On Concrete! Why Do People Do This?

[colemanw]

I appreciate honest wear on a firearm... but a little TLC when handling never hurts- personally, I would rather enjoy my firearms aesthetic without a huge gouge if it could have been avoided

 

[marktx]

Why do people do this? Whenever I see it it makes me immediately question the level of care taken by the owner, and I wonder if it impacts on other potential buyers' views.

Why? So I don't embarrass myself crying at the range when my new gun falls off the table onto an exquisite mixture of gravel and rusty surplus ammo cases. The first thing I do after buying a new gun is to drop it on the driveway at least three times just to be sure there is no sentimental feelings about it's virginity.

 

[Ignition Override]

I sent a note months ago to a Gunbroker seller in MS and told him that I would not consider a gun balanced on a brick, in order to display it.

Tried to be somewhat tactful with the choice of words. Even though a gun might have been very carefully set on a rough object, well, there are always four full pages of Mini 14s on Gunbroker (since last March) where most sellers display a more civilized technique in their photographs.
Strangely, the brick was missing in the next photo, days later.

Plastic is plastic, but nice shiny wood, no matter how solid, should be preserved for the next owner who does not store rifles "just to make a buck".
One photo, one impression. Many rifles, not just SKS, appear over and over again on Gunbroker, due to past treatment or lousy photos, or both (if not the prices).

 

[Spyvie]

I was very very carefull when I set my rifle down next to the fireplace to take this pic. You see I had to put it there, as it was the only angle in my place that didn't reveal too much about me.

Seriously though, I though about it as set it down very carefully, and then inspected it just as carefully afterwards. This incident did not result in any damage to the finish.

I was already thinking this was a bad idea before I saw this thread, and now there's no way I'll do it again. Even if none of my guns are for sale.

 

[MikeKeyW]

Quote:
interior shots can reveal a lot about the owner besides his taste in guns.

I usually prop my guns up against my bong. Sometimes I sprinkle crack rocks on the ground and use those as a makeshift backdrop.

That made the milk come out my nose... Don't forget the needles and "Potted" pot plants to add a hi tech but woodsy air to the photos. Now I just have to remember to kick my underwear out of the background when I shoot a pic.

 

[jackdanson]

as it was the only angle in my place that didn't reveal too much about me.

muwahaha, now I know of your coveted fireplace!!

In regards to OP. Meh, I don't try to scratch my guns up, but I don't freak out if they do. I guess it depends on the gun.

 

[DeathByCactus]

I don't see your point OP. Unless it is a collectible I don't see how it matters. Weapons are built tough for tough purposes, setting a rifle on the ground -concrete or otherwise- isn't going to affect the gun. Hell it won't even scratch the gun most of the time. I lay mine down on all sorts of hard surfaces, including rocks and gravel. Doesn't mean I throw it down there, but my weapons get more beat up getting in and out of vehicles than being set down or laid on concrete.

 

[pgeleven]

Don't forget the needles and "Potted" pot plants to add a hi tech but woodsy air to the photos.

now that you mention it, i should go one step further and post a photo of a rifle on top of a pile of my sisters used insulin syringes

 

[Ignition Override]

pgeleven:
My wife has used the insulin pump for a few years and is easy to wear/use. She was diagnosed 15 years ago as an adult at age 42, which is rare.
It only uses smaller, frequent doses of the short-term insulin which is much easier for managing blood sugar levels, and your sister could really benefit. Mixing short and long-term in syringes often has somewhat unpredictable results.
Good luck to her. It's mostly automatic (programmed by a clinic for each person).
We know how people often discuss "Road Warrior" societies in our future, in general, but many thousands of rounds of various ammo would not help people buy insulin, if our highway transportation were stopped for many weeks or months. No drugs or shipped food.

Back to topic: my SKS would look cool with a trio of syringes for a bayonet-truly wicked.
Nancy Pelosi's and Chuckie Schumer's worst nightmare. Schadenfreude.

 

[JDGray]

I usually prop my guns up against my bong. Sometimes I sprinkle crack rocks on the ground and use those as a makeshift backdrop.

Mike, is that you? Shouldn't you be in the pool?

 

[jjohnson]

Shooters vs Safe Queens

+1 on firearms being TOOLS.

Fer cryin' out loud - I can spot "career civilians" even on the Internet.

Yes, soldiers take their firearms outside, and they're exposed to the same conditions that the soldiers are exposed to. Good soldiers maintain their weapons well, but don't sweat the cosmetics much.

My Dad's Weatherbys would spend their years in a gun cabinet while I took my Remingtons, Winchesters, and the like hunting or shooting at the range like they had real JOBS. A friend of mine broke up with his girlfriend over an incident - he took her to the range and she put his 10/22 down on the range table instead of setting it down on its empty case.

I have a couple expensive jobs including a couple of custom rifles and they all get outside now and then. Since none of them are investment or museum quality, I don't sweat it. I treat them like good tools - they get respect and careful maintenance, but they don't get babied.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Oh good lord! I can't believe we're even having this discussion. It's not like these firearms are being bodyslammed. You can take pictures of your rifle on a bed of broken glass and rusty nails and provided you place it there with care the firearm won't be any the worse off for it

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Maelstrom: "I usually prop my guns up against my bong. Sometimes I sprinkle crack rocks on the ground and use those as a makeshift backdrop."

I love the "other stuff" in home gun photos.

I've spotted condoms, bondage gear, holes in the wall, court summonses, final notices, awful restaurant menus, filthy kitchens, stained toilets, cigarettes, booze, soiled underwear, you name it.

My favorite was years ago on another board, when a guy left a utility bill on the kitchen table next to his pistol. I dropped him a postcard, signed with my board user name.

 

[Horsemany]

I agree with the O.P. 100%. It's pretty easy to grab a rifle that has the muzzle leaning up on brick and slightly drag it across the bricks. The idea should be when selling anything to show care was given to the product. Doesn't matter if we're talking cars, golf clubs or guns. The best example of this I can give is this; A pre 64 Supergrade in 99% condition on Gunbroker 2 years ago. The owner useda large diameter drill bit stuck through the trigger guard to prop the rifle up for pics. I guess he couldn't find anything harder or with sharper edges.

Not all guns are battle rifles with rough durable finishes as much as it may pain some of you to hear. Some people appreciate the craftsmanship of a fine fit and finish of years gone by. Not many gun collectors are worried about the muzzle of an AK or AR on concrete! Finely finished guns have been painstakingly polished to a perfect sheen. That doesn't ever need to touch concrete.

 

[TX1911fan]

Cars are tools too, that doesn't mean I wash mine with a brillo pad! I am also baffled by people who are so careless. If a gun of mine gets worn through USE, that's one thing. If it gets worn because I was taking pictures of it on the driveway, that's just plain stupid.

 

[TIMC]

I would rather see concrete than toes in a gun picture!

 

[Deer Hunter]

There was a thread EXACTLY like this on FALFILES way back when...

 

[Acera]

Rack Grade could you please write a letter to the U.S. Army?

They actually teach people to put the butt of the rifle into the ground when going to the prone position!! (and not that softly either)

Can you imagine the horror inflicted in these fragile pieces of art!?

 

[Art Eatman]

Okay. Enuf.