Show us your Guns!

[Silver Dollar]

Now that's what I call a world class collection. A virtual museum of some old great pieces. My favorite is the Chicago Typewriter with the grips and the round drum magazine. That one's an icon.

 

[Chris Dillon]

Mr. Dillon (Why do I feel I should be walking with a stiff leg when I say that, maybe Gunsmoke, and my childhood?)...

Anyway, WOW, OH WOW. What a wonderful collection of period weapons. I love the Thompsons. Don't ever let them get away from you. The Police Department here has two, with selective fire switches. They were given them in the 20's when Dillinger etc were around.

They were told if they ever decided to get rid of them, they'd have to send them to the Government (what department I don't know), and they'd then have them DESTROYED !!!! ARGH!!!! Such pieces of HISTORY... DESTROYED...??? (They have opted (for now anyway) to keep them, but who knows what future aministrator might do something totally stupid and foolish and send them off)

Thanks for being such a great steward of these fine historical/museum pieces!

Im glad you like it!

And yes, stories like that always turn my stomach. Just last month my dad HAD to help the Contra Costa Sheriff's dpt. bandsaw three DWM Lugers, a RED 9 C96 and two 1911's that dated back to the 40s!! So horrible that they have to be destroyed.

PS
My brother's name is Matt Dillon

 

[rumblefish]

Very nice modell1898 Mauser hunting rifle, favored by Christian Bale/Melvin Purvis

Fine looking rifle!
Model A?

 

[thunderw21]

Got a dilemma for you.

I've got some extra spendin' cash and am looking to buy either an AK-47 or a European battle rifle in .308.

I already have an M1 in .30-06 and a S&W M&P-15 in .223.

The AR is in dark earth, bottom.

I love them both but want something with more 'oomf' to the round as well as being magazine fed. The AR-15/M-16 design is great and has soldiered on for some time but like I said, the round leaves something to be desired. I could go with a 6.8 or .308 AR but would like something different in design.


Like I said, it could be an AK-47. But I'm fairly tall and Yugoslavian stocks are way too short for me. So, what's the best bang for my buck while still being able to fit my tall frame?

Now, as for European battle rifles...
The FAL/G3/CETME family of rifles is great, but if I were to go with one of these which is 'best'? I know that's up to personal preference but what do you think?

I've only shot the G3 and liked it quite a bit. Though being left handed is a bit of a hassle with the G3 but all of these guns are a hassle for lefties.

The CETME is a similar design and I like the looks of it. No doubt it shoots pretty much the same. Like the G3, the forward charging handle is an interesting characteristic but for a lefty it's not the best configuration.

But the FAL has a magic all it's own and was the right arm of freedom throughout the Cold War since a majority of NATO nations carried it. A different look from the CETME/G3, not as sleek but still quite a looker.

So, which would you advise and from where would you get it? Price shouldn't be a problem as long as it's under a grand. It'll be used for target shooting and at some point I'd like to mount a scope for longer range work. Like I said earlier, I'm a lefty so being fairly ambidexterous is a plus.

Thanks.

 

[57plymouth]

I wouldn't have anything but Stoner's 1950's genius design.:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

But if perfection isn't good enough... Get the Commie. AK-47's are all over. Plus, they are a Golden Era design. Parts are everywhere, ammo is almost free, and any one armed idiot in a mud hut and repair one. Toss on a Magpul stock to fit your skinny frame and you are done.

But if all you want is cheap ammo, build a 7.62X39 AR-15.

 

[thunderw21]

I wouldn't have anything but Stoner's 1950's genius design.:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

But if perfection isn't good enough... Get the Commie. AK-47's are all over. Plus, they are a Golden Era design. Parts are everywhere, ammo is almost free, and any one armed idiot in a mud hut and repair one. Toss on a Magpul stock to fit your skinny frame and you are done.

But if all you want is cheap ammo, build a 7.62X39 AR-15.

Very true about the AR-15 design. If JFK approved of it then it's good enough for me.

I'll think about the AK. They are plentiful and I want to be able to customize it a bit (a Magpul stock would be great on one) but I wouldn't want to use Tapco items. Just not much of a fan of Tapco, except maybe their SAW grip.

 

[Harp]

Got a dilemma for you.



I already have an M1 in .30-06.


The AR-15/M-16 design is great and has soldiered on for some time but like I said, the round leaves something to be desired.

The M1 is the finest rifle in the world.

The M16 5.56 is dated, and the new hollow tip version may not prove a better round.

The M14 might not be a bad option; although the revised rifle issued today
is a bit heavy for my liking. Nine pounds max, sling n' scope--any more heft
should be for lead and waterIMHO.

The FNs, like the bullpups, never cared for. Lack of chemistry I guess.

 

[David Conwill]

I do love the M-14, I think we ought to still be carrying it, but the FN-FAL is a marvelous rifle. I had the opportunity to put a few rounds through a friend’s recently, and something about the ergonomics of that piece just clicked with me. Very shootable.

