I am just curious what kind of wear most of you experience over the years with your rifles? I hunt hard with mine and seem to be able to keep them looking good with out going out of my way to baby them. I have had people ask me if they are new. Most of them are over 25 years old and do get out and about and not sit in the safe. I do however know people that after one season can make a new gun look like they tied a rope around the trigger guard and dragged them down a gravel road. Just wondering how most of you fair in the "normal wear and tear" department.

I do not hunt any longer, but still have my first gun, a Marlin 39a Dad bought for me in 1952 when I was 7 years old. It still looks new, or really better than the new ones now. I have a Mod 70 Winchester ftw, cicra 1960 that still looks very good, the wood has aged to a better color and some stock oil has helped. Lastly I picked up a Husqvarna Mod 46 last year off the internet , that dates to 1929 that puts some new guns to shame.

There is a Rem 1l00 auto shotgun I picked up at the Izmir, Turkey, USAF Rod and Gun club, in 1972, that was used extensively for doves and ducks as well as being hauled around in the mountains there for wild boar as we could not have rifles.
I like to use mine year after year and still have them look good so I take care of them.

Tell you what I was given the honor of be able to handle and fire a pre 64 Winchester Model 70 in 375H&H that was used and owned for years in Africa by a famous professional hunter and author. His widow and her husband (great folks!) offered me this opportunity one afternoon at our club. I was like a kid in a candy shot. One of my best days at the rifle range ever. To me equal to being able to drive Steve McQueens Cobra from the movie "Bullit" or doing a lap at Daytona.

It came to my shoulder quickly with a smooth action and crisp trigger. It hit exactly where it was aimed.

However it had years of wear, lots of dings, field grade gunsmithing, little original blue, old scope with much of it's finish gone too. But most important 100% functionality. Last I saw that gun (this week) it's owner was shooting it preparation for a trip back to Africa. She is after the 60th buffalo taken with that gun. Probably get will another dent or ding two on that hunt I'd imagine.

I'll take that gun over any "like new" closet queen when the chips are down.

Pete A.

The last 10 years or so I use a synthetic stock on a rifle if it is going to be used roughly. If I am walking to a blind on a path or logging road with no brush I will take a nice wood stocked gun. Basically, I have nice guns and a few indestructable 'beaters' -- I hunt with the beaters.