Thread: "Too pretty to use"

Originally Posted by stug

The brits regularly sent their rifles back for refurbishment. I think it is the yanks that hold the “original” condition idea.

The Brits can be shockers for babying their rifles and getting in a tizz if it gets scratched. There’s a particular UK sub-culture of occasional recreational stalkers who buy rifles primarily for their aesthetics, and can write essays on the matter. To them the very notion of stainless steel and polymer stock is sacrilege and they will take every opportunity to tell you so. They will also choose a chambering from yesteryear and scoff at anything vaguely modern.

I admit I switch off completely the minute someone starts getting a semi over their rifle’s timber and the ever so expensive engraving they had done.

The fact that they hardly ever shoot anything with these rifles is beside the point. If they do it’s probably shot from the comfort of a high seat on a managed property. If the rifle is taken out deerstalking proper, as in kind of actually hunting, then it is carried around in a rifle case. (This particular behaviour drives me nuts, gets right up my crack - I have a relative in the Midlands who does exactly this.)

Each to their own, but to meet someone who values the appearance of their rifle over its function and reliability in the field needs their head read!

Yeah, I'm with @Ryan_Songhurst and @Spudattack on this one. I picked up an unfired Model 7 in a beautiful laminate stock, and while I certainly do use it, I would much rather switch out the stock for something I don't mind beating up. I'm way more precious about it while I'm hunting than is ideal... I carry it in a full-length cover and if I slip there's a chance I will injure myself trying to save the rifle from hitting the deck!

Same mentality applies to 4WDs and mountainbikes. If you've got money to throw away then have at it, buy a brand-new piece of kit and thrash the hell out of it. Me, I'll buy it off you for a fraction of the new cost once you've scratched it up. I think it's a bit romantic to say that rifle value is not affected by aesthetics.

@Flyblown brings up some valid points, and I'm a firm believer that there are some in this game that really amplify the 'wank factor' when it comes to gear.

I like nice kit. Definitely. But there is a point where it just gets beyond reasonable and sensible. If we look back at some of the great rifles that came from the Rigby workshops around the turn of last century, there was nothing 'fancy' about them at all. Plain wood, no engraving, no gold leaf, no cheek pieces for a lot of them, and reasonably plain checkering at a sensible # of lines per inch. They were made to be functional and reliable, and that exactly what they achieved. The famous Corbett .275 was rather plain-jane by todays flashy standards.

I'm all about nice woodwork, because I can build if for myself. But they will still get used (and looked after appropriately). But they also have to be functional. My next stock is going to be for a Model 7 .308, and it will have nice but not flashy wood, no cheek piece (because they're just extra weight) and sensible but not over the top 24 LPI checkering. I'm building it because 1. I can. 2. It will be a better shape than the HS precision it came with. 3. It will be lighter than the HS precision too.

Perfect form, follows perfect function.

I’m real hard on gear in the bush but look after it clean/service before it goes back in the safe. But il be the first to admit I sold my first sako for this reason it felt wrong using it as a paddle sliding down screw slopes chasing Tahr . I couldn’t care less about banging up my soulless stainless carbon rifles

Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick

@Flyblown brings up some valid points, and I'm a firm believer that there are some in this game that really amplify the 'wank factor' when it comes to gear.

I like nice kit. Definitely. But there is a point where it just gets beyond reasonable and sensible. If we look back at some of the great rifles that came from the Rigby workshops around the turn of last century, there was nothing 'fancy' about them at all. Plain wood, no engraving, no gold leaf, no cheek pieces for a lot of them, and reasonably plain checkering at a sensible # of lines per inch. They were made to be functional and reliable, and that exactly what they achieved. The famous Corbett .275 was rather plain-jane by todays flashy standards.

I'm all about nice woodwork, because I can build if for myself. But they will still get used (and looked after appropriately). But they also have to be functional. My next stock is going to be for a Model 7 .308, and it will have nice but not flashy wood, no cheek piece (because they're just extra weight) and sensible but not over the top 24 LPI checkering. I'm building it because 1. I can. 2. It will be a better shape than the HS precision it came with. 3. It will be lighter than the HS precision too.

Perfect form, follows perfect function.

Yeah, I don’t know if it’s “wank” factor, but depending on what we are talking about each have their own reasons.

You could say the same about people who want to shoot the biggest trophy or drive a nice car etc as they don’t really gain anything from them except the sense of self satisfaction and pride of ownership.

I see buying a really high end (ie English best quality fully engraved double rifle which start at £160k and go up from there) in the same light as buying a piece of art or engineering (ie a Ducati over a jap sport bike), it’s function becomes secondary to the enjoyment of owning and handling a true piece of art.
You may hardly ever use it but there is something to behold in the thousands of hours of precision hand craftsmanship that go into them and the beauty of them. Also something about the romance of the African big game safari.
Great piece to have a conversation about with someone else that appreciates it.

I also like nice things so have no issue with people that would rather spend a bit more and have something that they really like and is aesthetically pleasing, but as I said, have something more suitable to the task for rough trips.

Everyone is different and has their own needs, some just want a tool, others want something that they are proud of, each to their own.


