[Dimis]

what would you say is the firearm with the most character?
were talking about the guns that you love despite there flaws and scars
the ones that have soul and personality the one that you could throw $1000 at and it would ruin it because you love it for what it is

for me i love the old GI 1911s they have more soul than a full custom
or the classic Smith & Wesson revolvers

for oddities with character i love the lever action shotgun from terminator 2

you guys know the ones i mean the awe inspiring guns that made us fall in love with shooting

whats your favorites?

[SharpsDressedMan]

I have three that get weekly workouts. One is 1913 Colt Pocket Hammerless .32, moderately worn but not pitted, with ivory grips, a S&W 2nd Model Hand Ejector converted from .455 to .45 Colt, and barrel cut to 4" (my Indiana Jones gun) - very accurate, with dings, scratches and bluing wear, and lastly, a Colt .38 Super from 1952 (the year I was born), with very mild buing wear, but "retro'd" with big 1911 spur hammer, 1930's checkered trigger and mainspring housing, and scroll carved grips. They all have enough wear that I can set them on a rock, get them wet, or carry them constantly and not worry about their looks. They are"working" and carrying guns, to use them as the tools they were meant to be. I have other, prettier guns, but I do not hesitate to carry and use these, because they can all do head shot at 20 yards (bad guy must stand very still!), and are unquestionably reliable. They are all vintage looking, and that has it's own warm and fuzzy thing about it. AND, it's kind of cool to stand these three up against other guys tricked out and expensive guns, and outshoot the pretty, expensive ones with ratty looking guns. Any one else take pleasure in that?

[denfoote]

Nothing has more character than the Walther PPK. ;)

You can close the thread now.

[Rembrandt]

Nothing else like a Luger....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Navyluger.jpg

[pmbiker]

I know I've sold more than one pistol for not having any character. The common flaw seems to be too much plastic in the construction.

My list of guns with character are in order of appearance;
1911-just about any one without front cocking serrations.
S&W revolvers
Hi-power
SAA and clones

[pingpong]

1911, astra 600, colt saa, winchester 94, anything that uses blackpowder and caps(unless it's those modern rifles with scopes and plastic stocks.) Usually stuff designed before 1950.

[searcher451]

Denfoote has it almost right: The Walther P.38 should stand on an equal footing with the Walther PPK.

OK, with that having been said, NOW you can close the thread.

[Guns and more]

S&W model 29. "Do you feel lucky?"

[harmon rabb]

my nagant revolver has some character :scrutiny:

[calaverasslim]

I gotta add the S&W M22 classic..:D

http://i548.photobucket.com/albums/ii323/pistoleer44/Model2245acp002.jpg

[76shuvlinoff]

any 1911
most revolvers
all levers
....and my old mans bring-back p38

:D

[raveneap]

I've got two SW 586's, a no dash and a dash-1. Beautiful guns, well made, smooth - pre lock.

The no dash

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/raveneap/SmithTextbug.jpg

and the Dash-1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/raveneap/DSC08379.jpg

[earlthegoat2]

I really do love the Ruger 10/22 International with walnut stock I have.

[Phydeaux642]

For me it would be equally the S&W model 36 snubbie, the S&W model586 with 4" bbl and the S&W model 27 with 4" bbl all with shiny blue finishes and wood grips.

[yeti]

The S&W Bodyguard is a ...I mean, has character.

[jad0110]

IMHO:

Old S&W and Colt Revolvers
Early M1911s and M1911A1s
Browning HiPower
Various Colt and Browning pocket autos
Anything black powder
Luger P08
Winchester 94
Winchester Model 12
M1 Garand
Marlin 39A or 39D
Mosin Nagant
CZ-52

[30mag]

Watch The Untouchables.
Pretty much every gun has character in it...
I like the sawn-off double barrel shotgun.

[Duke of Doubt]

30mag: "Watch The Untouchables. Pretty much every gun has character in it... I like the sawn-off double barrel shotgun."

It was a 12 gauge Overland. Here it is:

http://www.longmountain.com/movieguns/TheUntouchables

And here are ALL the others:

http://www.imfdb.org/index.php?title=The_Untouchables

I especially liked Stone's Colt Detective Special backup gun, his Colt Police Positive and his Smith & Wesson Model 10.

Nitti's nickeled Star B was rather too flashy for the real life Nitti (who tagged himself a couple blocks from my old loft), but just right for the movie character.

