I normally do not weigh in on these discussions more than just once, but since I have more than one thought or angle to voice, I thought I would try to refine what I said prior.
First, "Just a hunting rifle". that to some people is a really horrible thing to say. Most all of us take pride in having a trusted hunting tool, no matter what caliber, what scope, what complete rig we have. Mine has evolved from a Savage 110B in 270 with a simmons 2-7 scope into a more diverse collection of rifles with one specific trait. they are accurate. whether it is a Winchester, Tikka, Remington, Marlin or Sako. My guns might not look good, they have scars, marks that tell you this gun has not had a Safe Queen life. they have been out in the field and they are trusted. the scopes have scars from being in cases, strapped to my back, my backpack, hung on a branch while scouting, in my lap while scouting, a few of the stocks have dents and dings from loosing my footing while hiking in, hiking out, stalking, these tools retain a certain look. My father kept his rifles pristine. he only bought pristine. that was his measure of a rifle. mine has always been what do those scars, that lost bluing, that scratch, that dent, what do these imperfections say about the gun? what story could this gun tell? imperfect, small scars, small dents, bluing worn from being held a lot; these are the tell tales signs of a trusted field tool for hunting. I have never been let down. each of these rifles I have collected used, the small imperfections have told me this rifle was trusted. after shooting them, they had accuracy. one surprised me and held a 1/2" group with my "junk" ammo. I do not judge people with well worn guns as "lessor hunting tools". these tools have limitations, the owners know them, and they use them to the best of their abilities and to the best of the ability of the rifle.
the second point is that these rifles are handed down, they get multi-generational respect from the people whom use them. they are taken care of by the people in the family that are entrusted with the family's legacy firearm. Nowhere is that more evident that the Atlantic North East. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the surrounding states. I spent several hunting seasons there with friends. I even considered moving my Gunsmithing shop there. I would arrive a couple of weeks before the opening, scout in the mornings and evening, in the middle of the day I would make nice with the locals. I would do hunting season tune-ups on rifles that were in some cases over 110 years-old. Winchester levers, Marlin Levers, and Savage levers. these guys would treasure, cherish, and use great-great-great grandad's lever gun to hunt. they would sometimes have to take extra game to keep from starving. I inevitably would get to see, snapshots of Bear, Deer, Moose, Elk, and other harvested animals. My question you all is this, "What happened to US, the hunting community?" we were just like this enclave of hunters in the NorthEast, what have we become in the west? I have seen so many arrogant hunters in my home state *pointing west from Carson City NV* I have almost been killed by hunters not identifying their game, shooting at a wiggling branch, shooting at a breaking stick, shooting at way too far for the heavily forested SierraNevada mountains. I hope it has gotten better since 2001. I am not complaining, I am very concerned for our sport and our way of life. I see it as endangered by idiots, politicians, and anti-hunters. Just a hunting rifle, Just our deep rich tradition of hunting and self sustaining lifestyle, just our American identity, just our fading traditions, just our hunting rifle. our treasured hunting tool. The symbol of us and our traditions.
yes, it is a hunting rifle, but it is not "just" a hunting rifle. it has become our trusted friend in the field.
I do not know how many will read this but I hope, I truly hope that we, as hunters, will never judge a man with a well worn, trusted rifle as "Just a hunting rifle". I hope no hunter has to hear those words from anyone that does not understand, but they will. It is up to each of US to explain the hunt, the tradition, and this handed down rifle as part of our national identity and hopefully part of our national pride.
