Rediscovering an old passion.

[walkin jack]

At my age there aren't that many new passions left for me to discover so when a love from the past comes back around, especially as a surprise, it is a nice familiar feeling.

I began my first love affair with guns when I was 8 years old. That would have been about 1952. Whether by choice of random circumstance they were all revolvers. A coworker of my dad used to take me out to the dump with his own boys on his days off and let us shoot tin can and bottles and what ever we could find. He had two old pistols that he would let us shoot. I don't remember much about them except that they were both .22s, but different kinds. I began to live for those trips to the dump.

As I grew up and came of age I acquired various revolvers mostly cheap imports. Until I went into the service I had never fired a semi automatic pistol. The Colt 1911 that I was issued seemed very awkward and clunky to me. I couldn't shoot it accurately at all but I like the recoil and sound it made when I fired it.

When I got back home from the service I bought a few things over the years but again, due to my limited resources they were all cheap-o type revolvers. I enjoyed my range time with my revolvers and got fairly good with them despite their cheapness.

I eventually got involved in motorcycles and fishing and my love for guns took a back seat as all my money went into the bikes and fishing gear.

When I married my 2nd wife and she discovered after 2 years of trying that she was pregnant and asked me to get rid of my guns. I didn't put up too much of a fuss because I had lost interest in them and it didn't bother me at that time. They weren't anything special and I knew that I could always get more guns later. Eventually the kids grew up and moved off and I started thinking about guns again. I was still riding and fishing but I had a great job by then and considerably more money to spend on toys.

A friend invited me to go to the range with him one time and he had several Glocks. I shot all of them with surprising accuracy and I fell in love with the feel and action of the semi automatic pistol. Over the next 3 years I accumulated 4 Glocks; G-23, G-17, G-21 and G-36. I also bought a couple of .22s. One is a .22lr on a 1911 platform and the other is the Ruger MarkII

Bottom line, my passion for guns is reborn and I'm hooked on all semi autos in general and Glocks in particular. I rocked along like this until about 2 years ago when the arthritis in my hands was getting to the point where I was having trouble operating the controls on my pistols. I decided to get back into familiarity and proficiency with revolver just in case it became necessary.

My favorite calibers for self defense in revolvers are .357mag and .44 special. I have a friend who is an FFL and he sold me a 3" stainless steel Ruger SP101 and then a couple of weeks later I got the chance to get a Lew Horton 24-3 .44 special. It didn't take me long to fall in love with wheel guns all over again. I'm having a blast! Pun intended.....

Oh now I still love my Glocks but I now have added the two revolvers into the carry rotation. See, I don't have any safe queens. All my guns have to work for a living. My hands are doing a LOT better so I'm no longer having any problems with the Glocks.

Still, I'm happy to be back into revolvers and thankful that I pulled it off and I feel like a more well rounded shooter. I am proud of both of them and I put up a couple of pics just to show 'em off.

[jlrhiner]

You know, shooting Glocks causes arthritis.

Welcome back. It's funny how the circle works. I've always had guns, but I got out of motorcycles for over 30 years. Now it's just me and mom, and we run rampant.

[walkin jack]

Originally Posted by jlrhiner

You know, shooting Glocks causes arthritis.

Welcome back. It's funny how the circle works. I've always had guns, but I got out of motorcycles for over 30 years. Now it's just me and mom, and we run rampant.

Yeah, I love how that works. I've heard it said that life is too short to spend shooting ugly guns. I think most would agree that you can't get much prettier than a Smith n Wesson revolver...

[Iggy]

Well over the years you have acquired some very good tastes.

Enjoy your old style hand guns, you got a lot of good company here.

[Texas Star]

I'm glad that your arthritis is better, but that doesn't mean that you have to shoot Glocks for autos. I hope that your manual dexterity will extend to operating CZ's, Colt Govt. Models, and Beretta M-92FS's. Or to SIG P-210's, if you can afford and find one. These and others have more "soul" than do the plastic-framed wonders from Austria.

I've always liked certain examples of both revolvers and autos. I do understand your passion for that SP-101. Who made its holster?

BTW, how did you choose your board name? There used to be a comics character called Smilin' Jack. Any connection? He did use guns on occasion. If memory serves, he was also a private pilot, but I don't recall the model of his plane. Anyone know? I may start a thread to ask. Don't want to sidetrack this one.

[walkin jack]

Unfortunately I lack the resources to be able to collect all the guns I admire and covet. I would collect from most periods in history and especially in the history of our great country. I confess to being attracted to those examples you listed so I guess that I'll just have to ride my dreams until I hit those 6 magic numbers.