[rdrancher]

I have three that get weekly workouts. One is 1913 Colt Pocket Hammerless .32, moderately worn but not pitted, with ivory grips, a S&W 2nd Model Hand Ejector converted from .455 to .45 Colt, and barrel cut to 4" (my Indiana Jones gun) - very accurate, with dings, scratches and bluing wear, and lastly, a Colt .38 Super from 1952 (the year I was born), with very mild buing wear, but "retro'd" with big 1911 spur hammer, 1930's checkered trigger and mainspring housing, and scroll carved grips. They all have enough wear that I can set them on a rock, get them wet, or carry them constantly and not worry about their looks. They are"working" and carrying guns, to use them as the tools they were meant to be. I have other, prettier guns, but I do not hesitate to carry and use these, because they can all do head shot at 20 yards (bad guy must stand very still!), and are unquestionably reliable. They are all vintage looking, and that has it's own warm and fuzzy thing about it. AND, it's kind of cool to stand these three up against other guys tricked out and expensive guns, and outshoot the pretty, expensive ones with ratty looking guns. Any one else take pleasure in that?

SharpsDressedMan - Photos please!

rd

[SharpsDressedMan]

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m247/matquig/DSC05236.jpg
Here's the three I was talking about. The Colt Super is a sleeper. It had a factory barrel that was not so accurate that I had replaced and "fitted" with a Bar-Sto. The factory sights are now dead on for 25 yards, and it will group under a 50 cent piece if I do my job. It just doesn't LOOK like it should do that.

[krs]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/twagger/guns/WEbLEy.jpg

[krs]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/twagger/guns/coltdetspec-1.jpg

[krs]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/twagger/guns/Ithaca1.jpg

[krs]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/twagger/guns/1951Commander-1.jpg

[Travis Bickle]

Gotta be the original blued Colt Peacemaker with 5 1/2" barrel:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/media/colt/colt_36273.jpg

I don't own one, but I'd like to someday.

[krs]

You're right, Travis - character and history too.

[Clarence]

I've got a M-28 S&W that was a Texas Department of Public Safety gun. Shows lots of wear, but it's awesome and it has TONS of character.

I paid $169 for it at a gun show, the guy had a 15 or 20 of them at that price. I should have bought all of them.

[rdrancher]

SharpsDressedMan - Thanks for the photo. Very nice!

rd

[SharpsDressedMan]

Most welcome. I've littered THR recently with pictures as I just became photo-competent. Well, relatively so.....

[hogmanruss]

Mauser Broomhandle!

[Clifford]

Thompson sub-gun
Model 57 S&W
1911 series 70
Colt SAA

[krs]

Shouldn't leave out the venerable....http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/twagger/guns/BrowningHPd.jpg

[dagger dog]

Colt SAA, 1911, 1903, Python.

S&W .38 44 Outdoorsman, Certified .357 Magnum, Bodyguard.

Luger, Mauser HSC,

hogmanruss's broomhandle fur sure!
welcome bud!

but my all time favorite icon firearm

The Chicago Typewriter
Thompson 1927 100 rd drum mag finned barrel and Cutts Compensator.

[rswartsell]

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/rswartsell/HPIM2252.jpg


I think this old S&W Military and Police qualifies.

[Oyeboten]

http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/43091/2853860840067835264S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2853860840067835264MpTKtM)

http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/42444/2303560100067835264S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2303560100067835264SmyKGh)

http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/43046/2617851890067835264S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2617851890067835264UdeNZS)


Colt Model 1902 'Sporting', .38 ACP, was a Lettered Gun, letter lost by prior owner, but was said to have been shipped late December 1902.


Magazine carries the James Paris Lee Patent for detatchable Magazines.


I put well over 10,000 rounds through this Pistol in the 1980s when I was shooting minor Competitions, usually 148 grn Semi-Wads, which always fed fine...looks no different now wear or tolerance wise, from the day I got it. Solid as a Rock...sweet...carried it for years too.

[Hostile Amish]

http://www.robarguns.com/browning_files/bhppistol.gif

http://www.aceros-de-hispania.com/imagen/pistola-walther-p88/pistola-p88-walther.jpg

[patrick526]

For me, it's still the:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/media/walther/wal_WAP77016.jpg

[chriske]

SharpsDressedMan (# 20) :
That picture is so cool ! I'd trade half my collection (amounts to 9) for your 3.
(Well, as a matter of speaking. Not really, though, don't call my bluff).
True modern-day classics, and they look it as well.
Great guns !

