Are We A Dying Breed?

[wproct]

I hope this doesn't stray too far off topic, but here goes. I spent over 30 years of my life working for a manufacturing based company, and this is an estimate, but I would guess when I started in 1973 probably roughly 40 percent of the men working there either hunted or participated in shooting sports. By the time I retired in 2006 i would guess that percentage of shooters probably dropped by at least half if not more. The younger generation just didn't seem to have the interest that was present back then. I know that this comment wasn't specific to handguns, but the overall decline in interest of a shooting sport applies. Just throwing this into the conversation.

 

[antilamr]

By the time I retired in 2006 i would guess that percentage of shooters probably dropped by at least half if not more. The younger generation just didn't seem to have the interest that was present back then. I know that this comment wasn't specific to handguns, but the overall decline in interest of a shooting sport applies.

I'm wondering if the change was due to the younger generation being influenced /distracted by the new technology/information based society and being less interested in shooting sports/life style or maybe the 70's was a more antiquated type life style (according to Hollywood & the media). With Americans habits going more toward convenience/fast foods the need or desire to hunt was diminished? Just pulling this from out of my a_s since I don't really know. A lot of lifestyle changes have come at a break neck speed since then (at least in my life time).

 

[Wise_A]

They're shooting. They're just not shooting with the guys who mock "plastic pistols".

 

[Wise_A]

Like I said, they're shooting. They're just not shooting with you. Why would they want to?

 

[huntandfishguy63]

I'm a revolver guy, always have been. But somehow I sure ended up with quite a few semi auto's. But now as I get older I find my interest more focused on revolvers, mainly Smith & Wesson. It still makes me a little sad when I go to the big gun shows in Houston. About all there is to see is tables of black plastic.

 

[tim c]

Maybe I'm just old fashion or just old but plastic is not for me

 

[Mrnurse]

We are all getting older and things are changing...its a fact of life. Wheel guns are not as sought after as before.... I collected ww2 Weapons and Winchester arms.... folks not that interested in those things today... now its plastic. and price point for most shooters. I have a Collection of LLadro Figurines some direct from Spain...Beautiful Craftsmanship.... my kids ( 27 yo twins) can care less.... Hand made quality has been replaced with 1's ans 0's, High tech ****. I dont like it or Understand it.

 

[tipoc]

I did not know what a Lladro figurine was had to look them up. Thanks for mentioning them. Selling well on EBay. They are pricey at Macy's and Neinum Marcus.

tipoc

 

[mauiblue]

I love classic, iconic firearms. Too bad I can't afford them. I was fortunate to able able to inherit a Colt Python revolver and two Armalite AR-180 rifles about a year ago. I don't see these firearms much at the local range and the one's that are in the know comes and flock by my table when I shoot them.

There will always be interest in classic and iconic firearms and even guns that are rare or out of production. I love Glock pistols but I enjoy steel guns even more.

 

[antilamr]

I'm 22 and about to get my 686+ that I got in a trade for a red dot. I use to shoot Cowboy Action when I was younger but fell out of that due to work, so I do appreciate the old stuff. I also have an old police Model 10 that is well loved and used. Overall, I really am a firearms enthusiast and enjoy all firearms, from muzzle loaders to my everyday carry Glock 19 that has a RMR, KKM bbl and comp, and X300U.
I think a lot of posters have already hit the mark as to why you're not seeing older guns in the hands of younger folks, the guns themselves were produced so long ago, spare parts are getting harder to find, and the rising cost due to appreciation. Like one poster said, he bought them new, or not too old, when he purchased them. Much like old Model A's or T's, while the decades go buy they'll be horded up or scraped as they reach their rusted end, people who don't know their worth do whatever with them, or enter another large collection of someone who does know their worth.
I suppose you could correlate the trend of older folks and their collections or pieces much like their homeowner status. Younger ones are in the cities due to college or their job and are currently facing high-rent, low-paying (probably janky Amazon or Star*ucks jobs) jobs, and disproportionately higher home prices. With lower prices, even with inflation, of homes and firearms, they were acquired back then and are still being held onto, or sold for good profit. I know one old guy who passed and had around 60 benchrest guns, unfortunately I never found out what big firm or store bought all of them from the dimwit son.
I would say that overall, a move towards newer technology such as polymer and autoloaders has given the sheer might of industrial production to the Glocks and ARs of the world. There's quite a few of my peer shooting buddies who all have old guns, from Belgian Auto-5's to Mauser C96's, and they love and cherrish them just as much.

At 22 you give great insight and make me believe that there will be others to carry on the torch when us "old" guys are gone. You and other younger "collectors" will be better positioned later in your life to hopefully keep our "dying breed" alive. I appreciate that this post was your first posting in the S&W forums. I must have hit a chord.

 

[Merc6]

Because nobody wants to be that "old ***man" with low capacity heavy guns.

