Show us your Guns!

[David Conwill]

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.

See, for me it is the association with a more-romantic era that I enjoy. A .40 Glock is probably a better gun than a .455 Webley, but Glocks make me think of drug busts, SWAT teams, and counterterrorism operations. Whereas the Webley makes me think of pith helmeted adventurers in the Congo, or daring open-cockpit pilots over France.

Likewise, I’d take a 2010 Springfield Armory M1 Garand over a 1955 Stoner AR-10, as the Garand says “WWII”, but the AR-10 says “next stop ‘Nam”.

I don’t begrudge anyone their interest in Cold War or Modern firearms, but they’re not quite my cup of tea.

I suppose there’s some argument to be made that the “black gun” is one of the things that hastened the end of the Golden Era, as the numerous guerilla wars of the ‘50s and ‘60s helped shatter the optimism and idealism Americans had coming out of WWII.

-Dave

 

[57plymouth]

See, for me it is the association with a more-romantic era that I enjoy. A .40 Glock is probably a better gun than a .455 Webley, but Glocks make me think of drug busts, SWAT teams, and counterterrorism operations. Whereas the Webley makes me think of pith helmeted adventurers in the Congo, or daring open-cockpit pilots over France.

Likewise, I’d take a 2010 Springfield Armory M1 Garand over a 1955 Stoner AR-10, as the Garand says “WWII”, but the AR-10 says “next stop ‘Nam”.

I don’t begrudge anyone their interest in Cold War or Modern firearms, but they’re not quite my cup of tea.

I suppose there’s some argument to be made that the “black gun” is one of the things that hastened the end of the Golden Era, as the numerous guerilla wars of the ‘50s and ‘60s helped shatter the optimism and idealism Americans had coming out of WWII.

-Dave

A valid and well-reasoned viewpoint. Thank you!

 

[plain old dave]

See, for me it is the association with a more-romantic era that I enjoy. A .40 Glock is probably a better gun than a .455 Webley, but Glocks make me think of drug busts, SWAT teams, and counterterrorism operations. Whereas the Webley makes me think of pith helmeted adventurers in the Congo, or daring open-cockpit pilots over France.

That too, but the .455 is actually a better firearm, in terms of shootability, craftsmanship and stopping power.

Shootability: Keeping track of your brass is a snap, and handloading is absolutely possible and preferable. Google "glock kaboom" before you shoot anything but factory fresh ammo in a Glock.

Craftsmanship: Small arms are supposed to be made of fine steel and walnut.

Stopping power: 9mm: .354 bullet of c. 120gr. .455" .455 bullet, 265gr. End of discussion.

Likewise, I’d take a 2010 Springfield Armory M1 Garand over a 1955 Stoner AR-10, as the Garand says “WWII”, but the AR-10 says “next stop ‘Nam”.

I wouldn't take either of them. the AR-10 is not vintage, and the new M1 has no history, no character. My beat up old Winchester M1 has parts from everywhere, has been rebuilt at least twice and has served in two seperate nations' militaries.

I don’t begrudge anyone their interest in Cold War or Modern firearms, but they’re not quite my cup of tea.

Exactly. They're not classic; Korea was the last conflict the US fought with true classic firearms; Carbines, BARs, Garands.

To address the "craftsmanship" diatribe, examine a well-preserved Military and Police Smith and Wesson or a Triple Lock from the Golden Era; the tolerances are so tight a soul-less machine can't duplicate them. The Krag's butter-smoothness and blind drilled screws would cost thousands and still wouldn't be as finely machined.

Just my .02: modern firearms aren't as well-made, accurate or attractive as their Golden Age counterparts.

 

[shortbow]

Well said, Dave.:eusa_clap

 

[BogartsHat]

This is a pic of my lemon squeezer, a safety hammerless. It's from the late 1930s, I think.

I have two other revolvers that I really love. One is a S&W 686 from about 1988-1989 and the other is S&W 642 which is fairly new, maybe two years old. No pics on hand, though.

 

[HHISIII]

My two newest acquisitions

One's a Daisy made for Sears BB gun, the other is a Winchester 1894 in .30WCF. Say what you want about .30 being a baby round, it'll put a hurtin on pretty much anything I run into. (especially with those nifty Hornady leverevolution rounds)
This is my usual EDC. H&K P9S manufactured 9 years before I was born and nearly NIB when I bought it last year.

I can group all ten rounds to under 1.5" on a good day at 7 yds. Guys at my range have picked it up and, first time shooting, shot ~2" groups. Recoil is very light with no muzzle flip so follow up shots are fast and dead on.

 

[Highlander]

A few more, first my rifles. The bottom one is a 1890 Winchester .22 that was my Granddads, above it (Rossi Copy of John Wayne's Ring Rifle), then an old 1892 Winchester 32.20 that was my Granddad's, along with two Uberti/Cimmaron copies of the 1873 and 1866 Winchesters (when they were affordable I couldn't afford originals, and now that I might be able to afford them, they are unaffordable)....

and a few of my automatic pistols...

and lastly a few of my double action revolvers...

 

[Highlander]

My 686's are shown above. One is from about 1985 or so, the other is a MO SHP gun that I was able to get a hold of.

This is a pic of my lemon squeezer, a safety hammerless. It's from the late 1930s, I think.

I have two other revolvers that I really love. One is a S&W 686 from about 1988-1989 and the other is S&W 642 which is fairly new, maybe two years old. No pics on hand, though.

 

[Undertow]

My 686's are shown above. One is from about 1985 or so, the other is a MO SHP gun that I was able to get a hold of.

Were those wood handles original, or aftermarket? They look great with those revolvers. I'm a huge fan of the 686.

 

[Highlander]

Hello Undertow... The 686 with the 6" BBL is original to the gun, I purchased it at the local hardware store 25 or so years ago. The 4" bbl is an old (50th anniversary), Missouri Highway Patrol gun. My thought is they were special ordered from the factory with those combat grips as they have the S&W logo. The grips on the SHP gun have some wear on them from getting in and out of the car etc.

 

[carebear]

For anyone interested in stock, affordable 1911's (as opposed to the ones being sold with all the bells and whistles by most manufacturers nowadays).

RIA has some very nice 1911A1 pattern all-steel .45s and .38 Supers being sold in the $350 range.

Heard a lot of good things about them.

 

[carebear]

A little dark, but this is what my carry battery is down to.

Colt Series 70 1911
Colt LW Cmdr
Colt Mustang Pocketlite
Taurus 85 Titanium

Sold the Hi-Power and Smith Mdl. 19.

 

[Teekay44]

For anyone interested in stock, affordable 1911's (as opposed to the ones being sold with all the bells and whistles by most manufacturers nowadays).

RIA has some very nice 1911A1 pattern all-steel .45s and .38 Supers being sold in the $350 range.

Heard a lot of good things about them.

Springfield Armory has the same type of 1911a1 in the same price range. I just got one and am very pleased with it. Very well made and solid piece.

 

[Diamondback]

Springfield Armory has the same type of 1911a1 in the same price range. I just got one and am very pleased with it. Very well made and solid piece.

And if you don't like "gas pedal safeties" and prefer GI stubs, Deb Else at Springfield's Custom Shop can install 'em for you without killing the warranty. (We've exchanged a few emails about this very subject.) Catch is, you gotta source and provide your own part, and the stub-safeties ain't easy to find anymore.

Actually, for Retro Retrofits, I posted a discussion about this a long time ago on 1911Forum, in another life... http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=97850

 

[Harp]

A little dark, but this is what my carry battery is down to.
Colt Series 70 1911
Colt LW Cmdr
Colt Munstang Pocketlite
Taurus 85 Titanium
(

...American Derringer's Model 4 Alaskan Survival derringer could be the lead dog in this sled pack.

 

[thunderw21]

Found an all matching WW2 P38 vet bring-back for $300. Unfortunately it was chromed by the vet. The waffenants are visible and I don't find any rust on the internals. The chrome is flaking off around the muzzle, has the original mag.

Fo or pass?

edit: sorry, no pichers

 

[matrioshka]

Fo

Arfcom is rubbing off on all of us...

$300 isn't that bad, you couldn't get one of the postwar P-1's for that. Question is, how bad is the chrome job?

Grognard1, BTW

M

 

[John in Covina]

Found an all matching WW2 P38 vet bring-back for $300. Unfortunately it was chromed by the vet. The waffenants are visible and I don't find any rust on the internals. The chrome is flaking off around the muzzle, has the original mag. Fo or pass?

I know it is possible to de-chrome metals but would that damage other parts of the gun? You should talk to a chrome shop. After it's dechromed you have to re-blue it or put on some type of finish.

 

[thunderw21]

Fo

Arfcom is rubbing off on all of us...

Why yes it is.

 

[thunderw21]

I know it is possible to de-chrome metals but would that damage other parts of the gun? You should talk to a chrome shop. After it's dechromed you have to re-blue it or put on some type of finish.

I'm told it's possible but could cost a bit of $$.

And that's $$ I don't have. I'm thinking of passing on the P38. Not only do I not have the cash for it but it's a project I just don't have time for.

But I do love the P38, maybe even more than the P08.