[Deus Machina]

Give me wood and worn blue steel. Guns that show some wear and get some patina on the holster marks develop a sort of warmth. They're like the old friend you've known since fifth grade--the one who bailed you out that one time, and let crash at his place that night without a word--watching from behind your shoulder.

Newer guns--especially duo-tones--have always seemed... brief and businesslike to me. Which is fine, but they just don't have the personality. They're more like the big guy in a suit standing next to the door. He might be sliding on a set of brass knuckles, but he's only really there because you paid for him.

[woad_yurt]

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee150/woad_yurt/SWModel1001.jpg

[Bavarian_Motorist]

For me without a question its the FN 5-7 as well as the Mateba Unica Auto revolver (my friend has the 8in in 44mag)

[007BondJamesBond007]

Walter PPK/S and a Kimber 1911

[10-Ring]

For me there is a difference between the tradition & character -- a lot of guns have tradition -- 1911s, classic S&W and Colt wheelguns, PPKs, et al -- character comes from use - maybe some abuse - some wear, some tear and maybe some great story.
For me, the 2 guns that fit the character bill are my mod 60 Smith and my Colt 1911

[IMTHDUKE]

I always think of Character Brown........
http://photos.gafana.com/photos/1126252370996569373969.share.jpg

[sohcgt2]

Anything with history behind it. I love 1911's and Colt revolvers, I also like engraved Magnums and oddities like matched duelling pistols. (sorry if my spelling is off).

[Sport45]

My Iver Johnson Target Sealed 8 probably has the most character of my handguns. It belonged to one of my wife's uncles and was given to me by my father in law. It's not the best, most reliable, or most valuable handgun I own, but to me it has the most "character".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/Sport45/IMG_0582.jpg

[Mr. Bojangles]

Mosin Nagant 91/30. Stands about 5'6" with the gigantic rusty screwdriver they call a bayonet attached. And it's loud enough to make children cry.

[SharpsDressedMan]

This thread is too long overdue. I just about agree with everyone, on every gun. With regard to my guns, I'm like a guy who has too many women and can't decide which one to keep. PPK, Broomhandle, Walther P99, Model 10, they are ALL so cool. Each has it's own personality. I used to have a pistol for every day of the month, and although I didn't carry that many different guns, I could have. I love pistols and revolvers, and have had to whittle down, but they are all like friends who never let me down. I have always been glad that some of them have even gone on to "good homes", to other die hards who will appreciate them. It is very hard to pin down a "favorite" handgun. There are times when I pack only the lowly Colt .32 auto, and even though I know there are better defense handguns, in almost all ways, that particular day, THAT .32 is the gun for me, that is the one I am carrying, and THAT is the one I will make do with. When you reach a certain level of competence and confidence in your shooting ability, you become at peace with your surroundings. Anyone else feeling the same way? ( I am 56, been shooting pistols since 14, retired from law enforcement for 13 years, and thoroughtly enjoying my new life.)

[Elbert P . Suggins]

Mr. Bojangles you are right about the MN-91\30, what a sleeper! Cheap as hell and as accurate as anything you can buy. But on this handgun thread I would choose the Springfield GI, the original Colt 45 in 7 1/2 barrel, S&W Schofield, and the Colt 1860 Army in reverse order.

[Oyeboten]

Well...things, Guns, Holsters, various things can have Character when brand new, or when as 'new' but now old.


What the Japanese call Wabi Sabi, are the dimensions and depth of character an object acquires through time and use, handling, wear or injury/repair/modification even...


So ideally, we should have one Thread for 'Character' as intrinsic to the quality of design and form, and 'presence'...a Gun has going for itself...


And, one for the Wabi Sabi of how time and use and intrinsic, cumulative History, have acted upon the Character a Gun started out with.


An "as new" or 99 percent, Model 1911 Colt .45 Auto, has tremendous Character, it did when new, and does now...but has about no Wabi Sabi.


So, these are two different hings...but in English, we have no ready term for how time and use and whatever else, effect he original Charater, or positively lend dimensions of Character, to whatever the aesthetic-presence had originally been...

[Searcher1970]

Broomhandle Mauser :D

[RobertCohn]

The question was about firearms in general although most answered the question with a handgun. I'll break the trend and say that the Thompson Submachine gun is truly the gun with the most character

[Dr.Rob]

Pre war Colts, Lugers and big frame Smiths. I like old guns witha little character, but the fire bluing on a Colt of that vintage is a thing to behold.

[sm]

Your BP shotgun.

