Guns with "Soul" (or presence, or character, or personality, etc...)

[MacTech]

Yesterday, I picked up a used, but in great shape (98% of new condition) Marlin 39A .22 lever action, and just realized something...

It's one of the few guns in my collection that has "Soul", some kind of indefinable "something" that makes it feel, if not "alive", at the very least, organic, something more than a simple machine....

Perhaps it's the hand-crafted feel, the solidity of it's forged steel receiver, the balance and pointability, it's solid heft, *something* makes this 39A feel like more than a simple chunk of blued steel and walnut, but I can't seem to put my finger on what it is....

I then realized it wasn't the only one of my collection that had that indefinable "something" about it....

a small sampling of some of my collection...

Marlin Model 25 bolt action; this one has "Soul", as it was my first rifle, given to me on my 16th birthday by my father, it has a lot of happy memories of carefree summer plinking, and even though it's a mass-produced bare bones bolt action rifle, it's special to me and will never be sold, picking it up out of the gun cabinet and somply working the action brings me back to happy summer childhood memories, and it's still as tack-drivingly accurate as the day I got it

The aforementioned Marlin 39A, for reasons upthread, plus, I always get a kick from how over-enthusiastically the ejectors *fling* the empties out of the action

Parker VH grade SxS 12-gauge; been in the family for four generations, has probably taken innumerable amount of gamebirds, and still as solid as the day it rolled off the assembly line in the mid-1920's, it's been refinished at least once, but it's still in great shape, I can feel family history in it every time I heft it to my shoulder

CZ 452 Military Trainer; crisp, precise, and a wonderfully light YoDave trigger, topped with a Bushnell Trophy 4-15X AO, capable of truly tiny groups, the ball-bearing smoothness of the action, the amazing inherent accuracy, and sharpness of the scope makes me feel like a real precision shooter with this one, makes one-holers stupidly easy, the Beechwood stock has a solidity and warmth that makes it seem to melt right into my hands, it just feels *right*, that said, it seems far more clinical than the more "organic" Marlin 39A

H&R Topper Deluxe Classic 20-gauge single shot; On the trap range, the TDC and I work great together to slay Evil Orange Frisbees, sure it's a well made, nice looking single shot, but much like the Marlin 39A, I can't describe *WHY* I love this gun, I just do, it's more than just the fact that it points naturally for me and works well with whatever shells I feed it, it's more than that, if I had to save select guns from a burning house (or the inevitable boating accident ) and I could only save one of each of my guns, I'd chose the TDC 20G, even over my much "better" Remington 870 Express Super Magnum, or even the functionally identical but just smaller H&R Pardner Compact 20G.... the Compact is so mundane and bland that it spends a lot of time in the trunk of my car, because I'm too lazy to retrieve it, if it wasn't for my FunShell handloads (7 grains of propellant and a batch of airsoft BB's for a quiet, extremely short range "training/fun" shell with absolutely ZERO recoil) it'd probably never see use, it's not even worth trading back into the local gun shop for store credit as I'd get basically nothing for it

What guns do you feel have that indefinable "something" that makes them feel "alive"?

 

[Loosedhorse]

 

[Tinpig]

MacTech...
I know what you're saying. If I had to pick one of my pistols it would be my Browning Hi Power:


And for rifles, it would be my '03s:


I like your quote from "Blackadder Goes Forth"

Tinpig

 

[Neo-Luddite]

It is a common experience---hard to qualify let alone quantify--- with artifacts that have been used often by someone over long period of time; usually those whom have been relied on heavily and helped users meet challenges and demands. Some folks can notice it readily, some can't or don't want to (or rationally conclude it is all bunk and mumbo jumbo----and it might be so).

I refer to it as (spiritual) patina. Older guns will display it in spades, especially if used in many hunts and wars, or carried often. Some old cars have it, too; they 'shine' as in the psychic sense of the Stephen King book/ Kubrick film. A sort of not-as-yet measured stored energy or force---a chi left in the metal. If you need to smell it, smell your baseball mit. Yeh, THAT is it. NOW you get the point.

In firearms, for me, it is best embodied in my 'Bad Bitch'----my early '44 M-1 Garand. Others (my kids), when I am long gone, will feel it from the S/A .45 I bought in '92. But sometimes it found commonly in certain types of guns in general, maybe tied to the larger family of the same design back the origin or maker. Likely a mix of both.

You want to feel it in steel? Heft a real-deal old Katana that has seen use for generations of the same familial line---or maybe that saw your great grandad used to cut wood and build a chicken coop in 1908. Or in that pocket watch Grandad used for 35 years. Espcially if you do the tool the honor of using it for its purpose and not placing it under glass, you will get the odd sensation that it is feeling you in return.

