Just wondering how many of us BABY our rifles while in the field. Do you baby it or do you let it take the bumps? I can say that I baby it when it's in the shelf and handling it at home, but when hunting I am not as careful. Curious to know what you guys do.

It's a tool but like any tool it should be maintained ... That said, I value the nicks, scratches and worn bluing as momentos of a great hunt!

JohnTheGreek

Both. Wouldn't take a brand new custom for my beat up old .300 H&H.

Tool, I have no attachment to them at all. If they stop working properly they are replaced.

GTR

All of my rifles are treasures, some are expensive custom jobs, some are straight factory with no refinements, but all are also used extensively therefore have dings and scratchs. I just got back from colorado from 5 days hard Elk hunting with my son and grandson packing a custom Winchester Model 70 in .358 STA that has gorgeous wood that I put some personality scratchs on, that will be there to tell the story of the trip. I could care less about the scratchs, as long as I can remember the story behind them. I found a long time ago, they don't affect the use of the rifle in any way. Good shooting.

I've always thought of most of my guns as "good friends" and as such I always take the best care of them I can...at home and in the field. It's pretty rare for me to get a scratch and I'm not happy when I do. By and large I'm able to do this without altering my hunting style. Just makes sense to me to take care of the equipment.

Both. I've been fascintated with firearms since I was five or six years old, therefore, I do have "personal" feelings for the various firearms I own... and even most of the ones I've sold over the years.

That being said, I do not "baby" my firearms out in the hunting fields. I do take as good care of them as practical, but if one gets dinged, that's hunting.

I.e., I have a "from-the-ground-up" custom .280 Remington built on a cherry DWM Orberndorf 1909 Argentine Mauser action, by Pachmayr Gun Works, of Los Angeles. It is in the classic Pachmayr configuration, and Frank took me through his stock blank warehouse, helping me pick out the wood for it. We consulted many times about the "construction," and the final result was magnificent.

That rifle has travelled with me many a mile on foot, on a horse in a saddle scabbard, and in vehicles on rough roads. I've killed elk, deer, Black bear and antelope with it. Once, I fell, crossing a creek and dinged the Apex barrel. Cussed like Hillary cussing at Billary, but, that's hunting.

There is saddle scabbard wear on the blueing, there is that ding on the barrel, and there are some very minor scratches on the stock... and each one reminds me of a memorable trip to the hunting fields.

I value that rifle personally, but no more than my old Remington Mdl. 725 in .280 Remington, with which I've also killed elk, deer, Black bear, antelope, and more than a couple of coyotes. It too, carries it's "batle scars," each one honorably earned. Same with my other rifles.

Same with my handguns. That's hunting and carrying and using.

Tools? Yes. Personal possessions with great fondness attached? You bet.

FWIW. L.W.

[ 11-19-2003, 04:19: Message edited by: Leanwolf ]

I love firearms probably even more than hunting, so I treasure them all. I hunt with all but one of my rifles, although I do have a set of chaps for the Gr. III and Gr. IV BAR's when I'm in the field with them.

I treat my rifle as both a treasure and a tool. I try and keep it in the best possible shape I can, but I don't cry if I scratch the stock. To me, a rifle that has the bluing worn off the reciever from years in the field looks great.

I view my hunting rifles as tools. Very fine, expensive tools, but a tool nonetheless..

I try to take good care of my tools, but they DO get dirty and dinged up. I don't go out of my way to bash around my chainsaw, but it happens sometimes. Same with my rifles.

I like synthetic and stainless rifles, because I don't feel so bad when they get a bit beat on.

My shotguns are mostly wood and blue, but I have never really been into waterfowling until now...After my first 'real' duck hunt recently, I'm thinking that wood and blue isn't such a good idea for the area we hunted.

Both.

Field marks are part of the character of each and every one.

I've been using a .300 Win Mag for Elk for several years. Also have a RMEF Gun of the Year (for 2000, I think) in 7mm Mag. That's the 1885 Winchester with octagon barrel and a lot of gold and engraving.

I'm thinking of mounting a Leupold VX-III 3.5 - 10 on it and using it for a "Trophy" Elk hunt next year. Anything that happens to it will just help me remember the hunt!

I'm in the treasure and tool camp. What I find interesting, and was discussing with a hunting buddy the other day, is how some guys hunt pretty hard and still manage to keep their guns in decent condition, while others end up with their guns looking like they were used to drive tent pegs. Also, there are lots of war stories out there about someone loaning a gun and getting it back looking like s**t.