I've fired several AKs and SKSs. They're good guns, certainly, but it's hard not to feel like you're holding something very cheap and disposable. My dad had a real soft spot for SKSs, though, so I'll always treasure them.

-Dave

 

[Undertow]

Of the two (AK-47/SKS), I think I'd pick the AK-47. There are solid models to be found.

However, I would be more inclined to get one of the M24 sniper systems based on the Remington 700. Or, if you're not willing to shell out $3k, you could easily build your own for around $1000. It's in .308 with a floating heavy barrel, drop-plate magazine holds something like 5 rounds, bolt action; get some good mounts and a decent scope and you have yourself a darn nice firearm.

 

[57plymouth]

You do know being a lefty is a mental condition, right?

kidding...

Actually, it doesn't take much to make an AR-15 ambi. Just an ambi mag release and safety. You are already right there for the bolt catch.

If you want a bigger bore, step up to an AR-10. Stoner originally designed the gun around the .308, the 5.56/.223 is just making it fit within NATO's wimpy requirements.

Kennedy's approval is one thing I never liked about the AR15 / M16 / M4 platform.

 

[plain old dave]

To get this thread back to a Golden Era cant..... Atticus Finch, your Krag is calling.

 

[57plymouth]

What is not Golden Era about a gun that entered production in 1947?

 

[thunderw21]

Yup, all of the firearms discussed above are vintage.

 

[plain old dave]

Sorry. To put those bullet hoses in the same category with a brilliant example of Golden Age craftsmanship like a Krag to me is like comparing an $10 Times with a classic Hamilton wristwatch, or a baseball cap with a well-made Open Road, or.... Well, you get the picture.

Golden Era firearms are (to me) anything designed between c. 1870 and c. 1930-35. Much past an M1 is just not classic.

 

[57plymouth]

Well, opinions are like noses...

 

[John in Covina]

It is not to say that modern guns are not well made or beautiful but as a guide to what the vintage lovers are pointing towards here is:

Golden Era firearms ended to be ones that had more hand fitting and designs that included machining in areas that weren't necesary like Broomhandle Mauser pistols.

Another guide might be wood and blued steel as more Golden Era than most plastics used in firearms.

And that what tthey are concentrating on.

 

[thunderw21]

For me a vintage firearm is one that is from Golden Era and that era ended in the mid-1960s.

In the clothing sections of the forum we discuss '60s suits that contain Dacron Polyester, ties that are made of Acetate and other pieces with early forms of polyester. Now, these articles of clothing may not be as elegant or well made as truly vintage pieces from the '20 and '30s, but they're vintage nonetheless.

I view the firearms discussed above (FAL, G3, CETME, AK-47) like the '60s polyester suit: the tail-end of the Golden Era when things were beginning to change. They may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they are still vintage firearms.

Don't forget that every one of those firearms originally had wood furniture and they are no doubt well-made firearms.

But I think we forget that this thread originally started out as the "Show us your guns" thread, not just vintage guns. The fourth post has an AR-15 and AK-47 and other posts throughout have Glocks, tactical shotguns, etc. It wasn't until much later that we were told to stick strictly to vintage guns. Why is that and when did it change to strictly vintage guns?

 

[Diamondback]

You do know being a lefty is a mental condition, right?

Yeah, it's called "being the ONLY ones in our right minds." lol

 

[thunderw21]

Yeah, it's called "being the ONLY ones in our right minds." lol

Yup!

 

[57plymouth]

For me a vintage firearm is one that is from Golden Era and that era ended in the mid-1960s.

In the clothing sections of the forum we discuss '60s suits that contain Dacron Polyester, ties that are made of Acetate and other pieces with early forms of polyester. Now, these articles of clothing may not be as elegant or well made as truly vintage pieces from the '20 and '30s, but they're vintage nonetheless.

I view the firearms discussed above (FAL, G3, CETME, AK-47) like the '60s polyester suit: the tail-end of the Golden Era when things were beginning to change. They may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they are still vintage firearms.

Don't forget that every one of those firearms originally had wood furniture and they are no doubt well-made firearms.

But I think we forget that this thread originally started out as the "Show us your guns" thread, not just vintage guns. The fourth post has an AR-15 and AK-47 and other posts throughout have Glocks, tactical shotguns, etc. It wasn't until much later that we were told to stick strictly to vintage guns. Why is that and when did it change to strictly vintage guns?

Because some people believe erroneously that there is more quality in a weapon built by hand than one built on a CNC machine and higher quality control standards. All those "great hand built guns" of the past required trigger work, bolt polishing, barrel break in, etc. which is no longer required. A brand new 1950 Winchester 70 may or may not hit with accuracy. A brand new 2010 Winchester 70 (made 10 miles from where I'm sitting) will be MOA accurate every time right out of the box.

That, and the appearance of a "black gun" makes people think they are not vintage, even if it is a true vintage AK-47 or a war hero M-16.