So the professor teaching my Civil War class decided to haul a few of his guns down from his office for our class the other day. His only Civil War era gun (at least one that might have seen use then) is a Navy Model, but he passed around his Springfield 1873 to give everybody an idea of how the weapons of the time felt in the hands. We also got to dry-fire his Winchester '73 because... well, because it's a Winchester '73. Mind you, all of these guns are the real deal. No reproductions.
While handling these most impressive pieces of history, I was struck by something. That giant Springfield still has a heavy, solid feel to it. I'm willing to bet that I could load it up and start blasting targets at 1000 yards with nothing more than a patch to clear the barrel. The Winchester works smoothly, and it too is nice and solid. I would be comfortable popping in a few cartridges right now and having a shooting contest from horseback on the east lawn. The administration might frown on that, but they don't know how to have fun.
So, why don't I get that feeling when handling new guns? Sure, ARs look cool, and AKs will take punishment like no other rifle, but they just don't have that feel to them. I can't pick up an AR and just know that I'm wielding a real weapon. If that Springfield misfires, it will make a dandy club, and that enormous broadsword of a bayonet is terrifying even when it's in my own hands. I just don't feel that when I pick up a modern gun. Even a tried-and-true bolt gun doesn't feel that good. Sure, a Remington 700 is a fine rifle, but it feels so dainty and delicate compared to a rough and ready Winchester '73.
This doesn't mean I'm getting old, does it?
While handling these most impressive pieces of history, I was struck by something. That giant Springfield still has a heavy, solid feel to it. I'm willing to bet that I could load it up and start blasting targets at 1000 yards with nothing more than a patch to clear the barrel. The Winchester works smoothly, and it too is nice and solid. I would be comfortable popping in a few cartridges right now and having a shooting contest from horseback on the east lawn. The administration might frown on that, but they don't know how to have fun.
So, why don't I get that feeling when handling new guns? Sure, ARs look cool, and AKs will take punishment like no other rifle, but they just don't have that feel to them. I can't pick up an AR and just know that I'm wielding a real weapon. If that Springfield misfires, it will make a dandy club, and that enormous broadsword of a bayonet is terrifying even when it's in my own hands. I just don't feel that when I pick up a modern gun. Even a tried-and-true bolt gun doesn't feel that good. Sure, a Remington 700 is a fine rifle, but it feels so dainty and delicate compared to a rough and ready Winchester '73.
This doesn't mean I'm getting old, does it?