nice rifles in the field
- Thread starter ratherbefishin
- Start date
We live in an odd society.
When it's cold and raining outside, I have no problem taking my truck that when new was worth a fair penny down some miserable roads to go hunting.
And yet somehow, I am worried about dinging up a tool that is only worth a few thousand.
When it's cold and raining outside, I have no problem taking my truck that when new was worth a fair penny down some miserable roads to go hunting.
And yet somehow, I am worried about dinging up a tool that is only worth a few thousand.
At one time I would have sworn that everything was meant to be used and damn the consequences. Turns out that I've had to back down from that stance a bit, its easy to talk tough when I live in a relatively arid climate and can sleep in a building most nights. Hunt in the rain for a week or so and sleep in a tent and it starts looking different.
Then there's price. 1000 bucks, no problem. 6000 is too much for even the righand in me. Half way in between, maybe.
Then there's price. 1000 bucks, no problem. 6000 is too much for even the righand in me. Half way in between, maybe.
You make a good point... we probably all have a breaking point on what we are willing to risk... all of my rifles would fall in the $1500-$2500 range, and shotguns $2000-$3000... so no major investment being risked... a scratch here or there might devalue by $200-$300, no biggie when you consider what the overall pursuit costs. If I had a $6000-$10,000 piece, I would probably leave it at home in favour of one of the commoners.
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
X2 plus what is the point of owning them if you’re worried about using them?
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
My Dad hunted with this rifle in the Granisle country of Northern BC years ago when he worked up there. Rust blue, hand rubbed fancy walnut and none the worse for wear 56 years after it was put together.
Now, There are times when you won't want to pack a rifle like that around. If I was headed into Ardent's soggy bear territory I might well opt to take another rifle, but I don't think that I would need to do so, I'd just opt to do so for the sentimentality of the rifle more than anything else.
And let's be serious for a minute...who, aside from a new shooter, only has one hunting rifle? Even the old rounders who have downsized their collections still have at least 2 general purpose hunting rifles. Why not have one for those bluebird days? I've never gone anywhere without taking two rifles...even day drives around Williams Lake when I lived in BC.
Taking a gander into my gun safes, the most "utilitarian" rifles I can lay my eyes on are my custom ABolt, (which is really only utilitarian due to it's stainless barrel and action), and a plain jane Pre 64 M70 in 30-06. I guess that '06 would get the call to go out on a really foul day, because it's just a rifle to me with no sentimental attachment and no significant collector value. But that said, I did hunker on a coulee bank on an ugly Saskatchewan day in November to smack a fat whitetail doe using that rifle of Dad's, so I guess it's all relative as to whether it's a truly ugly day or not.
My Dad hunted with this rifle in the Granisle country of Northern BC years ago when he worked up there. Rust blue, hand rubbed fancy walnut and none the worse for wear 56 years after it was put together... I did hunker on a coulee bank on an ugly Saskatchewan day in November to smack a fat whitetail doe using that rifle of Dad's, so I guess it's all relative as to whether it's a truly ugly day or not.
That is a special rifle... and not because of the wood and metal... although they are nice too.
Glock4ever
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
I used to baby guns when I was learning about guns and wasn't sure if I was going to keep them. Now that I know what I want I don't like to use or carry sub-par tools. I just stay away from the really expensive guns that I would be scared to lose or break and just buy guns that are going to be enjoyable to use in the field. My rifles are easily in the 3k range and I am pretty ambivalent about them as they aren't leaving my possession so if they pick up a ding or two, I don't lose any sleep. The funny thing is I am starting to pursue better tools to use. Like knives, when I started in hunting I had practical $50 blades and now I am buying >$300 fixed blades that can't be used more than a couple of times a year... I doubt that I will start buying >$1000 knives but like all other hobbies who can say?
I have a few nice guns I bought to use, and I do. Couple of Fabarm SXS's that have scratches on the barrels now from being used in layout blinds, one got the forend dinged by a corner of the truck door. If you use them, stuff will happen and you have to be willing to accept it. There is a ding in the stock on my Krieghoff SXS rifle, no idea how it happened, but, it did. So be it. They will all no doubt get more scars of some sort, no matter how careful I try to be with them.
