Just when you think you've seen it all

[TDM]

It’s a beautiful rifle, no if, and, or buts about that. But beyond my means. As a divorce at my age would be far too costly.

 

[springfield art]

Well... that's the trick isn't it?

At that income level, I no longer pay any income tax, which helps quite a bit. I have a co-tenant that also has an untaxable income who helps out with expenses. I have no debt to speak of. I don't buy new cars and never finance the ones I do buy, so there are no car payments to make. I have no credit cards. We don't go to restaurants much any longer. I can vegetables and don't usually buy expensive cuts of meat... stuff cooked in the crock pot makes for cheap meals.

I probably qualify for food stamps, though I haven't really needed them. We do make use of energy assistance in years that we qualify. This year we may or may not qualify.

I enlisted into the US Army in 1975 and now have VA Medical coverage... so no Obamacare expenses.

I don't smoke, drink or use other recreational drugs.

I don't take vacations in Hawai'i or other exotic locales. When we want to get away from it all, we might drive to Wrightstown, Brillion, Oshkosh, Appleton or more likely Green Bay. Sometimes we splurge and go to Lena and/or Abrams... maybe Oconto Falls. We are always back before the end of the day though.

In short, I pinch pennies until they are as thin as a dime and then get a quarter's worth out of them.

I donate more than most people do to church... which is kind of another investment that pays non-taxable dividends.

Sooo.... God provides, I manage what He provides and we survive comfortably... at least for the moment. Things could change in a heartbeat and quite likely they will in the next few years, but I'm not gonna worry about things I have no control over. The state of the economy, whether or not there will be a nuclear war and other such things are quite above my pay grade and that's fine with me.

I always get a chuckle out of people who go to, say, Mexico for vacation when there's so much right here under the protection of the US Constitution. You get victimized or worse in some sketchy country, all bets are off! But I admit to being a stick-at-home guy!

 

[hanshi]

I wouldn't pay that much for a rifle even if I had the money. Beautiful rifles can built by talented smiths and only cost a fraction of that. I have no fancy rifles but what I have are good, solid quality and attractiveness for what they cost.

 

[bud in pa]

I always get a chuckle out of people who go to, say, Mexico for vacation when there's so much right here under the protection of the US Constitution. You get victimized or worse in some sketchy country, all bets are off! But I admit to being a stick-at-home guy!

As a former truck driver I don't understand why people have to leave the US to see beautiful scenery. I have seen so many beautiful places here that I don't think that I could pick a favorite place.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

I used to shoot with the fellow who built that rifle, and saw a few others he made as well. Meticulous workman, outstanding rifle and worth every penny.

 

[longcruise]

For me, a rifle can get to the point of having too much bling. And that thing has more bling than a ghetto pimp mobile.

I sort of agree. It comes across as a bit gaudy bu then again I've been told that my taste is all in my mouth.

OTOH, I am very impressed with the workmanship. The maker has some serious skills.

 

[Jim K]

I sort of agree. It comes across as a bit gaudy bu then again I've been told that my taste is all in my mouth.

OTOH, I am very impressed with the workmanship. The maker has some serious skills.

I’m the same. I appreciate the talent but don’t care for the gun. I don’t like patch boxes unless they’re wood. I like plain guns with really fancy wood. I really like nice wood. I don’t want it covered up. But that’s just me.

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

People spend $70,000 on a pickup truck and turn it into useless pile of junk within 10 years. But a gun that costs a few thousand dollars is "too nice to shoot". Stupidest thing I ever heard.

That's a good point. I never thought of it that way. Semper Fi.

 

[Campbell]

I drool over rifles like that, but if I had $8500 to spare I'd probably spend $2k on a rifle and the rest to a good charity. There's homelessness, kids with cancer, and a dozen other causes more important than fancy toys.

That’s very generous of you! Do you usually donate over 20% of your income to charity, or only when you imagine winning the lottery?

 

[Capt. Kirk]

That’s very generous of you! Do you usually donate over 20% of your income to charity, or only when you imagine winning the lottery?

