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Most of the guns offered now by mainline companies, I've noticed, look like they were designed by the Borg! This all started with the Glock, of course, but with the cost of raw materials and steel on the rise, even Ruger is beginning to make their guns with plastic.
When the Beretta 92 came out, I liked the looks of the pistol. But once the military selected it as its official side arm, the price went up dramatically...well, except for the military. And apparently it wasn't as durable as everyone thought. Although I didn't hear of any problems with the Italian models, the Maryland military versions have had their share of failures, including the early slide/frame separation.
I ended up with a S&W stainless 9mm and love it, but of course S&W can no longer afford to make all steel autos and sell them for less than a grand. It seems the only steel autos being made now in the U.S. are the 1911s, which is a shame.
I looked at a S&W 686 recently and was amazed at the $980 price (in Maryland). The finish looked like it had been done with sandpaper and the rubber grips gave the gun a cheap look (not to mention the MIM parts, the lock and the sights).
The problem also has found its way into car designs. I've been car shopping lately and the designers have made the cars so low to the ground that I can't wait until the next snow storm hits. Even a light storm will incapacitate them. And the first time someone tries to cross a grassy median strip or go over a gravel road, they'll be in for a rude shock. And why is there no front bumper? Whack the front at more than 5 mph and you replace the whole front part of the car.
Maybe I'm just getting old, but it's hard to walk into a gun store (or a car dealer) and find something that has the design and craftsmanship of products made even a decade ago. Everything's plastic and ugly. And the prices are still going up. My brother told me that despite the economy, inflation is still low, but I told him it was only because almost everything was being made in China. If things were being made here in the U.S. or Tiawan, inflation would be much higher than reported. (Two years ago, I could still find used .357s for $300. Now they're going for around $500 or so and are quickly rising.)
Semi-automatic pistols have reached new heights of reliability, and that's good -- and they're getting lighter, but not too many people will want to have their Glocks engraved! There will always be a market for 1911s, but I fear for the rest of the market. Meanwhile, I can always admire my Ruger Security-Sixes and my S&W old model 629 and 686 (the ones with wood grips and hard chromed triggers and hammers). I don't think I'll see too many at my local gun stores.
When the Beretta 92 came out, I liked the looks of the pistol. But once the military selected it as its official side arm, the price went up dramatically...well, except for the military. And apparently it wasn't as durable as everyone thought. Although I didn't hear of any problems with the Italian models, the Maryland military versions have had their share of failures, including the early slide/frame separation.
I ended up with a S&W stainless 9mm and love it, but of course S&W can no longer afford to make all steel autos and sell them for less than a grand. It seems the only steel autos being made now in the U.S. are the 1911s, which is a shame.
I looked at a S&W 686 recently and was amazed at the $980 price (in Maryland). The finish looked like it had been done with sandpaper and the rubber grips gave the gun a cheap look (not to mention the MIM parts, the lock and the sights).
The problem also has found its way into car designs. I've been car shopping lately and the designers have made the cars so low to the ground that I can't wait until the next snow storm hits. Even a light storm will incapacitate them. And the first time someone tries to cross a grassy median strip or go over a gravel road, they'll be in for a rude shock. And why is there no front bumper? Whack the front at more than 5 mph and you replace the whole front part of the car.
Maybe I'm just getting old, but it's hard to walk into a gun store (or a car dealer) and find something that has the design and craftsmanship of products made even a decade ago. Everything's plastic and ugly. And the prices are still going up. My brother told me that despite the economy, inflation is still low, but I told him it was only because almost everything was being made in China. If things were being made here in the U.S. or Tiawan, inflation would be much higher than reported. (Two years ago, I could still find used .357s for $300. Now they're going for around $500 or so and are quickly rising.)
Semi-automatic pistols have reached new heights of reliability, and that's good -- and they're getting lighter, but not too many people will want to have their Glocks engraved! There will always be a market for 1911s, but I fear for the rest of the market. Meanwhile, I can always admire my Ruger Security-Sixes and my S&W old model 629 and 686 (the ones with wood grips and hard chromed triggers and hammers). I don't think I'll see too many at my local gun stores.
