Self defense and other fun with anachronisms...

Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
10,358
Reaction score
52,000
Location
Arizona
I've got some black plastic guns - they are deadly, efficient, plug ugly, and I don't like them very much.

It occurred to me that one could be very well armed and have a lot of fun with firearms designed and used from 50 to 100 years ago. They also don't carry the stigma among the non-cognizant who look upon any black weapon (however erroneously) as "assault weapons." Yet in their own way, many are efficient, just as deadly as the black plastic crop, and infinitely more esthetic. And I like them a whole lot.

Consider the lever actions - handy, enough firepower to get the job done, and even though operated manually, very quick to send out repeat fire if needed.

This Winchester Model 1894 has served as a game-getter and self-defense weapon for well over a century. It's no less effective now than it was back then. Nothing's more graceful, either:

PRE-64_MOD_94-small.jpg


This Model 1892, chambered in .357 magnum, is still a terrific defense weapon. I wouldn't hesitate to use it if I had to repel borders:

MODEL_1892_CARBINE-SMALL.jpg


The single action "hawgleg" has been around in one form or another since before the Civil War. Nothing fits the hand better, or is quicker to employ from the draw. Yeah, it's slow to reload, but it has all the punch you need, and if 5 or six shots can't do the job, you just haven't learned how to shoot straight. Here's some prime examples of some great SA revolvers:

COLT02-1.jpg


SUPERB2.jpg


RUGER9MMBLACKHAWK.jpg


blackhawk45.jpg


You want semiautomatic firepower? This 1911 Colt was designed over 100 years ago, and it's still in use worldwide. This one dates from 1918, and it's just as effective now as it was then:

1911COLT.JPG.jpg


John Browning came up with the idea for the High Power pistol way back in 1926, and it's been in continuous production since 1935. This one dates from the Second World War, when it helped to defend the British Empire. It's still a lethal defense weapon:

INGLIS.jpg


You want a DA/SA 9mm pistol? These have been around since 1938:

P38.jpg


You want semiauto battle weapons? You don't have to turn to Mattel poodle guns. These will do just fine, thank you:

M1GARAND2.jpg


M1A1CARBINE-SMALL.jpg


Thomp01a-small.jpg


Are double action revolvers what you like? These have been around for quite a while - and no plastic or aluminum were employed:

1917SW-SMALL.jpg


mp.jpg


Like to plink or target shoot with a .22? You'd still be well served with one or more of these:

RUGER_RED_EAGLE-SMALL.jpg


COLT_WOODSMAN_MATCH_TGT.jpg


SUPERMATIC_CITATION.jpg


.22 rifles your thing? They don't get any better than these guns from yesteryear:

DELUXE1.jpg


BROWNING_22-SMALL-captioned.jpg


Concealed carry guns? How about these?

SAVAGE_1915-SMALL-captioned.jpg


REMINGTON_51-SMALL-captioned.jpg


CENTENNIAL-SMALL-CAPTIONED.jpg


Hunting rifles? Don't even get me started:

WINCHESTERS.jpg


Well, I hope you get my drift. Plastic, aluminum are well and good - BUT - if it was good enough for grandpa - well, it's good enough for me!

John
 
Register to hide this ad
John, I own or have owned all but about three of the guns you have shown. I also am your age and have collected probley in your same time frame and long ago come to your same conclusions. Also have gave it a lot of thought through the years.
1. A lot of this is the newer generations always think newer must be better. Its like they seem to think they are smarter than their dumber parents and drink the kool aid that we need newer inventions.
2. On top of that manufactor`s need to keep building stuff, if 4 million winchester 94s are out there, there probley isnt much of a market to keep building more of the same.
Therefore we get new "tactical" or whatever other sales pitch it takes that appeal to the next generation to think they need to buy the latest.
On top of that it lets the manfactor now use newer cheaper developed material and new high tech machines that can build guns with less man hours and less hand fitting.
The end result is the newer product is cheap plastic, does the job, keeps the newer generation thinking they are smarter than their old nerd parents and keeps the companys in business.
When I was young in the 50s I always went deer hunting with my dad in wisconsin. I seemed to notice two type hunters. First, you had many guys with money that had the new fangeled scoped bolt actions in a hot caliber, with the newer thermo boots, and a lot of thermo underwear, jackets etc. These were the dudes back then.
The 2nd group were the poorer local north woods local farmers and such. The guys that were born in the area and lived on the cheap. They carried maybe a old shotgun with sluggs, maybe a old winchester 94 or marlin 30-30. They wore levis or likely bib overalls and old rubber boots.
Ya had to wear red back then, so they saftey pinned some red snot rags on the back of their denium farm coat as opposed to our red and black woolworth hunting coats. They carried a 10 ft electric wire bent up around their waste or whatever to haul their buck out.
Their wives would try to make a buck durring deer season and put a sign up in front of the farm, rooms $1.50. Then we would stop and try to jew them down.
 
now, I like wood and shiny blue metal - and generally prefer it, but I have to say, if all the black plastic guns had been around way back, do you not think they would have been as popular as they are now? You did have parkerising as the "tactical black" of its day as some of you remember...
 
Well, I remember as a small boy wanting a daisy with wood stock, not the newer plastic! I did get one with plastic though. Beggers cant be choosers. Also had a daisy King, that was the pump action one. Think I later traded it off for a lever cuz that looked more western. It seemed the kids with 4 eyes that had ta wear horn rims shot the pumps.
 
Last edited:
There's always grandma's double 12 or a nice Winchester '97 as well!

Dang it. you beat me to it. I was gonna mention the lack of shotguns, and suggest the Winchester M12 an M97.
Jim
 
Dang it. you beat me to it. I was gonna mention the lack of shotguns, and suggest the Winchester M12 an M97.
Jim

Sorry for the omission. Ran out of space! I've always been partial to the Remington 870s. I don't think you can ever have too many.

Here's my trap model:

870TRAP.jpg


And one for repelling boarders:

870DEFENSE.jpg


John
 
You did have parkerising as the "tactical black" of its day as some of you remember...

Remember? My two year old RIA 1911 is Park'd. As much as I admire a nice polished blue or stainless finish (Dan Wessons make me drool! ;)) Parkerizing has it's own sense of style. All business. I like that. ;)
 
Only thing I missed was the Browning Auto 5. There are more of them still around than any other gun I know of.

I got one made in September, 1953 and it still looks like new and will outshoot any of my newer shotguns.
 
If you had to rely on a cartridge available 100 years ago-38 Special, 38-40, 44-40, 44 Special, 45 Long Colt, 45 ACP-or 12 gauge. You'd do just fine.
 
Back
Top