High capacity metal guns usually cost a lot and so do higher end low capacity ones. My 1911SC is lighter than my G17 and conceals better but capacity is low. If I spent the money the SC cost me on the Glock it would be a crazy barely EDC level gun. My G2 has higher round count than my 938 for pocket carry but the 938 conceals better.Parts to modify my 938 would buy me 2 more G2's. If it wasn't for the local cops letting me shoot their guns back in the 90's before they went polymer, I would have never owned 2nd or 3rd gen semi auto with 3 more in my bidding list.

Also polymer guns have the aftermarket to customize them in your house where our smiths are buy the one with the features you want it to have or go searching for the oem take off parts from a dead gun in someones basement collection and hope you don't mess it up.

5906 vs my G17 before I extended it's capacity to 19+1 the 59 weighs more.

My 469 with 59X mags vs a G19 the weights are super close

Both the S&W's have the 1st shot be DA to safely get to the creamy goodness of the SA realm. That 1st shot you have to be used to shooting DA guns like this or revolvers or it's a super duper turn off. Even then the DA on the G2 is not as heavy as the Smiths. My 469 actually was cheaper than my G2 so price is no longer the issue. It all comes down to new with warranty automatically equals reliability over guns that are older than the shooter mentality. To folks a used gun is scary territory. Has it killed anyone or is it broke and they got tired of fixing it? Since most the all metal smiths can't be ordered from SWT today NIB they all fall into that category of the unknown.

 

[mc3781]

I'm 32, I grew up 8 miles from the S&W factory in Springfield MA. I love the older 3rd gen semi autos. I love the designs and the feel of them. I carry Glock on duty and a Shield as my backup, but if could carry an older S&W I would

 

[smoothshooter]

In 15 to 20 years, all those nice collections of older S&W revolvers, Pre-64 Winchester bolt and lever guns, and other fine old rifles and shotguns will be selling for pennies on the dollar of their current value.

I would not be counting on selling of pieces from a serious gun collection of the above-mentioned types to supplement my Social Security or other retirement income a few years down the road.

A Trapdoor Springfield, 1873 Winchester rifle, Winchester Pre-64 .375 H&H, or fine Pre-WWII Mauser Sporting rifle with extra fancy factory wood would be hard to move at even $400.

 

[first-model]

Interesting thread, and one that has been repeated in just about every collecting circle out there. At various points in my life I've collected things ranging from fountain pens to antique spark plugs, and every collecting club has the same complaints about young people, and the same grief about young people not getting involved in the sport.

I came into gun collecting in my mid 30's (I'm 43 now), and I'm still astonished at how clubby and cliquish collectors of all stripes can be. We are our own worst enemies when it comes to attracting new people to the sport, and if antique gun collecting (or any other collecting) stops being a "thing," then we will have nobody to blame but ourselves.

Of course, I don't think that this will happen. I see a young generation of people taking up the sooting sports with vigor, and I see a surprising number of them taking an interest in old guns (in part because of us, and in part despite us). They may not be attracted to the guns that any of us would pick for our personal collections, but that's hardly a problem. My tastes haven't remained static over the years, and I now find myself looking at guns that I wouldn't have given a second glance to just a few years ago (like pre-64 Winchesters). So it is for me, and so it will be for them as well.

Those that bemoan Glocks and other polymer pistols are deluding themselves. The whole point is that they are not the steel and walnut guns of yore. That's why I can buy a new Glock or M&P for less than $500 and put ten thousand rounds through it with nary a stovepipe. Not everyone has the wherewithal to find an older gun on the vague and unsubstantiated promise that it is "better" than the newer stuff, and warranties and a ready supply of parts count for a lot.

As an aside to this ... Glock made a really smart move by making their armorer's training accessible to the general population (vis-a-vis the Glock Sports Shooting Foundation). Notwithstanding the fact that a reasonably intelligent person can be taught to completely strip, repair and reassemble a Glock in a single day (try that with your third gen!), this is a wonderful way to inculcate a sense of community and belonging into any gun owner. Small wonder that Glocks continue to sell like hotcakes ... people feel like Glock actually gives a damn. But I digress.

Polymer guns are here to stay and complaining about them just alienates us from the up-and-coming gun collectors of tomorrow. I'm always amazed how much attention my old 2nd generation Glock 17 gets (the Austrian proof marks amaze and delight, for whatever bizarre reason), but I'm happy that it helps me meet people where they are at in their shooting career, and to get them thinking about the prospect of owning older guns. Not only that, but the thing is a hoot to shoot, and I can still call Glock and get parts for it (except for the un-captured recoil spring, which I have acquiesced to replace with a captured spring that doesn't fly across the room when I field strip it).

I still turn into a giddy schoolgirl when I find an antique gun, and for that reason I'm happy to mingle Glocks (and other polymer guns) and antiques in my safe. Last I checked, there was no award given to the person with the most "pure" collecting and shooting proclivities, so why don't we all just get along and focus instead on introducing people to the fun world of gun collecting?

Mike

PS - I bought a 380EZ a few months ago, and I love it. It's probably the best Shield yet, and it's giving my Glock 42 a run for its money.

