I feel the need to type this story about something that happened today as a lesson for us all...
This morning I had to go to a town a ways off for a family event. In conflict with this family event was an Estate auction that had several Browning Superposed shotguns that belonged to a guy that had been a friend of my Dad's. Since I wouldn't be able to be at the auction but my Dad was going I stopped by at about 7:45 AM to preview the guns and leave him bidding info.
I had to pull the guns out of a safe and lay them on tables while the auctioneer and family members of the deceased stood by. They required anyone who handled the guns to wear white gloves. I wasn't a huge fan of the gloves but really didn't mind. The guns were all Lightnings from 65 to 72 nothing super fancy but nice enough and for this area a Superposed might as well be a British Best gun since their aren't many around. Then walks in Mr. Knowitall Gunowner. Guy gripes about gloves advises that they aren't graded guns so why the gloves. Then it gets personal in his yammerring he pops out with "Hell these are transition guns and worthless." At this point I ask the gentleman in a very friendly tone, "What are you meaning by transition guns?" his reply to this was.."If you don't know what a transition model you don't know sh*) about guns." instead of unloading on him I asked are you talking about the late model guns before the Citori came into play? He muttered a bit and said yes! I think he was also trying to articulate the Tang differences but didn't know the word. I let him keep rambling incoherently at which point he pops out with what I think was, "I don't need any of this junk anyways and I won't even bid." This is where 2RCo should have been a nice guy and shut up but couldn't hold back --I said, "I hope you don't that'll make them cheaper for me." The guy then stormed off into the sunset.
What I am getting at with this story is --Why are gun owners Jerks to each other? Why when someone asks a question do we get into pissing contests about whose gun knowledge is greater? Even most experts will agree that from time to time a gun will come around that will stump them. If I had been a new gun buyer trying to learn this ordeal might have ran me off.
Anyways maybe we can all be friendlier with guys who have questions and check our ego at the door. In order to encourage our hobby this might be a good idea.
This morning I had to go to a town a ways off for a family event. In conflict with this family event was an Estate auction that had several Browning Superposed shotguns that belonged to a guy that had been a friend of my Dad's. Since I wouldn't be able to be at the auction but my Dad was going I stopped by at about 7:45 AM to preview the guns and leave him bidding info.
I had to pull the guns out of a safe and lay them on tables while the auctioneer and family members of the deceased stood by. They required anyone who handled the guns to wear white gloves. I wasn't a huge fan of the gloves but really didn't mind. The guns were all Lightnings from 65 to 72 nothing super fancy but nice enough and for this area a Superposed might as well be a British Best gun since their aren't many around. Then walks in Mr. Knowitall Gunowner. Guy gripes about gloves advises that they aren't graded guns so why the gloves. Then it gets personal in his yammerring he pops out with "Hell these are transition guns and worthless." At this point I ask the gentleman in a very friendly tone, "What are you meaning by transition guns?" his reply to this was.."If you don't know what a transition model you don't know sh*) about guns." instead of unloading on him I asked are you talking about the late model guns before the Citori came into play? He muttered a bit and said yes! I think he was also trying to articulate the Tang differences but didn't know the word. I let him keep rambling incoherently at which point he pops out with what I think was, "I don't need any of this junk anyways and I won't even bid." This is where 2RCo should have been a nice guy and shut up but couldn't hold back --I said, "I hope you don't that'll make them cheaper for me." The guy then stormed off into the sunset.
What I am getting at with this story is --Why are gun owners Jerks to each other? Why when someone asks a question do we get into pissing contests about whose gun knowledge is greater? Even most experts will agree that from time to time a gun will come around that will stump them. If I had been a new gun buyer trying to learn this ordeal might have ran me off.
Anyways maybe we can all be friendlier with guys who have questions and check our ego at the door. In order to encourage our hobby this might be a good idea.