I use my rifle as a tool, not just a piece of fancy room decoration

To me, they are Special Tools I Treasure Dearly, and would hate to part with any one of them I have right now. Walk with the nice wood ones. Go on horses with the syn-ones.

I only have one big game rifle, a Ruger stainless/synthetic in .338WM, topped with a Leupold Vary-X III 2.5-8x. To me it is just a very efficient tool to bring meat to the table each year. Like any good tool, I take good care of it, and keep it clean and oiled as needed.

I have become proficient with it, so I trust it like a good friend.

Tools, 1 has sentimental value but I dont treat it any different. I maintain my rifles but I dont baby them. I've dropped 1 or 2 off cliffs (not on purpose) I even had to fish my 338 out of a river (water, damn cold in spring time). I keep them functional but I wont loose any sleep if I get rid of one (OK, my co-pilot will bother me if I let it go)

Both

Both.

I try my best not to get them scratched. Mostly to keep debris out of the action and barrel.

I don't get upset if they get scratches I just try to keep it at a minimum. I have a 458 win that I refinished the stock on and then put some scratches on it while hunting. I have to admit that I was bummed for a second or two but hell thats hunting for ya.

Tools. I take very good care of my tools, but I use them very hard.

Once I decide a gun is a keeper, "resale value" never ever enters into my mind again. I fully intend to leave my kids a safe full of rifles and shotguns that have been shot out. JMO, Dutch.

Both. I consider it a sin to leave a good rifle in the safe. Use it, take care of it, and enjoy it. I just got back from Idaho where I carried my old reliable pre-64 Model 70. I managed to put a couple dings in it but then again I managed to put a few in myself too. That rifle was originally my dads. My son will be of hunting age next year and doesn't know it but it will soon be his. When I killed a buck with a long shot after a long stalk I sat on the mountain with the old girl and watched an incredible sunset. It all combined as a great memory and brought tears to my eyes.

Jeff

I suspect the tears in Jeff's eyes were from the realization of the pack we had ahead of us. We had a great day on that hunt and a great week. I just got back last night. His long shot was measured with a leica 1200 at 420 yards and I was one of the support legs of his "bench". The conditions were perfect and the deer hobbling from a previously broken leg, that we suspect was from a fight with another deer. He went down very fast from a shot just behind the shoulder. One of the others on the trip shot a monster mulie after Jeff departed and in a moment of insanity I offered to help pack it out. We had one of those trips that act as a benchmark. Not all of us shot bucks but all could have. The weather was as expected in a wilderness area in Idaho in November and the food was superb and the company was even better.

[ 11-19-2003, 18:47: Message edited by: Customstox ]

What I have never understood is that with some people it is almost not acceptable to take care of your rifle in the field. I have experienced this several times, and it always make me wonder.

If rifles get dinged, then so be it. A well used but well maintained rifle has something very special to it. But that surely does not stop me from doing a sensible minimum to prevent the bore from rusting in the field (my "solution": run a boresnake through the bore every evening, but otherwise keep bore and chamber dry), or wiping down the metal with a silicon cloth after you get in from the field. Rifles are expensive tools, and I spend way too much money on them. If I take good care of my rifles, I expect them to deliver years of great service. That is all I'm asking for, although I have to admit preferring to hunt with synthetic stocked rifles rather than ones with nice wooden stocks... Just me, I suppose
- mike

I too fall into the both category. I'll remove metal items from my clothing, pad the rail on my stand and use a gun slip in the car. After use I'll run a patch through the bore and wipe down the metal and wood.

But in the field I'll crawl through a ditch and across a ploughed field to take a shot or have it on my shoulder for 3 days of torrential rain.

There seems to be a view amongst some that unless you have stainless synthetic and mistreat it you're not a real hunter....

I also buy sythetic / stainless rifles and pistols so that their scratches don't bother me. I have some firearms that I baby and some that I don't. The ones that I don't baby, I refinish, partly to improve their condition, partly to have another project.

Pecos45,

We think alike. I agree with you completely. They are a tool that I cherish. Lawdog

I no more value dings and scratches in my rifles then I do in my truck or car. Thats what sandpaper, tung oil and re-blueing are for.

At home my guns are a hobie, in the field they are a tool. A sturdy, yet delicate tool. But a tool none the less. And when I take them into the field, they look so damn good that it scares all the animals away..

I treasure guns that perform their function best as tools. Does that make sense? I like certain looks in my guns, but they must perform flawlessly to be treasured. I sold my Weatherby Mark V Deluxe because it was too pretty. The mirror stock finish was fragile and caused me to worry while afield. But the lightweight 6-lug Weatherby rifles are so excellent in design and function that I bought a plain Weatherby Sporter to replace the Deluxe. I have grown very attached to the sporter.