PPSS - for the collector of LLadro figurines ... give it time and that stuff will be worth something again. Collectibles are cyclical, and my observation is that the market for glass and ceramics is pretty dead right now. Home decor trends right now don't include a glass case of porcelain figurines, but that doesn't mean that they'll be dead forever. Remember when table lighters were a "thing"? They're now making a comeback. What is old will eventually be new again.

 

[Genetically Swiss]

I am 61 and work part time in a local gun shop as a second job. The shop caters primarily, but not only, to the tactically oriented, read black guns. We do carry a significant anount of used firearms as well. We see it every day. The only significant number of S&W wheelguns we sell are new airweight versions of J-frames. We have had a perfect S&W 2 1/2" 686 no dash and a beautiful, nickel Model 36 no dash sitting in the case for months. Countless times we have had young men come in and trade Dad/Grandads revolver/hunting rifle/shotgun/WWII trophies (P.38 & Lugers mostly) for a modern high capacity polymer pistol or AR of some kind. It is the rule and not the exception. Nice, older S&W revolvers do eventually sell, but the buyers are few and are almost never under 50. So, my answer to the OP is yes, absolutely we are a dying breed. It cannot be denied, IMO.


GS

 

[Genetically Swiss]

In 15 to 20 years, all those nice collections of older S&W revolvers, Pre-64 Winchester bolt and lever guns, and other fine old rifles and shotguns will be selling for pennies on the dollar of their current value.

I would not be counting on selling of pieces from a serious gun collection of the above-mentioned types to supplement my Social Security or other retirement income a few years down the road.

A Trapdoor Springfield, 1873 Winchester rifle, Winchester Pre-64 .375 H&H, or fine Pre-WWII Mauser Sporting rifle with extra fancy factory wood would be hard to move at even $400.

This post is absolutely spot on. Depending on that Luger collection to carry you through your golden years? Think again. And even this presupposes we still have a 2nd amendment in 15 years.

GS

 

[Anschutz]

I'm 26 and from Georgia. I think a there are a lot of factors that influence my generation. My introduction was through hunting. I competed in High School and College at West Point. I haven't yet bought a firearm that I wouldn't use to hunt, compete, or defend myself with. I do own a Glock 17 and an AR. I use the Glock for USPSA, 3 Gun, and carry. For my AR, I have an A2 Upper for highpower and an upper for 3 Gun. My other handguns are a Ruger SBH .44 for hunting/camping and a T/C Contender with .44 and .221 Fireball Barrels that I'll hopefully eventually get a coyote with. My shotgun is a Supernova that gets used for anything a shotgun is needed for. I have a Taccom extension for 3 gun that I take off when hunting or shooting clays. My rifles are a Savage .243 that I use for F-Class and hunting in the open and a Marlin Guide Gun that I'll hunt anything with at close range. I reload for everything and have casting equipment for the 9mm, .44, and .45-70 boolits. My next gun for my promotion to Captain will be a S&W 627 that will probably take over for any handgun work minus 3 gun and Carry.

Now, as an Army Officer, I have worked with probably over a hundred Soldiers of my age or younger. Some of them hunt and some of them shoot for recreation and some have one handgun to defend their family. A lot of them do own plastic guns and ARs. I think for a lot of the Soldiers that purchase their first firearms as 18-20 somethings, they buy what they are familiar with in the AR platform and buy what they can afford as carry guns. When an E4 has to provide rent money and chooses to defend his or her family, they go with what they can afford.

So to end my novel, I would say it depends on the individual and their experience with firearms as well as budget. I have a long wish list that doesn't include any more plastic pistols or ARs but many people just out of college or working their first job is trying to keep the lights on while being able to defend themselves.

 

[rogerwnuss]

Viney, I'm not sure our hobby has gotten any more expensive either. In 1963 you could walk in and buy a new single action Colt with a stack of new silver dollars. Today you could walk in and buy a new Colt Single Action Army ..... for that same stack of 1963 silver dollars. It's just that we are living the time ofGeorge Jetson. Anybody else remember everybody laughing when George complained about not being able to get by on three thousand a month? We are now living with Jetson money. Of course, many things have appreciated way beyond mere inflation . Case in point, anything US military marked from Korean War back..... and pre lock Smith revolvers..

 

[Capt. F.]

My 70th is just around the corner. I own no plastic guns and would'nt spend money to own one. I do own a couple of all metal semi autos but even they take the back seat to revolvers.
The newest Smith I own is 1985.
My 46 year old son is 180 out from me as far as handguns go - black plastic all the way.
We recently had a talk about the future of my guns when I take my dirt nap. I ask him to at least let my ashes cool before they go up for sale. He promised he'd only immediately sell what he had to to bury me. The rest he'd wait at least a week after.

 

[Gary M]

(If anyone's local area is Flint, Michigan then a friendly shout-out to GUNS GALORE in Fenton as the absolute kings of obnoxious in the late 1980's. They are better these days, and I contend it's because some of them kicked off.)

Not that much better. "The Kid" (and if you know the store, you know who I am referring to) is a real jerk wad 99% of the time. The other 1%, he's not there.