How many members would like a firearms discussion area

Now THAT is one good-looking levergun! Looks like a custom Browning 1886.

 

I'm in 100% agreement with you on that!

 

I believe the guy who did the work has passed away.

 

I hate to say it, but I'm not surprised.

The true artists in gunsmithing are a dying breed. There are a few still in business who can do that level of work, but their numbers shrink with each passing year.

 

I tried my hand at engraving, I could do someone's initials and other minor jobs but could never figure how to do intricate artwork, it's really not something one can learn from book.

 

I had a period in my life when I wanted to pursue gunsmithing; I wanted to build rifles such as the one above, and custom revolvers and serious defensive handguns. But, it's an art form requiring extreme focus and patience, to say nothing of the fine attention to detail, and I just had to accept I didn't have the necessary levels of such in me.

 

Whether you think the Python, or the Keith No. 5, Colt SAA, or whatever, I'm not going through them all, is the best looking sidearm it's hard to argue against the original 1911. IMO. It's pure function leading to form.

 

The original 1911 is certainly a piece of artwork. It can certainly be improved upon from its original form.

 

Good looking.

Another favorite of mine.

The S&W Registered Magnum.

 

You know, Dave, for all of our other disagreements, any fan of the classic S&W is okay in my book. The N-frame S&W was my first love; my grandfather spent part of his career carrying a 1950 Target in .44 Special, and I have lusted after them in all their forms ever since. There's just something about the Registered Magnum too...

 

They are nice guns. I've had a Model 27, and a 28, but never owned a Registered Magnum which are, I've been told, virtually handmade.

BTW, is your grandfather's .44 Special still around?

Edit: I rue the day I sold that Model 28. I was able to shoot that better than any handgun I've ever owned.

 

Another one of those guns that's function leading to form was the S&W Model 586. I carried one with a 4" barrel like this one for many years.

 

Great looking gun. I had the 686 and thoroughly enjoyed shooting it.

 

I was in a gun store with my older brother in the 80s who was looking for a revolver for his bed stand. I was pushing him towards a 4" Model 19, but he fell for the 686. At the time I didn't get it. Why go for the 686 when you know the Model 19 is bulletproof? I have however grown to appreciate the 586/686.

 

In regards to revolvers, I remember an instructor telling me....if you pull the trigger and it doesn’t go bang, pull the trigger again and it doesn’t go bang, it means it’s not loaded then chuckled.
While revolvers are very reliable and fun to shoot...in my opinion they are a pain to clean.

 

A revolver I carried as a back-up and off-duty gun for many years was the S&W Model 649 that was identical to this one, including the Pachmayer grips.

 

My first experience in law enforcement was as a military policeman in the Army, and this is what I carried. Didn't look anywhere near as pristine and shiny as this one, lol ...

 

For the past three decades my day to day carry firearm has been a Colt Officers ACP, it's well worn and gallons of South Florida induced sweat has taken it's toll on the finish, but none the less it remains a very reliable firearm and with six plus one, it is all I need to solve any problem I might come across.



I carry it in a custom made Matt Del Fatti ISB holster, canted to match how I wear it, which provides both good retention and a very easy draw.

 

Haha, you're not kidding about the toll on the finish. Definitely a gun that has been carried.

My daily carry gun is a Glock 26. I've owned this one for 21 years.

 

I've owned a couple of 27's (a 5-inch and a 3.5 inch) and they are just exquisite guns. A friend of mine has a Registered Magnum that I have been fortunate enough to shoot, and it is astonishing what a smooth, accurate gun it is to run.

Tragically, no. My grandmother had passed away first, and he remarried; but he promised me I would get his guns as I was the only one in the family to have a serious interest in them, and he and I had spent a lot of time at the range together as I grew up. But, when he passed his second wife's family got to the house first, and a number of items he had stipulated in his will should go to me or my mother had mysteriously vanished... including his 1950 Target.

I've got similar regrets around guns I've owned that I let get away for the wrong reasons. That whole, "what was I thinking??" vibe just makes me sick to my stomach sometimes.

 

I know you're not accusing anyone out loud but I've seen guns vanish, or been sold in my brother's case after someone died that had a second wife. It's always a shame.

 

++ on the G26. One of my CC pieces is a G26 with a Techna Clip and a SiderLock, carried with two G19 backup mags. I sometimes carry it with a G19 mag with an X-Grip spacer. Strangely, I shoot it more accurately than my G17. Only part I had to replace was the trigger bar...the old one started do double taps without warning. Other than that, after 20+ years sweat and more, no noticeable wear.

 

I was heartbroken, and angry, that these things of my grandfather's that we both treasured had been stolen in violation of his wishes. It still makes me sad to think about it, even after all this time.

 

I like the looks of these. Marlin 1936 30-30.