 

[mortablunt]

I get the feeling from old veteran arms. One of things I just don't like about black plastic guns is that they quite honestly feel dead. However, the first time I picked up my M1941, my Auto 5, my SVT-40 (this one felt particularly vivacious), or my G3, I felt a warmth in my fingers- something put me at ease. It was as if the gun were alive and had a soul. This extends to just about anything old. For example, I have a Latin book from the 19'th century. It feels pretty damn special.

Oh [redacted]! I'm talking like a new age hippy.

 

[Fanky]

My Winchester 94 definitely has soul. It's been in the family for almost a century. Most of the finish is worn on it and the wood has a few dents and dings in it, but it still feels brand new when you rack that lever back. It's one of the few rifles I've ever handled that I honestly felt like it was an extension of my body. I just can't miss with it. Most of the time I keep it tucked away, but it makes a trip to the range every once in a while for old time's sake.

 

[Fishslayer]

Probably just about any old blue & wood wheelgun is gonna have soul.

Somebody described my Model of 1950 Target in .45ACP as "a gun that looked like something unbolted from a turret."

 

[blue_ridge]

I think the older Savage 99's have soul. They balance well. The movement of the lever feels like a solid piece of machinery. Thay have graceful lines.

I agree about Springfield 03's too. While I don't own an original 03, I have handled and shot them. In addition, I have a custom sporterized 03 that has some serious soul. I don't know the name of the gunsmith who did the work, but it is obviously an old school gunsmith who knew how to hand-checker stocks and hand-fit the barrel to the channel. It looks like a Griffin&Howe type sporter. Wish I knew who did the work!

Lastly, Parker side by sides. The craftmanship is amazing. I have one VH grade 30" 12 ga. that I swear it floats when you swing it.

 

[AuthorityDenied]

Even though I am well aware that it is just another run of the mill 91/30 my Mosin does it for me. Especially after I refinished the stock. I just love how it feels.

 

[critter]

Yup. 1903 Springfield from 1918, early Colt 1911, Colt Bisley 32-20 from 1907, ANY Garand, older S&W wheelguns. Those are some I have that 'speak to me' from their soul. Dear friends.

 

[Fishslayer]

Oh yeah! That's a great photo. The rifle, the snow background... definitely conjures up thoughts of Vassili Zaitsev defending the Fatherland.

 

[DeMilled]

My Israeli Heavy Barrel has soul; every time I handle it I always hear
an accented voice say "We don't run; neither to, nor from the fire fight."

 

[Cop Bob]

Yeah, I've got an 1871 New Army with a 4 digit S/N that is an Heirloom... it has that "Feel".. My 70 Series Commander... Yup..

There was a quote from the book "Come on Texas" that was written in the 40's by a Chief that had served on BB-35, Battleship Texas. He was on her Shakedown, and on her Decommissioning crew.. whole life on one ship... It was something like "She is just steel, and oil and sweat, but she has a life of her own, she breaths, she feels, she has life and a soul, unless you have served upon a ship of the line, there is no way anyone could expect you to understand" (paraphrased)

 

[possom813]

JC Higgins Model 20 in 12ga

The action is smooth as glass, even though the bluing has been gone for years and the stock has many, many dings and nicks...

It goes with me just about every time I head out, usually loaded with 00 buck, except for dove season when it carries 7 1/2 shot.

After dove season this year, the wife has pretty much convinced me to drop it off with the gunsmith and have the barrel reblued and to pick up the stocks and drop them off with a local furniture maker to refinish them and make the gun not only feel brand new, but to have the look as well.

I rescued it from a pawn shop about 6 years ago for 80 dollars. I've bought and traded off many shotguns since then, from 870's, 500's, Nova's, and even a couple of Beretta's, but this is the one that has a permanent place with me, it can't be replaced and it never misses.

 

[ForumSurfer]

The "soul" thing is different for me.

(I love the 39 btw...I want one really bad)

I recognize some take are the embodiment of countless hours of engineering, hand fitting and timeless materials like blued steel and fine wood. That petina or holster wear adds character.

But none seem to have a "soul" to me...no matter how historically significant or no matter what well respected craftsman put his trade to work on it.

They aren't special to me until I have spent time with them. I still wouldn't call it "soul." Whatever you call it, very few guns have it for me. It has to be mine and there have to be some special memories that accompany it. You may look at my worn glock and call it "soulless," but I see many hours spent putting a smile on my face and I see my son smiling at me after sucking it up and squeezing the trigger on his first centerfire pistol. You may see my beat up marlin 60 with cheap wood, cheap blued barrel and aluminum receiver with barely any paint left and call it a real POS...but I see an accurate gun that puts a smile on the face of my loved ones when we go shooting as a family, the same old marlin that I carried when squirrel hunting as a kid with my father. My Remington 1100 looks like every other engraved 1100, but mine is special to me because of all those dove hunts with pops...or my girlfriend taking along that same 1100 on her first dove hunt in years...or my son wishing he was big enough to take it on his first dove hunt.