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Originally Posted by Spudattack

Yeah, I don’t know if it’s “wank” factor, but depending on what we are talking about each have their own reasons.

You could say the same about people who want to shoot the biggest trophy or drive a nice car etc as they don’t really gain anything from them except the sense of self satisfaction and pride of ownership.

I see buying a really high end (ie English best quality fully engraved double rifle which start at £160k and go up from there) in the same light as buying a piece of art or engineering (ie a Ducati over a jap sport bike), it’s function becomes secondary to the enjoyment of owning and handling a true piece of art.
You may hardly ever use it but there is something to behold in the thousands of hours of precision hand craftsmanship that go into them and the beauty of them. Also something about the romance of the African big game safari.
Great piece to have a conversation about with someone else that appreciates it.

I also like nice things so have no issue with people that would rather spend a bit more and have something that they really like and is aesthetically pleasing, but as I said, have something more suitable to the task for rough trips.

Everyone is different and has their own needs, some just want a tool, others want something that they are proud of, each to their own.


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Double Rifles are crashing in price.There is a looming lead ban in the UK and Europe and you cant regulate traditional doubles with homogenous bullets. I know of a H&H in 375 flanged that changed hands for £5000 recently.That gun was advertised for £15,000 for ages but due to America being difficult to import into for the time being the dealer just wanted it gone.The price of nice double shotguns has been artificially inflated for years,when the lead ban comes in they will be radioactive.

Originally Posted by akaroa1

It's even worse when you are looking at buying vintage rifles and you ask the vendor about bore condition ?
And they reply " it's a collectors piece. You can't shoot it " and " the bore is immaterial "
My reply is " it's a rifle and that's what they are for ! "

My Blaser K95 has grade 5 wood and show the scars of many many alpine hunts.
That's what it's for

No good owning if you can’t bang it

Originally Posted by norsk

Double Rifles are crashing in price.There is a looming lead ban in the UK and Europe and you cant regulate traditional doubles with homogenous bullets. I know of a H&H in 375 flanged that changed hands for £5000 recently.That gun was advertised for £15,000 for ages but due to America being difficult to import into for the time being the dealer just wanted it gone.The price of nice double shotguns has been artificially inflated for years,when the lead ban comes in they will be radioactive.

I shoot normal copper projectile out of both my 500BP express and my 450/400 nitro?

Originally Posted by Shearer

I have a "too pretty to use" left handed Sako 85. It has not been fired and probably won't by me. I just like looking at it.
Attachment 197568

I think everyone in both camps can appreciate this dedication. Must be a hard thing not to shoot it though.
Everyone to their own

Tools are t be used but also looked after, that is why I still use on a daily basis nail guns that are 30 years old, hand planes that I have had for 30 years and were second hand when I bought them.

Use them and let them get the knocks, look after them as well and they should outlive you.

When i was farming up North I had no time for hunting and despite shooting rabbits, pheasant and ducks etc all through college. I just never had time after leaving school.
When I moved into Sth Cantab I decided to spend real coin on a rifle that inspired me to get back out. I sought out Hugh Bradley in Alex and purchased my first Blaser. It had exactly the effect intended. I’m still farming but hunting and shooting has become a bit of an obsession lol.
Everyone has their own reasons for buying beautiful high quality gear, or cheap mass produced lower spec stuff. Personally I think a bloke can do what he pleases with his money.

I've got a bit of a foot in both camps. There's some stuff out there I consider to good for general hunting use, however I'll still use it somewhere less taxing where It is less likely to get damaged. (Easy farm hunting/shooting)
I struggle with the idea of not using a rifle at all though, at that point why not just get a nice bit of wood/engraved metal to look at?

Originally Posted by Noswal

I think everyone in both camps can appreciate this dedication. Must be a hard thing not to shoot it though.
Everyone to their own

I have deliberately not put a scope on it in case the temptation gets too great. It's a 243win so would make a pretty good goat rifle and I have another (totally different) rifle that does all the work.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

The Brits can be shockers for babying their rifles and getting in a tizz if it gets scratched. There’s a particular UK sub-culture of occasional recreational stalkers who buy rifles primarily for their aesthetics, and can write essays on the matter. To them the very notion of stainless steel and polymer stock is sacrilege and they will take every opportunity to tell you so. They will also choose a chambering from yesteryear and scoff at anything vaguely modern.

I admit I switch off completely the minute someone starts getting a semi over their rifle’s timber and the ever so expensive engraving they had done.

The fact that they hardly ever shoot anything with these rifles is beside the point. If they do it’s probably shot from the comfort of a high seat on a managed property. If the rifle is taken out deerstalking proper, as in kind of actually hunting, then it is carried around in a rifle case. (This particular behaviour drives me nuts, gets right up my crack - I have a relative in the Midlands who does exactly this.)

Each to their own, but to meet someone who values the appearance of their rifle over its function and reliability in the field needs their head read!

Have you looked on the US forum Snipershide, their MK13, M24 and M40 clone rifle builds and the degree they go to for 'authenticity' are something else...

Originally Posted by Maca49

I shoot normal copper projectile out of both my 500BP express and my 450/400 nitro?

Copper jacketed lead core or homogenous bullets like Barnes?