Others that have "stuck" include: Ruger #1A in 7x57 (sooo sweeet); Old model Ruger M77RS in 35 Whelen; Marlin 1895G; Winchester M70 Classic Compact in 308; Remington 1903A3 sporter. This is my modest battery. They all excel at their intended function. Some are even pretty, like the #1 and the M70, but still not too pretty to use as tools.

I know, I'm "crazy." But I have company here, don't I?

Live well, own guns that function well and life is good.

As they say Redhead. Birds of a feather flock together.

Both, that's why we can buy different guns for different types of hunting. I couldn't bring myself to stuff a piece of AAA walnut in a saddle scabbard. That's what cape canaveral walnut is for. I hunt with my guns but also take care of them. Cased to and from the hunt. I loaned my 7mm Wby fibermark to my dad. It left in as new condition, came back with bluing missing on the side of the barrel and fiberglass missing from the forend where it had rubbed off after being stuffed between the seat and gear shift I'm sure. That is mistreating a gun. I don't mind if I ding one, but loan it out and this happens. Last time I've loaned one out.

I just sweated up a bunch of dents in the stock of my Mod. L Steyr Mannlicher .243. I just finished rubbing in the first coat of tung oil. No problem, one more to go.

Pecos and Jeff,

I agree with both of you.

I had a recent experience that was somewhat different - I visited my old hunting buddy, Linus' mother at her farm after some 19 or 20 years - my friend now lives in the Caribbean and we haven't met in 8 years though we speak on the phone and keep e-mailing each other. I spent a grand day with the lady and then took his old rifle out and cleaned it for her before packing it up. I had to try hard to keep tears coming into my eyes. The gun reminded me of my friend and the wonderful days we spent together in school and afterwards.

His mother must have felt much the same as I did because she wrote to me yesterday that she had sent the rifle to her elder son's place and didn't want to keep it with her. She wants me to sell it, something that I will do to keep her happy but I know that we will all have lost a little part of ourselves when the rifle is sold.

And yes, it isn't any fancy big brand custom rifle - just a plain .22 lr with a breech block that turns to the side to let you load a single round into the barrel and a tiny little bolt that you pull back to cock and which is released by a beautifully crsip trigger. The original stock was damaged and Linus' brother made a new one for at home. It is not a rifle that anyone would look at twice but we shot it as boys in school and I wish there were some way we could still keep it with us. Damn! I can't post anymore - it's the tears again.

Bit of a split between tool and treasure. My first and only shotgun, an ugly 12 ga of dubious origin, of which I removed all laquer, and turned it into an oil shafted one, is a treasure. It was my first gun. I'll never part with it. [Y'hear that? CDN law makers!!!?]

My second gun, a Sauer 200 9,3x62 is a treasure. I feel confident when I take it into the field, it's the gun my dad chipped in for. Something really nasty will have to happen before I give that up.

The third gun is .22 WMR Marlin, El Cheapo issue, which I also de-laquered and oiled, and fiddled with. I've shot quite a few foxes with it...and it'll help me teach my kids how to shoot (if they ever really want to ) but it's a tool.

The fourth gun is a tool. A Tikka .300 WM. I *cherish* the way it handles, I love the big, accessible bolt handle, but somehow it never became a part of me.

That completes my arsenal...it's about time to add something to it...see what it develops into...my first new gun on CDN grounds..must be a special one!

Frans

We think alike, Mehul. When I look at one of my rifles or hold in in my hands and work the bolt, I don't think of just the gun. But I flash back to all the days we hunted together, the shots we made and the ones we missed. I think of the friends and loved ones I shared these times with. It isn't just the gun or piece of machinery we hold.......but a piece of ourselves. Taking care of it was almost a point of honor. I've slipped and fallen with a rifle in my hands a few times, but whenever I had time to maneuver before I hit the ground, I tried to turn and take the blow with my body, not the rifle. I would heal and forget a scraped knee or arm....but a gash across my stock would hurt me forever.

If they ever have a sentimental old fool contest, I think I would be a pretty good horse to bet on winning it.

My rifle is a tool, and a treasure. But let me add that I got rid of all of my walnut-stocked rifles, and now only have one .300 Win Mag. It's a synthetic McMillan-stocked Model 70 D'Arcy Echols Legend.

On the other hand, I have a pair of bespoke 12 bore shotguns that I use when brushbusting for grouse and woodcock. So, those are treasures that get used as tools, too.

I'm hard on my cars as well.

Both, some are tools and some are treasure's and some are both.