While I love my Sako 264 win mag and have used it for many years of hunting, it's getting heavy. I now prefer my Tikka t3lite in 6.5x55, or as my hillbilly buddy say "plastikka". I have refinished the Sako stock several times and will likely again, it is a really nice piece of English walnut I got a long time ago. Nothing beats a good walnut stock with an oil finish in my opinion. The Ruger #1 I picked up needs a refinish then it should look great again.
A couple of well used rifles:
These rifles are much more valuable because they were used. Or maybe Corbett should have kept them in their cases and taken an old .303 or Martini-Henry out in the rain. There's almost no blacking at all left on the .275, and the Jeffery .400 isn't much better, but both are much more cherished because of who used them and how they were used.
Strange that people weren't shy about taking expensive sporting rifles afield a hundred years ago, but now everybody's afraid of getting a ding in the stock or a blemish in the bluing.
These rifles are much more valuable because they were used. Or maybe Corbett should have kept them in their cases and taken an old .303 or Martini-Henry out in the rain. There's almost no blacking at all left on the .275, and the Jeffery .400 isn't much better, but both are much more cherished because of who used them and how they were used.
Strange that people weren't shy about taking expensive sporting rifles afield a hundred years ago, but now everybody's afraid of getting a ding in the stock or a blemish in the bluing.
Attachments
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I didn't get Bill Leeper to build the hunting rifle of my dreams just to hang it on the rack- it gets hunted in heat, rain , snowstorms , whenever !
cat
cat
Great analogy, and how so very true. I drive a $75K truck and it goes places that perhaps at times it should not. It is used but not abused, and well cared for and maintained. The very same with my guns. I don't own a gun worth more than $2500. as that seems to my personal limit. But their taken out each fall come rain or shine and used, then taken home and cared for. The rain is dried off the mud washed off. Those who are familiar know I like my M-70's, even the 75th Anniversary one goes out each fall, and yes it has got a few character marks. Some of the older ones have had their stocks refinished and checkering, to me that's called maintenance. Put it this way I won't be leaving my nephew any pristine collector grade pieces, but they will be nice well cared for guns.
To me, the most valuable gun in my safe, probably has the lowest resale value.
It was my Grandfathers Savage Stevens model 85. Yup, one of the “gill guns”. It went with him on his tractor every day since he bought it from sears in about 1955 until he retired. It was gifted to me by my uncle that got a twin rifle that same day, when he was younger. My uncle is in his 70’s now.
The model 85 has got a small bulge in the rust accented old barrel, a piece of of the stock is cracked off at the forend (although it seems Gramps repainted the forend black) and scratches throughout. I bring it out evey summer at least once, even though it is in dire need of a trigger job, maybe a even a few parts.
I will never remove the evidence of use of this old .22 by my Grandfather, who passed away when I was 4. Although when I can afford to, I’ll be getting the trigger fixed.
I can feel the years in this old gun. It brings me closer to the man I barely knew & one day my sons will be connected to him through this piece of family history.
It was my Grandfathers Savage Stevens model 85. Yup, one of the “gill guns”. It went with him on his tractor every day since he bought it from sears in about 1955 until he retired. It was gifted to me by my uncle that got a twin rifle that same day, when he was younger. My uncle is in his 70’s now.
The model 85 has got a small bulge in the rust accented old barrel, a piece of of the stock is cracked off at the forend (although it seems Gramps repainted the forend black) and scratches throughout. I bring it out evey summer at least once, even though it is in dire need of a trigger job, maybe a even a few parts.
I will never remove the evidence of use of this old .22 by my Grandfather, who passed away when I was 4. Although when I can afford to, I’ll be getting the trigger fixed.
I can feel the years in this old gun. It brings me closer to the man I barely knew & one day my sons will be connected to him through this piece of family history.
I really think I would feel pretty stupid if, on my death bed, I said to myself, "Well, at least I never hunted with (put whatever here) so that it still looks pristine." I use/enjoy them all, and all of them look like they know how to hunt.
