My name is Sean, and I am a gun snob

[Sean85746]

Okay, there it is...I admit it. I am a gun snob.

This was just pointed out to me by my best friend.

I am easy going...and not much into status symbols. I wear a Timex, when I could buy a more expensive watch. I drive a GMC, when I could have bought an Escalade. I really don't care about a big screen with TiVo, I am happy with my Wal Mart Zenith 27" and a combo DVD/VHS that was on sale. I buy clothes from a catalog, and don't give a hoot for Ralph Lauren, or Tommy Hilfiggger. Who wants some other feller's name on your clothes anyway?

When it comes to guns, I am a snob.

If it is a revolver...it HAS TO BE a Smith & Wesson, or a Colt. I know that Taurus is making a good whelgun now, but I just can't bring myself to buy one. Rossi is also making a good wheelgun, but darned if I could put that homely thing in my safe next to a Smith or a Python. And dang it...Ruger never made an atractive DA wheelgun.

A 1911 HAS TO BE a Colt, Kimber, or Springfield Aromory...in that order. I know that Auto Ordinance in making a good 1911 now, and that Norinco was a best buy, and Charles Daly is a good choice...but alas, I can't think of slipping one into my holster.

I carry a Glock every day, everywhere I go...you can't convince me to carry one of them croatian abominations called XD. Same same with the Smith & Wesson Sigma. Even though I know it is a good gun...it just isn't a Glock. Don't even let me get started on a Kel-Tec, other than the P-32. I have a Beretta Tomcat .32 now, and it is fine with me.

The Browning Hi Power is my fave steel 9mm. But, you couldn't beat me into carrying a Charles Daly Hi Power, or one of the Argentine, or FEG copies. A friend has one of each and I call them his "Welfare Hi Powers".

If it comes down to a DA/SA auto...I'd have to carry a Sig or a Beretta. Even my beloved Smith & Wesson can't make an auto to satisfy the snob in me.

Is it just me? Am I a bad person? Do I qualify for a 12-step program for gun snobs?

What are your thoughts?

 

[Erich]

Frankly, you sound pretty plebian to me.

 

[halvey]

Is it just me? Am I a bad person? Do I qualify for a 12-step program for gun snobs?

Not really...
I thought you were going to start talking about $10,000 doubles and custom made rifles. Or maybe custom built 1911's, or heck even "I only shoot Baer's".

But when you mentioned Glock and Springfield...
I figured you were kidding.

You are right?

 

[esheato]

Sean, you're not alone.

Sigh....

I'll admit it too...

I've been wearing the same t-shirts for 10 years. I hardly have any dishes or kitchen stuff....ugh...I'm still renting instead of buying a house.

But I get weak in the knees for beautiful wood and deep bluing. As long as it's expensive and custom I *need* it. A shotgun isn't worthy unless it's an O/U. I prefer odd calibers in wicked little single shot rifles. (read Dakota and Cooper)

Matter of fact, I'm in the process of upgrading my handguns. Selling a Glock, Sig, Bersa, and Vaquero for a Baer. Nothing does it for me like a high end 1911.

Ed

 

[BigG]

Sean, it sounds like you are coming to terms with your true tastes. I started with guns in the 1960s and loved the US M1911A1 45 Auto. The only other one available was a commercial Colt and the price was about double what any other commercial pistol would sell for. I resolved that I would get a Colt. I did, found I appreciated it, and bought others. I have never owned a 45 Automatic Pistol that was not a Colt, even though I've tried and minutely examined them, none of them will satisfy me.

Similarly, I shot anything I wanted: Belgian Brownings, etc, which are the creme of sporting arms for the average person. Whatever gun I was interested in I bought, disassembled, shot, learned about etc., and some were all that and others I passed on to get still more guns.

I found the AR15 was a worthy weapon, but again it has to be a Colt and have the evil features. I found the German Luger to be a remarkable curiousity and still have a shooter. It's the ultimate 9mm, imho. I have a Glock(the best plastik, imho), a few SIG-Sauers/Walthers and several S&W hand ejectors including the ever lovin' Mods 27 and 29 and K22. My dream carry gun is the hammerless Centennial model.

What I'm saying is, of the hundred or more firearms I have owned, I have whittled my taste down to a favored few while loving the process.

 

[cgv69]

Frankly, you sound pretty plebian to me.

I assume you meant "plebeian"? If you are going to whip out the fancy words, at least spell them right!

 

[Chipperman]

Being fussy and snobbery are two very different things.

You'll have a hard time convincing many people here that Glocks are snob guns.

Sounds like you know what you like, and have definite tastes. That's not a problem.

 

[Sean85746]

Thanks for your support!

I thought there were more of me out there!

