American predilection for guns. It’s so strange to me that Hank Jr would want to pass such an item down to his children and grandchildren.
Like in the Toby Keith song ‘Love Me If You Can’, when he sings: “My father gave me my shotgun/That I’ll hand down to my son/Try to teach him everything it means”.
What does it mean? It means war and death, and guns are probably the worst invention of all time because of this.
The American South is supposed to be very Christian, yet how does that jibe with guns being such a prevalent part of their culture? (I guess it’s similar to how they enjoy songs about cheating – which is another argument altogether, but as a country fan myself it’s one I tend to ignore). Maybe someone can help me out there.
Trigger
May 23, 2019 @ 5:18 pm
Hey Simon,
I have absolutely no desire to get in a gun debate here and I’m not trying to advocate or defend anything here. But I do feel the need to offer a little bit of clarity in this specific case. I have no doubt that someone like Hank Jr. likely has an arsenal of heavy, military-style assault rifles and such too. But when it comes to a 16 gauge shotgun, this is completely different than a rifle, assault rifle, or even a hand gun. It’s most certainly not a weapon of war. A gun like this is very specifically used to hunt foul and smaller animals like turkey and fox. That may not be appetizing to you either, but there is a strong tradition of fathers taking their sons out to hunt in the South and it’s considered a moment of bonding and a right of passage for young men. If you were looking to kill someone, a 16 gauge would be about the last thing you would reach for, only after a 20 gauge. Again, totally understand if someone is revolted by the fascination of guns. But in this case, there is a deeper meaning.
Also, even many countries that have outlawed most guns like Canada and Australia still allow people to own hunting rifles and shotguns, not only because controlling wildlife populations can be important and because of hunting traditions, but also because in some locations and occupations they’re necessary for self defense from wild predators.
toddxolsen
May 24, 2019 @ 4:17 am
And an American cannot understand you predilection to be anti-gun. There’s three hundred million guns in America and almost none of them have ever been used for war, and very few have been used for death of humans. It’s not about guns it’s about heirlooms, I wear my grandfathers belt buckles every day, I have some of his guns, I’ve never used them for war or death, but they are something great my grandfather cherished which is cool to me to have something of his to pass onto my son, because he was a great man.
You sound European, as Americans we can’t really jibe with Europe’s predilection with fascism, socialism, and a general feeling of political elitism although your entire continent has gotten next to nothing done without pillaging the rest of the planet or begged America’s involvement.
Jack Williams
May 24, 2019 @ 5:46 am
If you really want to get a better understanding of the larger issue, I would suggest that there are better ways to go about it than dropping a comment on a country music blog. Maybe start with some Google searches?
Simon
May 24, 2019 @ 1:14 pm
Thanks for the answer, Trigger.
Todd, I don’t know why you are so angry and insult another country while I didn’t do so to yours. But I shall dismiss such things in the interest of diplomacy, and stick to the matter at hand. On average, there is one mass shooting for each day in America, while there are, again on average, eleven murder-suicides a week. I’m British (and a socialist too – what’s wrong with that? I believe we should look out for the poor, hungry and/or disabled), so our politics will differ widely, but I am against fox-hunting in my country, and all other hunting (including the unfathomable trophy-hunting) abroad.
Anna
May 24, 2019 @ 3:53 pm
I am country through and through. If we didn’t hunt out meat we didn’t eat. I grew up spitting buckshot onto my dinner plate. We also had to shoot rats off of our trash pile out behind the barn. And, yes, it was fun to target shoot. We had to kill the varmints that got into the chicken coop and killed the chickens who we counted on for eggs and meat. Then there were rabid animals that had to be put down. Every kid learned to shoot as soon as they could hold a shotgun…..and there were no accidents.
Gary Gallery
May 24, 2019 @ 7:32 pm
You gotta go back to the seventies and listen to the early stuff, he is a great singer and song writer!!!!
Dennis
May 24, 2019 @ 8:23 am
I Have inherited 2 1148 16 GA shotguns. 1 from a great uncle, 1 from a close family friend. Both have passed away. Both shotguns remind me of those great men who spent time with an impressionable little boy. Neither match the serial numbers( sorry hank) I only send this to say even if I wasn’t a huge fan, I understand. I wish you luck in your search.
Anna
May 24, 2019 @ 3:43 pm
If I could get my hands on it I would want him to watch me chop it up into kindling. The filth and lies that came/comes out of his mouth about any Democrat, especially President Obama is disgusting. It is fine to disagree about politics but his disgusting lies make him eligible for……
NOTHING.
Debby
May 31, 2022 @ 2:30 pm
I guess no one EVER accused you of being smart cause it sounds like you’re a brick shy of a full load.
Are U even American?
Alabamawildman68
May 24, 2019 @ 5:16 pm
I love hank jr music also but im a big ol waylon jennings fan until death south Alabama born and raised just an over an hour drive from home to georgiana al.
Atomic Zombie Redneck
May 25, 2019 @ 10:05 am
I have two of my father’s guns that I plan to pass along to my children, and hopefully they’ll pass them to their own as well. It’s hard to explain why a gun would be the thing you’d want to pass along. My Dad gave them to me a couple weeks before he committed suicide, and I cherish that memory of sitting with him while he told me the histories of the guns and showed me how he cleaned and maintained them. It’s not even about actually using the guns. A piece of jewelry or a clothing item just don’t have the same emotional depth, for some reason.
Nick Johns
May 27, 2019 @ 1:07 pm
Hey would throw that shotgun in the Ocean before he gave it to 3.
Debby
May 31, 2022 @ 2:42 pm
I met a couple 45 yrs ago when I lived in Louisiana who “claimed” to be Hanks grandparents. Doubt they were because I’ve researched and never seen their names associated with him. They did however show me a couple guns they “said” belonged to him. All I really know about that situation was what they told me. But, they did have 2 thick picture albums with what I know were original pictures of Hank Sr, wife, and Hank Jr. The albums were filled with pics of just them. I’ve wondered for 45 yrs if they actually were related and if not, where they got all those photos.
Regardless, like so many others have said, I’d give it to him gladly, no reward as well.
Love Hank Sr and Hank Jr!