Only in my dreams, I'm a couple of years away from that kind of income at the moment. Well, that's not exactly right, I'm a couple of years away from having my off grid tiny home complete to the point that I won't have many bills. I'll probably never have money to donate, but I'm one hell of a handyman and I can, and do, help folks. That an ok answer?

 

[Campbell]

Only in my dreams, I'm a couple of years away from that kind of income at the moment. Well, that's not exactly right, I'm a couple of years away from having my off grid tiny home complete to the point that I won't have many bills. I'll probably never have money to donate, but I'm one hell of a handyman and I can, and do, help folks. That an ok answer?

Hey, no offense intended. I’m constantly guilty of intending to do good things with money I don’t have - that’s why I commented.
You’re a better man than I.

 

[Whitworth]

Once knew a guy with a Mercedes Benz gull wing coupe. He built a separate, climate controlled, lighted garage with a glass wall for it. He'd sit in his living room and look out the window at the car in its palace garage. Don't know that he ever drove it. That story reminded me of him.

Wow, a Gullwing I can appreciate that. Until recently I shared my man cave with a car for 12 years but worth a lot less. Sharing the road with all the idiots on cell phones and suicidal deer resulted in numerous close calls. With ridiculously low mileage and showroom new I pretty much only drove it to shows because of that. I soon purchased an ex-track car of the same model and drove it on the track, everywhere in any weather and parked it anywhere worry free while the mint one stayed safe in the Man Cave. Same with guns, some admired for workmanship and fine materials while others are enjoyed with their everyday bumps and bruises. For years I collected and shot old military rifles because a a little more wear and tear wouldn't hurt them.

 

[Dale Lilly]

That's the kind of gun I wish I could build. And I'd shoot it just to watch other people cringe. OK, I'm a contrarian, I know it.

Curmudgeon

 

[Dale Lilly]

I own 'one' fancy rifle. It cost a lot less [1/4 th] than that one, but it hangs over my fireplace. It is letting visitors know this is my hobby. When I first posted it to this forum, several said they would not shoot it. I will, come spring. It is, after all, a tool. Polecat

 

[nhmoose]

Why should 8K make it a wall hanger? I always shot my NFA Subguns that cost at least that. Being a flintlock would not make any difference to me. Shooting them, carrying them and admiring them on a stand is part of the use of them, dents and mars won't kill them so why not.

 

[deerstalkert]

Curmudgeon

Yes? you called me Dale?

 

[frankie]

Something like this pops up. Is there is a point, both beauty and price, that makes it a wall hanger?

https://www.newtownegallery.com/historical-weaponry/45-caliber-flintlock-rifle
[

I am a professional test fire person. Send it to me.

 

[sheriff john]

Man I shoot sporting clays with enjoys high-dollar shotguns and shoots them admirably. His kick is buying them at lower prices than others. Gloats about the "deals" he made. Self-made, wealthy by some standards, it's just the way he is. Folks like him enjoy unpacking a Perazzi or engraved something to show off at the range. It does tickle me a bit when someone outshoots him. As we get older, that happens more often. The rifle in question here would be right up his alley, but only if he could show it off, not for the workmanship nor artistic merit - strictly because his would be better than someone else's.

So ..for every pot, there's a lid. Glad someone can buy such a nice gun because that's what keeps skilled gunbuilders going - just like every other form of excellent craftsmanship. I certainly do not envy the man who can afford such things, nor covet their possessions. Happy with the memories mine have made over many years with good friends long gone. Priceless to me.

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

It’s a beautiful rifle, no if, and, or buts about that. But beyond my means. As a divorce at my age would be far too costly.

That's the kind of gun I wish I could build. And I'd shoot it just to watch other people cringe. OK, I'm a contrarian, I know it.

A gun worth building is a gun worth shooting. It wouldn't stay on my wall for long. I reckon that's my muzzleloader OCD kicking in. Semper Fi.

 

[Sean E Bug]

if you do a good job cleaning the gun i don't understand the harm done by shooting it. for those that want to be thrifty there is always this instead.
https://www.sittingfoxmuzzleloaders.com/product/wk-4f-french-blunderbuss/