I say as I look a the BEAUTIFUL Smith & Wesson Model 27 5" in a floral-carved Tom Threepersons holster here on my desk. I could have a Taurus or a Rossi sitting here...but oh goodness why when Smith & Wesson is on the planet?

I know Glocks aren't snob guns, but they aren't....shall we say....discount bin guns.

And....you are also right...my AR-15 Sporter and my CAR-15 BOTH say COLT on the side. My only O/U shotgun is a Citori, and my home defense guage is a slicked up Remington 870 Marine Edition.

But...I still wear faded out jeans and whatever New Balance sneaks happen to be in the bargain bin at The Sports Authority. Sheesh, I got it bad!

 

[Erich]

cgv69, it's funny . . . my Word program says I spelled it correctly, but my Webster's International Dictionary (2nd Ed. 1960) agrees with you.

I defer to your spelling, and thank you for the correction.

 

[XLMiguel]

At least you gots your priorities right

I'm sort of like you in that I believe in buying good gear and taking care of it. My father instilled the notion that if you take care of your gear, your gear will take care of you. However, once you get past fundamental reliability and accuracy, the measure of the machine is the pleasure it give you to operate it.

A Ford, Chevy, or Dodge will get you down the road just like a BMW, Porrsche, or Audi, but I know which I'd rather be driving, which is why I like my Sigs, H&Ks, CZs, and Kimbers.

Carry on, big guy.

 

[cgv69]

cgv69, it's funny . . . my Word program says I spelled it correctly, but my Webster's International Dictionary (2nd Ed. 1960) agrees with you.

I defer to your spelling, and thank you for the correction.

No problem, to tell you the truth, I had no idea what it meant? I had to look it up on dictionary.com to figure it out! That's where I got the spelling from

 

[MAUSER88]

Sean, wow, I could have written your post word for word!!!!

 

[Jubei]

Sean,

You don't have to think of yourself as a "snob". You are a gun connoiseur. (I looked it up so that I wouldn't spell it incorrectly) Why drink Mad Dog 20/20 when you can drink ______________(insert name of a fine wine here).

Just remember not to keep your nose in the air when it rains, or you may drown.

Jubei

 

[MoNsTeR]

A 1911 HAS TO BE a Colt, Kimber, or Springfield Aromory...in that order.

You gotta be kidding me! If Auto-Ord, RIA, and Charles Daly are 1st-tier trash, these three are only 2nd-tier. Real 1911 snobs don't own anything worth less than $2000.

 

[rock jock]

Life is too short to own cheap guns.

 

[TheEgg]

Life is too short to own cheap guns

No, no, no, you've got that wrong.

Life is too short to own BAD guns.

 

[charby]

No, no, no, you've got that wrong.

Life is too short to own BAD guns.

Exactly I know we have all bought or seen really good firearms at a cheap price.

I rather own half a dozen quality, well built, reliable and accurate firearms than a dozen or more inferior ones. This is speaking in working firearms.

I would love to own a ton of interesting safe queens.

Charby

 

[orangeninja]

Hmmmm.........I guess I susbscribe to an entirely different school of thought. I can see I will have to start a new thread called, the practical man's answer to the gun snob. I'll do that now.

Ahh...the heck with it, I'll post it here.

You're not a gun snob due to the Glock being in your collection, however you also do not view weapons as tools or a means to an end. Neither do you own weapons just to put lead down range. You own weapons kind of as a status symbol or a measurement of accomplishment. You may even let someone such as "Guns & Ammo" dictate what is in and what isn't.

Of course I am making assumtion.

I view guns as a means to an end. I refuse to compromise on quality and reliability in a defensive arm, which is why I cannot carry a 1911 in confidence at all. Face it, it ain't and never will have the absolute no nonsense reliability out of the box and accuracy of some of the Sigs, and plastic fantastics.

Everytime I buy a gun like say a nickel plated whatnot, I sell it. I hate owning anything that does not have a utility. I guess I am spartan but to me, guns are for mud, blood, grit and grime. I sweat on them, carry them in hot, cold, wet, dry conditions. Have fought with them on my side, have had them hit by a car (yes I was wearing it at the time) slammed into doors, (cops who wear duty holsters on a Sam Brown know what I'm talking about) I've landed on the conrete on them and I've even dropped a couple. At no time did I do a fancy pants dance because I nicked my custom finish on a $1500.00 thingy jig.

I won't buy a $200.00 hammer and I won't buy a hammer that won't work when I need it. I also won't own a hammer I have to clean and polish once a week. I want it to sit idly by and wait until I need it, work like I expect it to, and boom, back into the tool kit.

