What makes for a "favorite" gun?

Monday, July 23, 2007 Filed in: General gun stuff, Gunsmithing, Personal opinions
One day, as I was preparing to go "out" and run some errands, I grabbed one of my revolvers and a holster and stuffed both into my pants. (Yes, I had a gun in my pants and no, I wasn't happy to see someone. Everybody's a comedian.)

Now, as I was saying...as I tightened my belt, I made the mental note that this gun seemed to be with me more commonly than the others in the safe. For some reason it just seemed "right" to carry it most often.

Why? Was it the size, the weight, the caliber, the color, the...??? I wasn't sure, and I'm still not sure. The choice was made, not on the basis of any one of those traits (or any other), but rather in spite of them. It is the indefinable "rightness" of the thing; it is friendly in some way that I can't quite isolate.

Yet I keep thinking of the thing, every time I put it on. I even consciously decide (on an occasional basis) to carry something else. The substitute is always a fine gun, fully capable of good performance, but on those days I miss my "favorite."

Even if the gun is "right" in every way, it still won't be a "favorite." Good example: a number of years ago, I decided to build the "ultimate" .22LR rifle. I took a Ruger 10/22 (naturally), and replaced just about everything in and on the gun. I intended it to be the most accurate, reliable, and good looking .22 rifle in my safe.

What came out - which I still refer to as "The World's Most Expensive 10/22" - was indeed a superbly accurate, easy shooting, good looking rifle. It is light, handy, has a beautiful walnut stock that fits me perfectly, and a great trigger; in short, everything you could ask for in a .22 rifle.

Why, instead of this terrific little rifle, do I usually grab my early-1950s vintage Marlin 39A - which isn't as light, accurate, or handy as the Ruger? After all that time and effort, why did it not become my "favorite"? In every objective way, it is a better gun, but it seems that specifications alone do not elevate a gun from mere possession to prized status.

I'm thinking about this a lot lately. I feel - or intuit - that if I can capture what makes a "favorite", if I can distill into steel what propels a specific gun for into that position, something special will come of it. I'll let you know how I progress in what is starting to sound like a quest!

-=[ Grant ]=-
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