When you have a beautiful muzzleloader....

[mushka]

A gun, like me, with scars and scratches shows productive use and sometimes some rough handling. I look at it sorta like kin.
I hope it's from use and not abuse, as has sometime been my history. Scratches, dents, dings, all show a history of some sort.

 

[Billy Boy]

Safe queens stay in the safe, only for looking at. That first ding hurts, but frees your soul.
Some of my most prized guns are butt ugly. I like a gun I can soot without fear.

In an odd way, that first ding, scratch or dent is a big relief.

I would hate to go TU, get planted in the ground and have someone sorting thru my iron, truck, and plunder commenting on what beautiful, pristine shape it is in....

 

[GriscomRun]

Rifles are like hammers, they are a tool and meant to be used.;

Aye Lad, and fine tools they are. Kinda like small nails- with a bit of work ( tuning) they make fine trout fly hooks. Think colonial angler.

 

[Okie Hog]

i admire beautiful muzzleloaders and the gunmakers who build them. But i don't want one.

 

[Kansas Jake]

i admire beautiful muzzleloaders and the gunmakers who build them. But i don't want one.

I'm the same way. I like to shoot what I have. I think there is a place for both safe queens or garage queen cars. There are also places for the guns one shoots and antique/custom daily drivers. Different folks have different attractions and that is great because it make stuff interesting.

Some of the old guns we get our history from were the "safe queens" of their day and we are lucky to have them to study and learn from.

 

[RB POWELL]

One of you said the first ding is liberating. I'm in that camp.

 

[Brokennock]

I disagree that our extant rifles were the safe queens of their day. I seriously doubt there was such a thing at the time for one reason.

I also don't understand this idea that because the rifle, or smoothbore, is beautiful it has to be a safe queen. The only bad thing about hunting with a beautiful rifle is the possibility of missing out on a shot opportunity as one sits lost and mesmerized in the beauty of the piece.

 

[ord sgt]

I have a Charlieville smoothbore. It was carried by me during the filming of a made for TV movie about Tecumseh. In one "battle scene", I used the musket to block blows from an Indian warclub. The stock took some dents and dings but it now has history. Those dents tell a story.
Dents and dings are a part of life. I have scars that tell stories and so do my firearms.

 

[BullRunBear]

Guns are to be used and enjoyed. While I never abuse them I don't worry about every minor imperfection. I'm more concerned with function. There was one exception. A retirement gift from my lovely bride was a TVM Late Lancaster flintlock with top of the line everything. When I unpacked it I really wondered if I would dare to shoot the gorgeous thing. That lasted maybe five minutes. The next day it was at the range. I do keep a piece of carpet handy to cushion the butt. However, that is partly to protect it and partly so I don't transfer dirt to my shoulder.

This is a long winded way to say I'm too cheap to buy a safe queen.

Jeff

 

[Ames]

I put mine on top of my boot. Not dragging carpet with all the rest of the stuff I never learned to leave at home.

 

[Smokestack]

I tried so hard to baby my P53 repro when I first got it. Ended up driving a nice long scratch along the stock when I removed one of the front barrel bands.

Can't say i'm too concerned about it after that point.

Though, the finish on Pedersoli wood tends to be very... stark in contrast, as the finish only coats the surface and doesn't sink into the grain. Any suggestions on what I should use when I refinish this thing?

 

[nhmoose]

I use all of mine they get dings scratches and other marks. Each and every mark is history of it's use and an important memory to me.

I don't keep my guns as they were I use them they get marks and such that is life. I rather that than keeping them in the safe.

I hate posts that I inherited Gramps gun how do I make it look like new. You want to remove what was done by Gramp? I will pass on that.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Brokennock, I didn't mean safe queen in the literal sense, but in the sense there were a few people who could afford more that one higher cost gun and maybe rarely used one or only in a limited way. Here is an analogy. Years ago I visited a Chrysler/Plymouth dealer in a small town. He had a number of high end cars that were a couple of years old and older with less than 100 miles on them to one that was 30+ years old at that time. It was a 49 Chrysler woody convertible with less than 500 miles on it. It was kept in a windowless room and only brought out once or twice a year for parades. Same way with some guns. Also, there are always those folks who use something, but manage to keep it in pristine condition.

 

[Art Caputo]

While I have always been mindful about avoiding unnecessary dings snd scratches, with use, they will happen. I’m in the camp that honest wear adds to the character of the firearm whether fancy or plain.....I wouldn’t buy it if I didn’t intend to use it.

 

[Brent]

Rifles are like hammers, they are a tool and meant to be used.;

I don't think they are anything like hammers. Do you see hundreds of forums with thousands of posters about hammers? Do you see people fawning over hammers, engraving them, carefully applying 20 coats of a secret elixer finish after staining with some ritualistic procedure handed down over 3 or 4 centuries? Not really. Rifles are tools meant to be used, but they are anything but like hammers.

 

[FiremanBrad]

I buy them to use! If they gain a bit of character along the way, all the better!

 

[Bledfor Days]

I have a habit of buying 2 of things that I really like. One I use, and the other usually stays unused in mint condition. Mostly fishing reels and guns. I had the great fortune this year of purchasing 2 unfired muzzleloaders in new condition. Both haven't been made for years. I will be shooting one of these for sure, but may leave one unfired. I usually sell the mint item later for a tidy profit and let someone else fret over not using it.

 

[Capnball]

If the wear and dings come from honest use, they don't bother me a bit, in fact, I cherish them. Many of the dings or scratches that are prominent may have a story attached to them.
If the wounds are from stupidity, leaning the gun where one shouldn't or against something I shouldn't, and it falls. Or some other stupid move that could have been avoided, then I get upset. Even if it is an ugly or plain gun I get bugged about damage that could have been avoided.

I have a bike, it's my other big thing besides guns. It's a 2007 but I bought it in 2007 with 2500 miles on it. It was like the bike I wanted since I was a kid. The day I bought it was cold as hell out. My best friend went with me to get it in Vermont. I made the deal with guy, paid him, got the title and was in the process of tying the bike down to the trailer. My buddy's got/had a vest with every ride pin on it from every ride he'd ever been on. We used to say that vest would stop a bullet. Anyway, he leans over the front fender for a tie down straps and yup.........he scratched the bike to the primer diagonally across the top of the front fender. He felt terrible about it. I told him "while that does suck, it's part of the bikes story" Joe passed away a couple years ago. I still have the bike, it still has only one scratch on it!

 

[mooman76]

I don't think they are anything like hammers. Do you see hundreds of forums with thousands of posters about hammers? Do you see people fawning over hammers, engraving them, carefully applying 20 coats of a secret elixer finish after staining with some ritualistic procedure handed down over 3 or 4 centuries? Not really. Rifles are tools meant to be used, but they are anything but like hammers.

You should see my hammer collection.

 

[Capnball]

You should see my hammer collection.

Got a big box of them do ya?