Steel and wood?

When I think about my five week old son growing up and needing his first deer rifle, I don't think of an AR. Honestly, I don't even think of a Rem 700 or Win 70. No Savage Axis or Ruger American. I think of a beautifully sporterized Mauser or Springfield. I think of a Winchester Model 94 or a Savage 99. I have a Mannlicher stocked Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 that he might use. Or a Chilean/Boer mauser in 7x57. Maybe a 1903 with a G&H side mount quick release scope and a Lyman 48 sight. All of them have character. None are safe queens. They show where they have been carried. They show that they have been shot. But they show a warmth that I have just never gotten out of a Rem 700, Savage, or Ruger American. Its the feeling I had when I picked up my father or uncle's round top Ruger M77. Its the feeling that I had when I have held my grandfather's pre-64 Model 70. Unfortunately, I probably will never see my Uncle's or grandfathers rifles. But I don't want my son's earliest memories of a hunting rifle to be a cold, sterile, plastic gun. Just my $.02...

You mean like this:



Or this:


1888 Whitney 2nd model rolling block in .32/20
1917 Eddystone Enfield. US rifle of 1917 with a little work done on it.

This thread makes me smile.

I'm glad I'm not alone.

Any of the Winchester lever guns or a Model 70 with iron sights.

For handguns, no autoloaders, not even the 1911. Colt Police Positive Special, Smith & Wesson K-38/Model 10 etc. Early Ruger Security Six/Redhawk.

My first gun. Ithica 49. It spent over 30 years in storage in a basement, wrapped, lubed, and checked on every 5 - 10 years. Still shoots like a champ. The iron sights don't look as good as they did in 76. Could be my eyes. It lives in my safe these days. I shoot it occasionally. My brother's Marlin Glenfield 25 keeps it company. These were cheap guns in the early 70's. The wood, bluing, hardware, fit, and finish rival very expensive rifles of today.

I have store brand Mossberg rifles from the 1970's, and other than pressed checkering, they are every bit the equal of higher-grade rifles today. Deep, polished bluing, iron sights, hinged floor plates, walnut stocks, even grip caps make them really look fine against the matte finishes you find today.

I can appreciate walnut and blue. My favorites are some of the older lever guns. The one on the left is a 2005 made rifle in 35 Rem, the trapper near the right end is a 1988 made gun. All others are 1958 to 1975 made rifles. I really like the stock style used in the 70's on Marlins much better than current production or many of the older versions. As you can tell I don't much care for pistol grips even on Marlins either.

I can't get excited about cheap wood, I'd just as soon see plastic. And while I take one of these out in the woods a few times each year I'm usually using a bolt gun with a synthetic stock. I bought a Brown Precision stock in 1983 and haven't hunted with a wood stocked bolt rifle since.

I recently bought a Henry .357 carbine. In addition to being fun to shoot, its a work of art. I love my polymer guns and carry them daily, but to me they'll never match the class my steel and wood guns have.

jmr40, nice .35 336, I've always wanted a Marlin with a button style magazine.

To the OP, yes, two of my favorite guns are my Win. M12 and my Savage 99. both blue and walnut.

Blue steel and walnut for me...

I'm with you guys. VZ-24 in .30-'06.

While to each their own for me it's always the lure of cold blued steel and walnut (or at least wood). Maybe it's because that is how I first saw guns and how I choose to remember them. My handguns reflect a collection of older S&W as well as Colt revolvers and several 1911 pistols for the most part. Even on my handguns I prefer the wood grips.

Ron

For me, this is what makes for a blissful day in the woods.


Stainless and walnut ain't too bad and I actually like matte finishes on bolt guns.


A couple CZ's.




Hard to beat a +100yr old Winchester.

I own some of both, but am definitely partial to the "wood and steel" ones.

wow, some beautiful rifles posted!

I like my winchester 94 the best of my collection. Can't hardly beat it for good looks and great function.

Robert said:

I give you:
http://picturearchive.gunauction.com/9318194723/4979931/Izzy Hbar 1.jpg
And:
http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/wood_AR-15.png

Click to expand...

Something about those wood AR types that makes them appealing, sort of how while not an AK type I like wood on an AK rifle.

Ron

Personally I do not care for black rifles and Glocks. I'm glad to see I'm not alone.

Guess that's why I've always stuck with ole Winchesters..........
Dan


Stubbicat.......is you the same dude that several of us met up at a gun show in Denver several years ago???????????I had on a camo jacket with a MAGE patch on it

Dan

I'll join in. Here are my rifles.

Remington Model 514 single shot that I got in 1958 (.22LR, Long, Short)


Ruger Series 581 Mini 14 Ranch Rifle (5.56/.223)


CZ 527 Carbine (5.56/.223)

Winchester 94's and Marlin levers.

three iconic large game rifles, a remington 722 made in 1957 in .308, a remington 721 made in 1948 in 3006 and a winchester model 70 made in 1952 in .270. eastbank.

I really miss the good ol wood days. The first time I realized what was happening, it was too late, Rem. had stopped making the wood stock ADL, and it's been all down hill since.

GS

A classic reproduction--a Miroku built Winchester 52 Sporter re-issue: