Mechanics and history

[Alan]

I'm really into how different guns work, the engineering behind them, the history of different models. Some people think that's boring but I could talk about it forever. The actual shooting is almost less interesting than the machines themselves. Anyone else fascinated by the mechanical side of things?

 

[LDB]

I do find it interesting although I don't fully understand a lot of it. Makes for good books though. I plan to get Kuhnhausen's book on Ruger double action revolvers next month after Mr. Grumpy Checkbook recovers from paying the truck insurance today in fact.

 

[Drycreek]

I used to monkey finger most of my guns when I was a kid, but after taking a couple apart and not being able to get them back together in a timely manner I decided to leave that to the gunsmiths.

However, I do enjoy reading and viewing all kinds of guns, but enjoy the older and unique ones more. I could spend all day in the museum in Cody, WY. And would love to visit the NRA museum in Virginia (but it’s a little too far into enemy territory) and see what they have to offer.

As a teenager I spent a few weeks of each summer with my sisters (one or the other) who both lived in Dallas. In downtown there was a gun store called the Buckhorn Trading Post. That guy had all kinds of lever guns, sixguns, double rifles , drillings, and voehrlings (sp). He was a nice guy too, at least he was to me. I was careful not to bother him too much, but he would take a lever gun off the wall and let me handle it, or pull a Colt out of the case so I could hold it. I can’t tell tell you when I didn’t love single actions, because I’ve had them all my life. Cap guns when I was a kid, real ones since I was 16.

So yeah, I guess you could say I am interested in the history (as well as the somewhat simple geometry inside a single acton) of guns in general and their application during the founding and expansion of this country. I’m also a lover of gun history and the guys who used them to settle Africa and India. More reading there than one can get to in just a few days. If you’re interested, look up Jim Corbett, John Hunter, Frederick Selous, or Robert Ruark. Ruark wrote lots of fiction too, but much of his writing is just as he experienced it.

There are many more that have had an effect on what I love, including Elmer Keith, John Taffin, Tank Hoover, and Brian Pearce. Elmer was very opinionated, blunt, but mostly correct, Taffin was thorough and knowledgeable on my favorite subject (sixguns), Tank is good on the same subject, and Brian has the best reloading articles ever. I try not to miss The Pearce Brothers on YouTube, lots of diverse opinions as well as knowledge between Brian and his sons. Give them a look !

 

[Kp321]

I am a mechanical engineer so I am very interested in the design and workings of firearms. John Browning is the most interesting of the gun designers. He didn’t have any technical training, just an amazing mechanical aptitude. His firearms have survived the test of time unchanged except for better materials and automated manufacturing.

 

[Drycreek]

I am a mechanical engineer so I am very interested in the design and workings of firearms. John Browning is the most interesting of the gun designers. He didn’t have any technical training, just an amazing mechanical aptitude. His firearms have survived the test of time unchanged except for better materials and automated manufacturing.

I think the word “prolific” was invented for John Moses Browning !

 

[LDB]

Yes, how can anyone look at the scope of work of John Browning and not be impressed and awed. And all without computers and other outside aides, just his amazing ability.