Here is an easy question: What is the prettiest gun for you to look at?

94045 said:

Which is my point. The lines appear exotic. As if from a place with a different culture. Apparently a mind that had a very unique take on the world. It's not a criticism, it's an impression it gives me.

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It was the Art Deco period, and the gun's design reflects that. And I agree with fpgt72, it resembles an FN 1910/22, but sportier.

waterhouse said:

Double barrel shotgun.

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Aw, c'mon be more specific: O/U or SxS?

Guns that I own? The picture is a .50 Caliber Underhammer from Bob Worthington at Greyhaven Arms, a pretty gun.

Having put forward my Garand as rifle and Remington 1858 as revolver for the prettiest that I currently have to look at... I'll submit - for shotgun - my L. C. Smith Grade 3 SS trigger 12 ga.

These folks put up some damn fine wood for which my photo skills are sorrily lacking. The engraving is subtle and very pleasing and I take particular joy from the ivory front bead and intermediate bead.

Already pleasurable to look at and THEN... to jam that rascal into your shoulder and swing it - beautiful.

A life-time of legitimate wear and great care have left it as a very tight *shooter* though it gets pampered as is its due. As only the second owner since new - I feel highly privileged to be able to enjoy it and in fact, it had a half-dozen or so potential buyers before me that the original owner refused to sell it to - regardless their offers.

So, as with my previous 2 *most beautiful*.... It is out where I can see it daily.

The Ithaca and Browning are no slouches in their own right but I don't know that I'll categorize my shotguns by action for this thread.... Don't know that I won't - either.

Todd.

BHP, Blued Colt wheelies, GP100, 1911 Commander, 1858 Remington, Beretta 92

It's either a rack full of Model 1873's


or a cased set of solid silver mounted flintlocks copied from a set owned by George Washington.

I go to the NRA firearms museum in the big Bass Pro in Springfield fairly regularly. I'm drawn over and over to the well used 1873 Colt's, especially the ones from the early Texas Rangers. Talk about an eye candy place though, they have the best of everything in there.

Boattale said:

I go to the NRA firearms museum in the big Bass Pro in Springfield fairly regularly. I'm drawn over and over to the well used 1873 Colt's, especially the ones from the early Texas Rangers. Talk about an eye candy place though, they have the best of everything in there.

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My favorites from the museum are the "vampire" Colt DS and the Parker Imperial shotguns. They do indeed have great stuff there!

entropy said:

It was the Art Deco period, and the gun's design reflects that. And I agree with fpgt72, it resembles an FN 1910/22, but sportier.


Aw, c'mon be more specific: O/U or SxS?

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And get even more specific - A H&H SxS is a lot nicer than a Stoeger..................
And I'll take a Fabbri O/U over a CZ

I like the polished steel, particularly blues but also stainless, and wood. As most do. My mint condition P08 comes to mind.

But I find a certain beauty in honest wear on any older gun. I have a few 1873 and 1892 Winchesters that must have seen considerable time in a leather saddle scabbard. I also have a Remington Rand that most would consider “in the white”. It has the Globe and Anchor that some Marine put into the grip many years ago.

I guess I prefer the stories, real (the P08) or perceived ( the Wins and 1911), more so than the finish.

Wyman

When I was just a lad my father had a Belgian Browning Superposed Diana Grade. I have never seen anything like it! Prettiest gun ever.

Royal Blue Colt Python. The polishing on these was done by somebody who really knew what they were doing.

natman said:

Royal Blue Colt Python. The polishing on these was done by somebody who really knew what they were doing.

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Don't remind me. I saw where someone said the wages for polishing time alone would run $900-$1200 today.

The sad thing is I think that might have been for a 1980's job and not a 1950's job (which was better polished) and was not figured at UAW Labor rates. Makes me believe the cost of polishing alone at the highest previous quality might exceed the MSRP of the new gun.

My 4" Bright Stainless Steel Python is a real looker.

94045 said:

Don't remind me. I saw where someone said the wages for polishing time alone would run $900-$1200 today.

The sad thing is I think that might have been for a 1980's job and not a 1950's job (which was better polished) and was not figured at UAW Labor rates. Makes me believe the cost of polishing alone at the highest previous quality might exceed the MSRP of the new gun.

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When I applied for a temp job at Ruger in Prescott, AZ, I had to take a skills test for placement. The lowest scoring applicants were placed in the polishing department at around $8 per hour. The highest scoring applicants were placed in the CNC positions at $12.50 an hour, IIRC.

I got a job as a CNC operator and I remember walking by the polishing department and seeing mostly tattooed and pierced mouth-breathers sitting hunched over at belt polishers with vacant looks on their faces. Explained a lot as to why the finish on new Ruger semi-autos was so mediocre.

I smile every time I look at her.

I bought my Heym-Ruger in 1979 and it cost me £600. I've never spent money on something that has given me so much pleasure over so many years. That rifle has killed hundreds of deer from Muntjac to moose. My Merkel 160E double rifle in 8x57jrs has a great fondle factor and is a great rifle to hunt with and so far I've killed Red deer, fallow and boar with it.

Sometimes the easiest questions are the hardest to answer.
But I’m not going to post all the pretty guns I like. Just going to post one of my favorite.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

favorites from the museum are the "vampire" Colt DS

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I remember articles on that gun and remember really digging it.

I'm with ApacheCoTodd on the 1858 Remington.

I'm not into black powder, though I've shot some, but when I saw one of these from (I think) Uberti with its deep blue (almost Colt Royal Blue) negligee, I hadda have it. Was the first time in a long time I bought a retail gun without a background check.






I even bought the .45 Colt (yeah, "Long Colt") conversion cylinder for her.

She was so pretty that when they saw her, everybody kind of "wowed" and wanted to run their hands over her.

But I wouldn't let them.

Terry, 230RN

When old world craftsmanship meets unmolested modern design. You can’t help but to think this is the prettiest semiautomatic handgun ever to leave a factory.

Colt 1903 (Type 1) manuf. 1905
Cal. .32 Rimless Smokeless
Capacity 9, 4” barrel
Frame mounted safety, grip safety
High Polished Blue, Fire blue Accents
Original Gutta Percha grips - changed to Mastodon Ivory

Some of them are pretty, some not so much. I like looking at all of them.

*

Whichever one I just got.