I am attracted to Glocks because of their simplicity, ruggedness and dependability (until the generation 4s came out that is) and out of the box accuracy. They also make good project guns for those that want to go that way.

I have no idea what your experience is with Glocks but mine is extensive. I have 4 of them. A full size 9mm, and mid-size .40, a compact .45acp and a full size .45acp. Between the 4 of them I have well over 20,000 rounds through them and have never had the slightest problem with any of them. You pull the trigger and they go bang.

Mine are all 3rd generation and I believe that that is part of the reason for my success with Glocks. Also I'm not a tinkerer. I buy the gun I want. I don't buy one gun and try to turn it into something else. I have found that when you read or hear of someone with a problem with a Glock (except for gen 4s) if you look into it you find that they have altered the trigger or recoil spring or what ever.

I have also notice that many people that put them down don't have any experience with them. Sometimes people hear others pass judgement on things and they just follow along with out finding out for themselves. I know it's true that some people try them and really don't care for the grip angle or the trigger or what ever. But I have never understood the resentment against polymer pistols. I understand that there is resentment esthetically but but I don't see why. I have stood in the next firing lane over from Kimbers and Colts and Wilsons etc and watched with dismay as they jammed and failed to feed etc. Meanwhile my ugly cheap Glocks keep on bangin' away knockin' out the bullseye. I suppose it's just what you got used to from the beginning and/or the culture you live in. To each his own.

I bought the holster for the SP101 at a gun show. It was made by a retired Houston police officer who's name I'd never heard of and can't remember now. It's a much better holster than it's cost would indicate. I paid 35 bux for it and it is great. High quality leather that rides, conceals and retains well and keeps it's shape making for easy re-holstering. I loves me a good leather holster. As you get to know me better you will notice that I'm a leather holster kinda guy. I have several custom rigs for some of my Glocks from Fist Inc. They are fantastic. Not cheap but worth the price and the turn-a-round time in better than some of the other mail order outfits. Some of my IWB holsters are off the rack from Bianchi. More about the leather later. I'll pro'lly eventually get around to posting some pics.

My screen name, "Walkin' Jack", was given to me by my brother-in-law. I was about one year post op from a knee replacement surgery and had gotten deep into walking on a track in the park in my hood and exercising. I was coming up the sidewalk toward the house after doing my daily 3 miles when he was pulling into the driveway for a visit. When I got within ear shot he called out, "Here comes Walkin' Jack". The name stuck. I do remember Smilin' Jack but there is no connection.

On a sad note I eventually blew out the new knee and it had to be done over again. But pain is a great teacher and I learned my lesson. I'm takin' real good care of this one don'tcha know.

Originally Posted by Texas Star

I'm glad that your arthritis is better, but that doesn't mean that you have to shoot Glocks for autos. I hope that your manual dexterity will extend to operating CZ's, Colt Govt. Models, and Beretta M-92FS's. Or to SIG P-210's, if you can afford and find one. These and others have more "soul" than do the plastic-framed wonders from Austria.

I've always liked certain examples of both revolvers and autos. I do understand your passion for that SP-101. Who made its holster?

BTW, how did you choose your board name? There used to be a comics character called Smilin' Jack. Any connection? He did use guns on occasion. If memory serves, he was also a private pilot, but I don't recall the model of his plane. Anyone know? I may start a thread to ask. Don't want to sidetrack this one.

[Stevens]

I've had a few I'd like to rediscover!
Steve W

[gunfighter48]

I flew radio controlled giant scale airplanes for 32 years. You want to talk expensive hobby, 80" to 148" wingspans, up to 50 lbs, and gas engines up to 6 hp turning 28" to 30" propellers. Makes the cost of guns down right affordable. A full house giant scale airplane in the 10' to 14" wing span size can easily set you back $3000 to $6000 by the time you get all done. You go out and fly them and when they crash (and they WILL crash) you shed many tears!!!!

I found guns again about 20 years ago and sold off all my RC stuff. Have stuck with guns ever since. While I don't have the extra income to afford what I would really like to have I do what I can. Have 2 semiauto 22s, AR15, 1911, S&W 457, and am looking at may be (big may be) a 308 AR and another 1911 with lighter alloy frame. Have a bad back and packing an all steel 4" 1911 isn't helping it any.

I bought a S&W Sport last Aug. and am having an absolutely great time with it. I had forgotten how much fun the 556 ARs are to shot and tinker with. I'll stick with guns, much cheaper than model planes!!!