*grin*

[Taurus_9mm]

The Beretta 92FS... :D

www.gunnerforum.com

[SharpsDressedMan]

I would guess the Colt would be "intrinsic" character, and the Browning would be more "extrinsic" characterhttp://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m247/matquig/DSC05269.jpgColt 1925 Commercial Government, restored by Bill Adair, Post WWII FN Hi Power, with no bluing, lots of "character"http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m247/matquig/DSC05265.jpg

[doubs43]

Here are two of mine with "character".

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i99/doubs43/Woodsman%20Sport/1942ColtWoodsmanSport2.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i99/doubs43/1927%20Argentine%20Colt/1927Argentine.jpg

[moooose102]

Colt 1911, Smith and Wesson Elmer Keith edition, any engraved and / or gold inlayed / blued revovlver, Colt Python, Walther ppk, Colt Peacemaker, are some of them. really, i am not that much of a colt fan, but they have made some good guns over the years.

[Dimis]

wow lots of good responses

[coosbaycreep]

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4061/dsc02196q.th.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc02196q.jpg)

It's hard to beat a Dirty Harry gun, a mac, and a broken Tec-9.

lugers, broomhandle mausers, uzis, DA colt revolvers, and the old time pocket pistols and pepperboxes are wicked too. Actually, my great uncle has a black powder blunderbuss pistol thingie, and that's quite a sight to behold.

the shotgun pistol used by Mad Max is up there too

[fireman 9731]

The Colt Defender... pure business, yet classy and refined.

http://spiffmo.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/defender_colt.jpg

[bac1023]

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu81/ollituc/000_1519.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu81/ollituc/000_1617.jpg

[AZ Desertrat]

Colt Detective Special, S&W Model 10, and the Luger. I also throw in the S&W M60 with 3 inch barrel.

[alistaire]

The Borchard C-93. Admittedly it is criminally insane character...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borchardt_C-93

[doc540]

Colt dick

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/doc540/Guns/Colt%20Detective%20Special/ds5-1.jpg

[glassman]

M19-4
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w81/glassman_photos/SWMODEL19-4.jpg

[Damon555]

Looking at any gun from this angle would give it character in my book......But this one is just my boring old G30

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/edlafond/Glock.jpg

(Notice my cross eye dominance)

[Tinpig]

3 autos with character:
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc91/ccanhamjr/Guns/IMG_1809.jpg

and a revolver:
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc91/ccanhamjr/Guns/SWHEL.jpg

or two:
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc91/ccanhamjr/Guns/coltpolposL.jpg

Tinpig

[Dave B]

I've always liked these two. A 41 Colt shipped to New Mexico in 1901, with lots of holster wear and a U.S. 45 . I 'll bet they could tell some stories too.http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/dbeeson3/DSC00412.jpg

[bannockburn]

Colt M1911
Browning Hi-Power
Mauser Broomhandle
Luger P-08
Walther P-38

Colt Single Action Army
Colt Detective Special
Colt Python
Ruger Super Blackhawk
S&W Model 10
S&W Model K-38
S&W Model 29

Colt Model 1851 Navy
Colt Model 1860 Army
Remington Model 1858

[Meowhead]

From this thread we may conclude that every gun ever has character.

Especially the Hi-Point C9.

[Dr.Rob]

SM that's true but this is the HANDGUN forum. Adds my Colt Magnum Carry to the mix, only because they are sort of rare.

[oneounceload]

I'll add the H&K P7 - simple, ambidextrous, accurate, and a joy to shoot

[Dimis]

Meowhead i have to say no not every gun has character the massproduced modern guns dont have a soul to me (not bashing them for firearms just for characters)
held an XDm 40 and taurus 24/7 yesterday niether had character but im sure both worked fine now the antique 1911 had butt loads of character and holding it made me think of a billion stories that could be told of this gun alone

Dr. Rob i posted this in the handgun forum because there seemed to be more handguns with character to me but ANY gun is fine by me

[dagger dog]

Well worn Colt

[Water-Man]

The SIG P220.

[gmh1013]

Just about any Colt.

[Falcon]

The one you carry iwb everyday...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/Falcon007/p2000sk010.jpg

[The_Shootist]

How about a nice worn AK-47 battlefield pickup?

Bad character, but character none the less.

[dmazur]

Winchester 1895 -- TR's "Big Medicine", the last and most powerful lever-action rifle designed by John Browning for Winchester.

Ugly compared to other Winchesters, but it has a certain character.