SET IN MY WAYS / TRADITIONALIST

[chief38]

I'm just about to hit 57 and recently I find myself becoming a "Dinosaur" in the gun world. We all have a "mental picture" in out heads of what things are supposed to be, and I find that my opinions and what is the "best there is" is a drastically different than the new generation coming into our sport. I will give you a for-instance.............

When someone says revolver, I immediately think of a S&W older style (pre 1994) gun.

When someone says Pheasant Hunting gun I think of a Browning Superposed, Browning A5, or a Remington 1100.

When someone says Auto Loader or Semi Auto, the picture in my mind is a Colt 1911 Gov't, Model or Gold Cup.

When someone says Military Rifle I think of an M1 Garand or M1 Carbine.

If one of the younger guys in my club asks me for a holster recommendation, the word "Kydex" NEVER would enter my mind.

So on and so forth...........

So am I alone here or are there some other "Dinosaurs" out there as well??

Regards,
chief38

 

[michael thornton]

well ill be 46 this mnth and i feel the same way

 

[JcMack]

I don't "collect" guns anymore. It's just not practical for me. I buy guns I can carry. Those are primarily revolvers. The revolvers I've always trusted are, Colt, S&W, and Ruger.

 

[wheelieguy]

I prefer, steel, wood and leather. Not into plastic guns or plastic gun parts!

 

[roarindan]

"cowboy gun" is still the Colt peacemaker.
"deer rifle" is 30-30 or bolt action 30-06

 

[Beaver]

With you all the way

All my revolvers are S&W, all my autos are Colt, all my rifles and shotguns are blued/wood.

 

[jimmyj]

Welcome to the "Over The Hill Gang".

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

When someone says peasant gun, I think AK-47
But change is.....enevitible-embrace it or stay in the corner with guys that think that they still need to keep their slide ruler around as a back-up in the SHTF situation; or who still thing the internet is a passing fad,
When someone says duck gun, I now think Benelli Super Black Eagle.
When someone says dove gun, I think Benelli M-2 in 20 gauge.
When someone says Pheasant gun, I think Benelli SBE as well.
Don't get me wrong, I still love the old revolvers; and believe you can only make so many variations of the 1911-but when a better mouse trap comes along I will use it.
Case in point, I love my old A-5 but let's face it-that thing kicks like a donkey on steroids-the Benelli is an improvement. My Ruger 20 gauge o/u and my BSS are nice guns that I have used in the duck blinds for years, but I no longer feel the need to impress with my "2 barrels" and to tell you the truth, I like the third shot
I am still waiting for improvements on the 1911 and the old S&W's however

 

[DeadAye]

I'll be 61 next week and for some reason I think M16 or AK when someone mentions military rifle.......
Other than that - I concur.

Although I have to say, I still believe that locks belong on doors! Most of my doors have them while none of my guns do --- nor will they.

 

[JohnnieB]

All my revolvers are S&W, all my autos are Colt, all my rifles and shotguns are blued/wood.

All my autos are Cadillac.

However, all my pistols are Remington Rand, Beretta, Ruger or CZ, all my revolvers are S&W, Taurus, Rossi or EAA and all my long guns are Wood & Steel.

When I turned 67, I told my kids they were getting an early inheritance and gave them all my "toy" guns and now, other than a few grips and some front sight inserts, plastic no longer exists in my handgun collection.

John

 

[K.38]

chief38, I feel the same way and I'm only 49. I met an out of state hunter the other day and he asked me what the best hunting caliber for deer and elk was. I said .30-06. He said no really what is the best caliber and again I said .30-06. I didn't even mention the 6.5 Swede that would have made him hyperventilate.

Back east where he was from and he was probably late 30s or so he was told he needed one of the lastest super mags. He just seemed to have a hard time with the concept of an old obsolete caliber still up to the task of hunting big game.

I know older guys who still hunt deer and elk with a .30-30.

 

[Faulkner]

I try not to get set in my ways. We seem to always remember the 'good' in the good old days, but some change is not a bad thing.

I think polymer in a quality handgun is a good thing.

I like air conditioning in my home and car.

I like warming up leftovers in a microwave.

I don't always have to wear my glasses when I'm watching my big screen TV.

I like the power windows, power mirrors, and power adjustable seat in my car.

I like my all weather stainless steel polymer stocked .30-06 deer rifle.

I like my factory camo painted 870 shotgun. Nearly lost it once when I leaned it against a tree while I took a leak, but it just proved the effectiveness of the camo.

