Need a little help picking out a future heirloom.

If it has to be a 22, go find a Marlin model 39 or a Winchester 9422.

This 100%. Henry lever/pump 22s, although very function/reliable, are too cheaply made IMO to be heirloom quality. The Marlin 39 and Winchester 9422, plus the Browning BL-22s, are the finest lever action 22s ever made.
 
The Browning 22 auto is a great old rifle and a thing of beauty, but I don't think I'd give a kid an autoloader. I think it would be too easy to waste ammo. I could be wrong. It may have happened once or twice.
 
I always like the Henry Golden boy. Another direction would be to find a quality stock and build out a 10/22. It won't hold in value, but them knowing that their dad picked out every part would make it an heirloom in my opinion.

Congrats to you and the wife. I am glad that the big man smiled upon you guys.
 
The Browning 22 auto is a great old rifle and a thing of beauty, but I don't think I'd give a kid an autoloader. I think it would be too easy to waste ammo. I could be wrong. It may have happened once or twice.
I may be dating myself but at 15 I could go out and shoot hundreds of rounds at of 22 caliber if I remember correctly, BBs were almost more expensive
 
The Browning 22 auto is a great old rifle and a thing of beauty, but I don't think I'd give a kid an autoloader. I think it would be too easy to waste ammo. I could be wrong. It may have happened once or twice.

When I was in my early teens I was putting at least 5,000 rounds through my 10/22 every month, usually Winchester Wildcat because a brick of it was the cheapest at the local gun shop (Perry White's in Rindge, NH).
 
I may be dating myself but at 15 I could go out and shoot hundreds of rounds at of 22 caliber if I remember correctly, BBs were almost more expensive
I remember my price cutoff was 1 cent per round of 22, and the local store generally had the boxes of 50 for $.50.
 
The Henry golden boy seems like a great idea. But if you decide to go with a bolt I might suggest a 77/22 All Weather because I want one!
 
This 100%. Henry lever/pump 22s, although very function/reliable, are too cheaply made IMO to be heirloom quality. The Marlin 39 and Winchester 9422, plus the Browning BL-22s, are the finest lever action 22s ever made.
My Dad handed me down a BL-22 Grade 2 which I shot the other day killing some time cooling off the barrel when sighting in the 44mag marlin.

Don't know when it was made...guessing 1970's. Made in Japan, but like most other Brownings....fine guns that will last a lifetime, made with quality fit and finish and real polished bluing.

I'm giving my kid the Belgian Browning Tbolt that Dad gave me as well.
 
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I’ve been waiting to have this conversation for a while now. Thankfully the day has come!

Just found out we’re expecting our first! We are beyond elated as we’ve been trying for quite some time. I have always had a plan to pick something up that would eventually turn into a heirloom once we got the good news. I’m dead set on a 22. Don’t want a Rascal as they will grow out of it. I’m thinking a Henry Golden Boy Lever or Pump Action Octagon.

Any other suggestions?

A nice BFR revolver with a custom barrel from MR (can configure on their site).

Look at this beauty:
magnum_research_bfr_357mag.jpg
 
If it has to be a 22, go find a Marlin model 39 or a Winchester 9422.
This 100%. Henry lever/pump 22s, although very function/reliable, are too cheaply made IMO to be heirloom quality. The Marlin 39 and Winchester 9422, plus the Browning BL-22s, are the finest lever action 22s ever made.
This is the way.
 
Think about what the kid will be excited about when he grows older. Probably not a Fudd-type bolt action type gun. Lever could be nice but I gotta say not 22. Think 38/357 so it can grow with him.

Revolvers would be a nice option too.
 
That's a lot of metal for a 22 ;)
22 are kinda lame. Sorry. Get a nice, solid gun that will still be shooting 150 years from now.

Still get a 22 for the little kids.

The kid can take the 357 or whatever other caliber, hunting, on hikes, or whatever when he is older.
 
You could also start with a Daisy Red Ryder to learn basic safe handling in the yard, and then later the Henry.

With mine, I went Daisy then Ruger 10/22.
Plan to start with some sort of nerf gun, then a Rascal. Get them to really learn how to follow instruction with the nerf.
Get something you want.

Kids outgrow .22’s pretty quickly.

AR’s are the way to go.

Anything in a .556 or .308 should do nicely.

Then when they grow up and realize other kid’s parents won’t let their kids be friends with them because you have guns they lose interest in guns so they can try to make friends.

So you will end up with them anyway. Get something you like or want.
I have what I want. Anything I get from here on out will be a bonus. They are going to inherit them all anyway.
22 are kinda lame. Sorry. Get a nice, solid gun that will still be shooting 150 years from now.

Still get a 22 for the little kids.

The kid can take the 357 or whatever other caliber, hunting, on hikes, or whatever when he is older.

I used to think that way too. Started shooting 22 a couple years ago and really enjoy it. Allows me to shoot a lot! Although I do like your idea of buying myself a nice 357 that they will eventually get.
 
Finding a Korea era M1 would be the cats ass. My grandfather was a Chosin Marine. Only thing he ever said about the war was the carbine was junk and he loved the Garand.
There were a number of problems with the Carbine in Korea.

1. While many Garands had undergone arsenal rebuilding, there was no similar program for the Carbine.
2. The distances for many engagements were greater than those where an intermediate caliber could be effective.
3. The short stroke piston lost power in extreme cold temps.

My buddies dad had been a marksmanship instructor mid WWII before shipping to Europe. He was called up for Korea and sent to the front as an Infantry Company Commander. He engaged a CHICOM soldier running away from him over 100 yards away. Fired seven rounds before the guy went down. And that is when he switched to a Garand for the duration,
 
I used to think that way too. Started shooting 22 a couple years ago and really enjoy it. Allows me to shoot a lot! Although I do like your idea of buying myself a nice 357 that they will eventually get.

.22 are weird like that. I too have .22 that I shot for a while, threw in the safe for years, then started shooting again recently.

But a .22 just doesn't feel like a cool heritage gun. It is more a gun to have memories of the first gun you shot, or hunting rabbits with your grandfather or whatever.

But a nice, solid 44, 357 or whatever other caliber you like is different. It feels different; they are heavier, feel more solid, have nice wood grips and have a feel of better quality overall. Think of a nice, old single action Colt vs some new .22 Ruger revolver.

It is all personal preference. At the end of the day I wouldn't even think of this and instead focus on building good memories. Let the kid eventually choose. That will mean more than whatever gun you designated as "heritage". You can't force it.
 
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