I guess I am the opposite of you, yet I still own Sigs and have the upmost respect for them. I do not own cheap pistols because they do not perform as the better ones and I HATE when things break. So.....I shoot CZ, Sig, Glock and an XD....why? I haven't found anything that is as accurate and dead reliable as those. Am I a snob? nope, do I wear a Rolex? No, I wear a Timex, jeans, sneakers and Don Hume leather.

If I do own a FEG or a cheapie, it isn't for defense....if I do use it for that purpose, it is because it has proven itself time and time again, though I haven't found one yet that has. (for those interested I haven't tried a FEG yet)

Anything failing on me, has to go. No exceptions. I hate cheap crap, I hate useless crap. If it doesn't have a utility, it's gotta go. I guess I have a "work truck" mentality.

 

[USP45usp]

I think it's more of a "tastes" thing.

A gun snob would stick his/her nose up at your choices.

What is happening is that (like many here), you started "all out" getting guns and then you develope a "taste" for what you like and enjoy.

I, for one, do not like Glocks and think that they are overrated. Yet, I have a USP which many don't like and think that they are overrated. This is the only "tupperwear" gun that I own now.

My carry is a Kimber 1911. I've put around 500 rounds of my own through it (bought it used because new you're just paying for the name at first, just like the USP) and not a glich yet. Yet, I fully expect one sooner or later even though I keep it cleaned, maintained, etc..

I have refined my tastes in what I own and want. Now, I will keep the Tec-9 and the SNS's just because it pisses off the anti's. Anything to tick off an anti is worth the money to me, hence the reason that I am in the process of buying an EBR (AR-15 with both .223 and 7.62 uppers).

Kimber = CCW
Tomcat = Pocket
GP100 = First gun ever bought so it has to be kept
Luger in ORIGINAL .30 = History (as most of my C&R guns)

The others are either for trade or private sale. Or just for fun.

My future purchases will be due to what my tastes. The SA GI 1911 (with sights changed) will be my next. After that, I don't know what I want or if I'm just going to start making what I have better.

Wayne

 

[Standing Wolf]

Do I qualify for a 12-step program for gun snobs?

Nope. Real snobs own Korths.

 

[Nick96]

Well Sean, the only thing I disagree with you is with regard to your opinion of Rugers. You strike me as a fellow that appreciates substance over style. This is the very essence of Ruger firearms. Maybe not the prettiest, but certainly the equal of any maker - and better than most for their intended purpose. People will argue about the appearance, weight, bulk, slickness, etc. of any given Ruger. But few will argue that they are not durable, accurate, reliable & reasonably priced - regardless of caliber or operating system.

Of course, being concerned with your full development as an enlightened being of the cosmos, I recommend you immediately go out and buy the following Rugers:

* GP 100 - .357
* P-95 - 9MM Auto
* Mk II - .22 Auto

You'll be able to get all three for under $1,000 brand new in most parts of the U.S. - and have money left over to run an ample number of factory loaded rounds through each to really come to appreciate them.

 

[goon]

I am at the other end of the spectrum.
I will try and use just about anything that works.
I will pay for quality and I do have some standards (will never own a Jennings, Hi-point, etc.), but I wouldn't have a problem with carrying a Makarov or with owning a Tokarev, or an Argentine High Power for that matter.

I do prefer old military guns because even though they are inexpensive they are not cheap.

When you handle something like an old Mauser, you can feel the care that went into it. It was built to keep a man alive and the guy who built it knew that someone's life would depend on it.
Eventhough they don't cost much, I prefer them to a modern sporting arm.

 

[WEPS]

Glock 23 primary CCW
kahr P40 back up CCW
Bersa Thunder 380 back up CCW (incase kahr breaks)
Springfield Mil Spec House/Glove box
Moss 590 House defence
Springfield M1A utility rifle
Bushmaster AR15 utility rifle
AK47 SAR1 utlity rifle
SKS utilty rifle
M1 Garand because i love um
Mossin Nagant Because i love um
Dragonov because i love um

These guns are all a must in my opinion and i plan to own all shortly. Anything after this is just for fun and collecting.

 

[SnakeEater]

I prefer HK and SIG pistols over everything else because they work. Period. Now the time for snobbery comes when talking about gunleather, a fine holster is quite a sight to behold. I outfit even my cheapest guns (makarov) with high quality leather.

 

[Sean85746]

Sean,

You don't have to think of yourself as a "snob". You are a gun connoiseur. (I looked it up so that I wouldn't spell it incorrectly) Why drink Mad Dog 20/20 when you can drink ______________(insert name of a fine wine here).

Just remember not to keep your nose in the air when it rains, or you may drown.

Jubei

Diet Pepsi instead of Wal MArt Diet Soda....