I don't like 'new' just for the sake of new, and I don't necessarily discard the 'old' just because it's old. But keeping up with change is just a way of life.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I'll be 57 soon and I pretty much think like you do, but I do classify firearms into two groups. One is the classic firearms of our youth, the ones we grew up with and cut our teeth on. Two is the tools, the ones that work as intended but do not ellict a emotional responce. I do use my tools but when I want to smell the campfire smoke and taste the bacon, a k-22 or a SAA suits nicely and when I want to feel safe a 1911A1 falls to hand. The id does have it's way now and again!

 

[wbraswell]

Chief38, I am in my 57th year, and I know full well what you mean. I love blue and wood, the arms of the 20th Century, Single action Colts, 1911s, Hand Ejectors, Springfields, Model 12 Winchesters, Garands, and so many others. That's not to say I don't like a few newer things. I just purchased a stainless, laminated varmit rifle that I'm really looking forward to owning. I still love the cars of the sixties, but I wouldn't want to count on one for every day transportation.

 

[JohnnieB]

"Old Farts" Rule...

+1 MOONDAWG

If not for the 30 character limit, my sig would read:
Age and Treachery will always beat Youth and Skill

John

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

+1 MOONDAWG

If not for the 30 character limit, my sig would read:
Age and Treachery will always beat Youth and Skill

John

If not for the 30 character limit my signature line would be " No son, let's WALK down the hill and 'introduce ourselves' all of them."

 

[feralmerril]

The vast majority of my guns are winchesters, s&w`s and colts. Maybe 3 rugers and 3 brownings. Most are older than the 1970s. Most all holsters and belts are leather. I am pushing 70. No plastic, no high tech, no tatical, no camo, just one stainless. I did quit the copenhagen, drive a GMC 2,000 stepside. Wish I had a harley again. I dont want no plastic saddle, wanna feel that leather when I ride!

 

[P&R Fan]

I am a PROUD dinosaur. I'm 45 but have been this way nearly all my life. Here's my stats:
House is 101 yrs old.
Truck is 45 yrs old.
Wife is 4 1/2 yrs older.
I love old music, especially Elvis.
All my favorite movies are black and white, favorite is Casablanca.
My favorite TV show is Andy Griffith.
When I think Pheasant hunting, which I do often, first thought is of a Winchester M12 or M97. Maybe my Browning A5.
I regularly carry an S&W revolver that is older than me.
I still listen to 8-track tapes.
I love my church, but really wish they would let us sing the old hymns once in a while.
I ALWAYS wear a suit to church on Sunday morning, one of only a handful of guys who still do.
I am a gentleman. Women I don't know are referred to as Ma'am. I will open their doors, including the car door, and I will help them on with their coat.
I'm not old, I prefer the think of myself as Classic.

 

[NFrameFred]

I officially hit Codgerville several years ago, according to the wife and offspring, but truthfully I was probably one of the oldest 20 year olds that anyone ever met even at that stage of life.

I was given an appreciation early in life by good parents and teachers of the finer things - the truly finer things that make life worthwhile. So I've never had much patience with fads, pop culture, and following the crowd.

So yes, while I acknowledge the superior properties of polymers in some applications, I still gravitate toward steel,leather, and fine wood. The late Col. Cooper had an expression, referring to certain things as "gruntling artifacts" by which he meant it was something that had obviously stood the test of time and gave the owner earthy pleasure in just possessing it.

It's hard for some to understand, I guess, but while I may own and appreciate a Glock or an M4 it seems to be that it will always be a cold piece of machinery, maybe efficient and well suited for it's intended purpose, but cold and impersonal at best, whereas my Peacemaker, 1911,and Garand have somewhat of a "personality" to them borne of their time and manufacture that somehow is lacking in the newer offerings, to me at least.

 

[feralmerril]

All my old guns worked. Sometimes years ago it did get rough without AC, but for the most part, we got used to it. The power window on my old chrysler gave out and I about broke my fingers trying to fix it! Engines, brakes and tires last longer now, but the average of us cant work on a car anymore. We have about three different groups of cars and anything over 20 yards away the most expendsive looks like the cheapest and verse-visa! Probley what could be a 10 cent part wears out on a tv or computer, and its cheaper to buy new than fix it! Years ago when bad times hit, if you had a hundred or two it seemed we could weather it out. Now you might even have $20,000 rat holed, and if you loose your job you soon will be wearing a barrel!
Anyway back to the thread. Tell me one thing a new polymyer, plastic, or stainless gun will do better than my old triplelock, colt saa, 1911, winchester 1895 rifle, or 97 shotgun, or 1890 .22? Are todays modern man and animals tougher than a 100 years ago?