Soul.....

[monkyboy1975]

Excellent article as always Dave, Reminds me of my 870, first receiving it for my 17th birthday (mom gave it to me early so I would have it for Deer season.), freezing my behind off deer hunting with it in the western NY winter with it, taking squirrels and quite a few clay birds with it as well. To bad i don't get much of a chance to give her regular excercise since relocating to Ohio. I don't think I've put 20 rounds through it in the past 10 years or so. Then on the other hand I picked up an old 520 for the wife last year, and just looking at that thing I know it has soul, the stories that thing could tell....

 

[MCgunner]

But, one poster there, when 870s were cited, made the comment that Model 12s have more "Soul".

I had an 870 that my grandpa gave me. I wish I still had it. Sold it in college in a moment of weakness, an old wingmaster. Now, I really didn't like it for hunting. It was a 20 gauge, should have kept it for that reason not to mention it was my grandpa's, but I shoot left handed and don't like the ergos. I don't like the crossbolt safety on my Winchester auto, either, but that thing just points so natural and is so sweet to shoot, but it ain't "soul", I just like it. I still have my old .257 Roberts that my grandpa loved and I feel HIS soul when I pick it up. It feels like he is with me when I hunt with it. But, that's not so much the gun as my grandpa and how close he was to me.

I'm not one for anthropomorphizing machines. Man, you wanna see that, "soul" discussed, get on a motorcycle board. Whadda crock! BMWs, Ducatis, yadda yadda, 15000 to 30000 dollar bikes selling on "soul". What BS! I'm not the ostentatious type. I don't buy soul in a vehicle and I don't care what others think of it so long as I like it. Same with guns. I've seen guys bash the Evo or TC88 Harley and claim that the Shovel is the only one with "soul". Bikers will know what I'm talking about. I think it's the fifty pound flywheel and the 200 rpm idle that gives 'em that impression. Danged things sound like an oilfield pump motor to me. Soul? Whatever. If it makes you happy, great. I'd rather not have to rebuild the top end every 20K myself, but whatever.

I just don't get the anthropomorphizing thing with tools. Yeah, Davy Crockett named his Kentucky rifle "Betsy". Well, ya know, it gets mighty lonely out there in the wilderness. I don't wanna know, beyond killin' bears and Santa Anna's soldiers, what he did with that gun around a campfire in the middle of nowhere alone. If you ain't seen a woman in a while, you could see things in a firearm I'm not able to see, I guess. I hear that's how the Grand Tetons got their name.

I do appreciate a fine double, don't misunderstand. But, I'm not going to claim it has any human qualities, soul or otherwise.

 

[proven]

I feel HIS soul when I pick it up. It feels like he is with me when I hunt with it

that's what this whole thread is about. soul isn't just a human thing. that feeling you talk about comes from every time your grandpa shouldered and fired it. all of the time spent cleaning and caring for it.

for me personally, my machines whether my truck, a firearm or other tools all gain more character and soul the more i use them. they become like old friends. you know what to expect, and you know the limit of their generosity.

when they are loaned out or passed on, the new user can learn that character and use the tool to the best of it's ability. they can also pass on a bit of soul to the machine/tool before it enters another's hands, by doing a full detail strip, replacing a worn part or just plain old shooting the heck out of it.

 

[Jenrick]

I don't own a shotgun, and I don't know much about them, but I agree with Dave. A fellow officer at work purchased and old, rather battered looking Winchester Pump gun, 18" barrel, short stock, battered wood etc. The shotgun had been an issue weapon for a small rural sheriffs department. Each scar on the wood, or spot where the bluing was gone told a story.

My duty weapon and rifle all have marks and wear on them from being carried and drawn in the line of duty. To someone else they might be finish wear, to me they are stories. The scratch on my rifles receiver from where I spent hours waiting for a mentally unstable man with a gun to decide if he wanted help or to die. The wear on my pistols finish tells of a lot of draws, a lot in practice, a lot for real.

As we've all said use gives items character. Both in the patina of the finish, and the marks they bear, but also in the mental picture and association we have of them.

-Jenrick

 

[Dave McCracken]

Each of us see this a trifle differently. To me, the time spent with a firearm and a loved one make the arm a memory trigger.

That equates to "Soul".

So does a shin deep pile of empty hulls,sometimes.

Re Anthromorphing, most of my guns have no names, unless you count numbers on the 870s. They used to be known by mission, like my HD 870, the Deer 870,etc. That got a little awkward as the herd multiplied, so some are better known by numbers.

Frankenstein's name is obvious on viewing.

Whatever carry handgun I have is known as Justin.

Justin Case.

And my main vehicle is called Rocinante.

Look it up.

Thanks for the interest....

 

[MCgunner]

Whatever carry handgun I have is known as Justin.

Justin Case.

LOL I like that one.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I can somewhat relate to MCgunners comments, I have ridden one of those shovels he mentions for the last 16 years. I think any "soul" it has comes from my own busted knuckles. If I wanted a modern machine I could have one and I often call her things I can't print but she stays with me.
I don't have a serious relationship with my pump scattergun but I'm not about to give it up anytime soon. Every time I pick up my 30+ year old levergun I feel like a 10 year old kid. Is that soul I feel even if I've personally only owned it a few months? When my Dad handed me his bring back P38 there sure was something in the air and I grin when I get out the single shot 22 he gave me over 40 years ago at 8.

soul is memories

 

[Dave McCracken]

"soul is memories"....

Amen.