So yeah...when I see that custom blued steel 1911 that I really want on the shelf, or that slightly worn browning hi power I've always wanted sitting on the store shelf; well it doesn't have "soul" in my book. It doesn't have anything too special until I bring it home so myself and my loved ones can enjoy it. Even then, it is soul-less to me I think. It is the memory attached to the firearm that is special to me. The firearm is a reminder that I shared that moment with my son, father, girlfriend or whoever because we enjoyed spending time shooting together that day...but not directly because of that firearm.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[FROGO207]

I have many that make me feel like that they are an extension of my arm and just point to the target instinctively. That said I have an old "crowbar" it resembles a fine shotgun of years past that has no finish, is rusted some and the stock looks like a wolverine chewed it for a year. It's a Sears single shot 20 Ga bolt, model unknown. If I point in the vicinity of what I want to hit it does the rest. ALWAYS. I feel like the groundskeeper in Caddyshack. I will it to hit what I want and it never lets me down. I personally would never restore one of these rare treasures back to near original condition as it will loose it's magic. Just my opinion.

 

[bushmaster1313]

 

[Daveboone]

My vintage Marlin 39 comes immediatly to mind. It feels and looks alive. My Winchester 94, manufactured 1961 also feels alive, almost warm to the touch.

 

[valnar]

Anything blued, with wood, engraving, classic lines, etc. In other words, the antithesis of a Glock.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I've got a few that come to mind. My 1953 Hungarian Mosin Nagant M-44 had soul in a way that my '25 M91/30 did not. Maybe it was because the M91/30 had an arsenal refurb, and the M-44 looked like it came right out of the threnches. Plus, the extra labor I've put into it making it mine (scope mount, scope, refinished stock, adjusting LOP, etc.) has given it even more.

My 30's vintage 20 gauge single shotgun is another that has soul. It that gun could talk, what stories could it tell? Since I've had it, it's accumulated more stories, and will continue to do so for years to come.

My S&W 469 has soul. Who knows how much use it had before it got in my hands? Lots of wear on the slide and frame, but the rifling is still crisp.

I like guns that have honest wear to them. It makes me wonder. The guns I bought new are gathering stories, gaining that soul, but they just don't quite have it yet, and may never.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

So I have this Glock....

 

[JG727]

For me it's the Winchester Model 1897 12 gauge take down shotgun. It's 106 years old this year and has been in the family (father's side) the entire time.
The action isn't as a smooth as it once was, the finish patina-ed, but it has soul. And the feel of the wood..... mmmm.... I refinished the stock with pure tung oil for my dad's Christmas present, and the wood just seems to grip you.

I feel really good knowing that it's counterpart, the 1897 16 gauge take down (from the other side of the family, also 106 years old), is at home, behind my teenage sister's bedroom door, standing ready to protect her.

 

[centurion94]

My '94 Winchester .30-30 rifle. Just found out it was built in 1896, bluing about 75-80%, owned and carried by a great, great uncle who also carried a Texas Ranger badge. It's hard to describe what it feels like to hold it, but like someone mentioned, it's almost alive in your hands and filled with stories it wants to tell you. Still trying to decide if I should shoot it, but I can't really think of a reason not to.

 

[CraigC]

There is definitely something different about shooting and hunting with old guns that cannot be obtained with new stainless/synthetic stuff. Like this 110yr old Winchester 1894.

 

[Fred in Wisc]

Bushmaster,

Is that 3rd pic a "Springfield Repeater" shotgun? I have one too, and it reminds me of my Dad, it was the only shotgun he owned, he used it for many years. I remember walking in the woods with him carrying it when I was probably 4 years old. I don't think I can agree that a machine can have a "soul", but it sure serves as a trigger to bring back memories and emotions from the past.

Another one that really does it for me is Dad's old single shot Marlin .22. He got it as a kid back in the 50's, passed it along to my uncle (Mom's brother) when Mom bought him a new one. I got it back from my uncle a few years back, a little before Dad passed away. He said it should stay in the family. It's got plenty of honest wear and I'm tempted to put away the "fancy" .22s to hunt with it this year. What a connection to the past.

Or the Sako I bought at 14 (I had good taste in rifles as a youngster- and it was on sale for almost the same as the 700 I planned to buy), worked the whole summer on the ginseng farm to buy it. Killed every deer I've ever shot (escept one with a handgun) with it. Working hard for it, and having so many good memories of deer camp with my family, makes that one special.

I have one "new" (new to me, it's a 1984 that I bought used) gun that I think is going to grow into that status- a Marlin 1894 in 44mag. I feel like a cowboy just handling it, it's light, balances well and points like lighting. I think my niece will be using it for deer hunting during the youth season. Just need to tie it into some good memories to make that "connection".

Thanks for sharing, everyone. It's interesting to see the different guns and reasons why they connect with us.