Fondling My Guns?

[Fast Frank]

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one...

Sometimes I just like to handle and admire my pistols.

I always clear them, and don't just point them around at things. I'm not a "Dry Fire" guy, either. Yes, I realize that many accidents (OK-N.D. for those guys) have happened while "Playing with my gun" but I observe good safety practice and never have ammo around when I fondle my guns.

It's difficult for me to describe, but there's just something about a handgun that's downright cool. No, it's not the power trip "Come Mess With Me NOW!" thing.

It's more like amazement at the amount of thinking and design and evolution that went into this thing that I can hold in my hand.

Every curve, the materials it's made of, the way it's assembled without tools (1911), the way a cylinder turns and indexes, the way a plough handle single action feels when I grip it, the way the safety and slide release and mag release controls are positioned, everything about it.

Then, there's the way the thing feels when it operates. The crispness of the trigger action, the smooth operation of the moving parts, the precision of the timing involved with the way it cycles. The fact that I can hold it in my hand and poke a hole right where I want it WAY OVER THERE.

Let's face it. We take them for granted but these are amazing machines.

Currently, I've been fondling my Single Six.

There's just something about the thing that makes me want to hold it in my hand. Maybe it's just because it's the newest thing in my safe, but I think there's more to it than that.

What about you guys? What's your favorite fondling pistol?

 

[Jimster]

Ha ha. You're not alone. I rotate my harem. My wife even quit making fun of me.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I'm guilty as well. I wouldn't say I have a favorite pistol to feel up though. When I open the safe they usually all get the same treatment. Except the one I keep loaded in the bedroom. I leave that one alone unless there is good reason to handle it.

 

[cc-hangfire]

Well, ... Uhmmm, ... OK, me too. But I tell myself I'm cleaning them.

They are amazing little machines with enough moving parts to be interesting, but few enough parts to be understandable. And they harness a violent explosion, practically in your palm, sending a little lump of metal at (mostly) supersonic speed for several hundred feet with accuracy.

 

[rondog]

Guilty.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

At my age, it might be better than s.e.x. {I can't believe I actually posted that}

Actually except or doing some drills now and then, I not a fondler? I guess taking them down to the bench and field stripping them if I haven't shot one in a while could be misconstrued.

 

[Rodentman]

I sometimes take out my old Smiths and admire them, give them a wipedown... I have only 3 such Smiths; I know some posters have a LOT more. I think if I get one of the new Nighthawk/Korth revolvers it will be under my pillow for a month or so.

As Billy Joel sang, "I have been a fool for lesser things."

 

[J-Bar]

No harm in checking them for rust 3 or 4 times a day.

 

[Tinpig]

What's your favorite fondling pistol?

Wood and steel and not a sharp edge anywhere.

Tinpig

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

And why not?

Look at it this way.

Most of them, items like Glocks not withstanding, posses certain attributes:

They are finely crafted, hand-held machines.
They often display appreciable finishes and fitting.
They are generally, necessarily ergonomically pleasing.
They very often exhibit pleasing and gratifying sounds upon actuating.
They will often times be of a vintage or lineage to connote romantic musings upon their pasts, real or imagined.

Some say fondle, I say more a thoughtful private revelry or minor celebration that I can't perform nearly as simply with a motorcycle or larger machine.


Todd.

 

[MedWheeler]

Another firearm-fondler here. Especially when it comes to the all-steel ones, such as my Commie-Bloc pistols and my revolvers. Wooden-furnitured rifles get their fair share of caressing, too..

 

[Krusty783]

I'm an engineer. The design of the entire system (trigger, safeties & action) is quite interesting. Many different action types (Browning, rotating bolt, (delayed) roller blowback and others) have been invented over the last century to accomplish basically the same thing with very similar mechanical efficiencies.

 

[MacTech]

My favorite "fondlin' guns" have one thing in common, a feel of precision, every motion, every sound, precise, functional

My CZ-75B has that wonderful, precision designed Swiss watch feel to it, the quiet "snikt" of seating a magazine, the precise click of engaging/disengaging the safety, the smooth feel of racking the slide, or releasing it with the slide stop, everything has a precision to it, no wasted energy or motion, and the pleasant balance and heft of that amazingly ergonomic steel frame

Same thing with my Ruger Single Six, quality, precision, and a pleasing heft and balance, the Six also has the added intangible of being a family heirloom, Dad's old gun, it adds another level of enjoyment

 

[bangswitch]

What about you guys? What's your favorite fondling pistol?

I think "fondling" your gun is an excellent way to stay familiar with its operation and feel, beyond just turning it over and over to admire it. I have three that I never tire of looking at or handling:
1-Springfield 1911A1
2-Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless
3-Smith & Wesson Model 19

Is it odd that they all happen to be all-metal, old designs?

 

[huntsman]

nope don't fondle, don't care for cleaning but I do enjoy shooting. Maybe because I can shoot whenever I want I don't feel the need to play with them.

 

[Actionjrs]

Yea ill do the same I just get them all out and fondle them you are so not alone!

 

[MIL-DOT]

I gotta admit, I'm a fondler,too.
(I hope we don't all go blind !! )

 

[mavracer]

What about you guys? What's your favorite fondling pistol?

Absolutely and it totally depends on what I'm watching as I theme fondle. Just watching the Pacific fondling my tier III 100th anniversary Colt.

 

[il.bill]

Fondle my guns? Nope.

 

[RON in PA]

Perfectly normal behavior for us gun nuts.

 

[AZAndy]

It's an absolutely essential part of gun ownership. Hand familiarity must be maintained.

 

[bannockburn]

Probably every three or four months I will take all of them out to check for rust and to make sure they're in good working order. I don't think of it as fondling so much but like others have posted I do admire the designing, the engineering, and the craftsmanship that went into making them.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

You all are gonna go blind if you keep that up.

Ok seriously though, I do handle my firearms frequently, and sometimes I'll just sit and hold one, working the action and dry firing.

I believe it is a benefit. You develop automatic handling skills, and trigger time with your guns this way.

 

[Buck60]

I don't fondle my weapons ! But I do tend to inspect and clean them allot !!! LOL

 

[Al Thompson]

Think I'm going to call this one "asked and answered"......