What Imbues a Gun With "Soul"?

[Craig Larter]

When I buy a gun that interests me it has intrigue. In most cases it is a vintage American classic side by side made for waterfowl hunting. The gun inherits soul for me after I kill a few ducks over my black lab.

[C.O.B.]

Gary I have not seen any pics of the engraving on Mattie's gun. I'd love to however. I know it will be well worth the wait and it already has soul.

[Chris T.]

Don't knock the reproductions, if you were 15 years old and opened one up for Christmas it probably have more soul than any other gun you would own for the rest of your life.

[John E. Williams]

Mileage does it for me. The safe queens are nice to look at but they don't really click. I've got an old frosted up 1921 Trojan that's one of my favorites. The metal is what many of you would probably consider scrap and the wood's little better, but that old gun has lived a most full life. Locks up tight as a vault and has been killing squirrels this very season! I wonder how many families got through the depression with a somewhat full belly because of that simple old gun? For me, that's where you find soul.

An old friend of mine, John Madole, once took some kind of old Savage .22 Hornet he bought for like $200 and threw every ounce of toolmaking knowledge and artistic ability into it. It was really rather absurd, but he turned that piece of trunk trash into an absolute jaw dropper of a rifle. I seem to remember James Corpe fitting an exhibition-grade Claro walnut stock and forend to the little gun, and John had engraved and French grayed the receiver and so forth. Again, it was absurd. That rifle had soul because two of the greatest artisans I've ever met collaborated on a gun that should've never been considered for such a project and absolutely rocked it. The story goes that someone at a FEGA show once asked John why he bothered with such a hardware-grade gun to customize. He supposedly answered in his subdued way, "How much was the piece of canvas worth before da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa on it?" That was classic John. Wasn't so inclined to give you a direct answer as he was to ask you a pointed question which revealed the answer. God, I miss him...

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by John E. Williams

An old friend of mine, John Madole, once took some kind of old Savage .22 Hornet he bought for like $200 and threw every ounce of toolmaking knowledge and artistic ability into it. It was really rather absurd, but he turned that piece of trunk trash into an absolute jaw dropper of a rifle. I seem to remember James Corpe fitting an exhibition-grade Claro walnut stock and forend to the little gun, and John had engraved and French grayed the receiver and so forth. Again, it was absurd. That rifle had soul because two of the greatest artisans I've ever met collaborated on a gun that should've never been considered for such a project and absolutely rocked it. The story goes that someone at a FEGA show once asked John why he bothered with such a hardware-grade gun to customize. He supposedly answered in his subdued way, "How much was the piece of canvas worth before da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa on it?" That was classic John. Wasn't so inclined to give you a direct answer as he was to ask you a pointed question which revealed the answer. God, I miss him...

I don't believe I've ever read a better reply to such a dumb question! John Madole must have been a very impressive man.






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[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Chris Travinski

Don't knock the reproductions, if you were 15 years old and opened one up for Christmas it probably have more soul than any other gun you would own for the rest of your life.

Well now after the assanine responses I got to the REM/Krieghoff 32/K-80 I suppose you'll just have to live with my personal feelings on the Jap knockoff' and with that being said you can throw Galazan's stuff in there as well .

[Autumn Daze]

Well ... Ya know how it goes with opinions. I thought some responces were very well thought out. A great thread....

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

Well ... Ya know how it goes with opinions.

Kinda my feeling about people as well .

[Autumn Daze]

Ya... Thats funny mine too....