No, I never asked for anything until now. My father just offered. Most of the photos and heirlooms I have now, he simply called me up one day before he even told me he was planning to move and told me to come over and get this box or it's going in the trash. He asked me if I wanted my grandmother's piano and I said, yeah, sure I guess so. I asked about the sword which he'd had hanging on the wall and he said I could have that after he was gone. Then he moved away, and years later told me he'd given the sword to one of the step-grandsons. I asked him whether the boy wanted that sword for its historical or sentimental value or just wanted "a" sword because swords are cool and he puzzled over that and gave me the impression he'd ask the boy about it and rethink the whole thing or maybe even get it back for me. The sword and the revolver are the only heirlooms I've known about since I was a kid so they've been on my mind for 30 years. I used to get into trouble for going into his closet and looking at them though he never tried to lock them up or put them away. Sometimes I'd show my friends or girlfriends the sword, which was pointy at the end but dull on the blade, but seriously my exposure and interest in those two things are what inspired my life-long interest in history and genealogy. Finding out where they came from, who they belonged to. The revolver has notches cut into the grip. Five, one for every man one of my relatives killed with it, hopefully during the war.

My mother's insisting I ask for the clock, which doesn't really interest me. Researching the sword is more interesting as I'm a huge /r/knifeclub member and interested in genealogy and old things.

I don't think I'm "entitled" but I do think the sword is more mine than anyone's, if history means anything.