Author Topic: Why Age Contemporary Pieces? (Read 20219 times)

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #75 on:** February 02, 2019, 05:33:17 PM »

We can beat this to death. But it still boils down to personal preference.
You either like it or not it's your choice. Like percussion verse flint or whatever. Oldtravler

hanshi · « **Reply #76 on:** February 02, 2019, 11:00:21 PM »

I like the looks of a well built new-looking gun; and I also like the looks of a skillfully "aged" gun. Not so those guns sporting as much "bling" as a famous rapper dude.

Daryl · « **Reply #77 on:** February 03, 2019, 02:01:23 AM »

I used to prefer a new gun to look it. Must look new, however over the years here and seeing very well 'aged' guns, they've grown on me. I

still prefer new guns to look new, but also have a like for those not so new looking. I recall someone on another forum noting he used to

beat his stocks with a large set of keys, scrub and rub them on the floor too. I noticed early on, Mikey doesn't appear to do this and his guns look great.

Robby · « **Reply #78 on:** February 03, 2019, 10:48:15 PM »

I like the gun i carry to look like me, old and scarred up pretty good, but clean and capable.
Robby

Robert Wolfe · « **Reply #79 on:** February 04, 2019, 03:07:24 AM »

My personal preference is for them to look old but well cared for. But, as many have said, there is no right or wrong. It's all about your own personal aesthetic.

ron w · « **Reply #80 on:** February 06, 2019, 01:43:21 PM »

yes,....that's a good way to put it,.....a well cared for older rifle can look fairly new. fortunately, we have the luxury of taking good enough care of our guns for them to get to that condition. when the Hawkens were common-place, a rifle's life was not so easy,.... especially if the rifle was headed west. Hawkens were built to be used !.

Daryl · « **Reply #81 on:** February 14, 2019, 03:48:53 AM »

I like this one, just the way it is.
However, it does look a little different than when new- bit of patina on the brass, odd small mark. Flint-made scratches on the hammer.

Marcruger · « **Reply #82 on:** February 14, 2019, 05:06:24 AM »

Okay Daryl. Now that rifle is a disgusting show of beauty and talent. You have to stop that sort of thing. ;-) God Bless, Marc

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #83 on:** February 14, 2019, 05:26:32 PM »

I like that gun Daryl. But, I'd like it just as well properly aged.

rfd · « **Reply #84 on:** February 15, 2019, 04:45:00 AM »

"aging" a just built 1773 trad flintlock rifle copy is the same concept as "relicing" a vintage 1952 contemporary fender guitar build.

this is purely some version of aesthetic or ego thinking.

i won't have nor do either and think it's just nonsense. both the gun and guitar deserve to have their own honestly created wear and tear be shown.

but, i can certainly understand social fast food thinking ... it's all good, and to each their own, just not me.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #85 on:** February 17, 2019, 06:37:37 PM »

What's more interesting to look at, a brand new shiny Bess or this one?

[IMG

]

Robert Wolfe · « **Reply #86 on:** February 17, 2019, 06:51:39 PM »

Wonderful Mike. I like your work like that the best.

rfd · « **Reply #87 on:** February 17, 2019, 07:03:12 PM »

yes, an "honest working man's gun", with patina and battle scars intact, as it were, in the day.

louieparker · « **Reply #88 on:** February 17, 2019, 07:58:33 PM »

Mike my vote would definitely be for this one ! Looks great.....LP

WH1 · « **Reply #89 on:** February 18, 2019, 06:11:12 PM »

Mike
I like that a lot. It has character. While I respect the craftsmanship and skill of a well made "new" gun I prefer the aged look on most.
They tell a story. Granted that will come with time and use.
V/R
Todd

ron w · « **Reply #90 on:** February 18, 2019, 08:14:04 PM »

well,....with fear of offending,...and I don't mean to offend anyone here about this issue. this is my opinion,.... an original with wear and tear is honest, appreciated and respected. a new build with faux wear and tear only constitutes an attempt to make someone think it's original. a new build that is crisp and detailed, suggests an attempt to emulate a rifle that is respected enough to be reproduced.

Daryl · « **Reply #91 on:** February 18, 2019, 09:09:31 PM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on February 14, 2019, 05:26:32 PM

I like that gun Daryl. But, I'd like it just as well properly aged.

I'm not likely to live long enough to get it "properly aged" but I'll give it a whirl, Mike.

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #92 on:** February 18, 2019, 09:44:27 PM »

Quote from: ron w on February 18, 2019, 08:14:04 PM

well,....with fear of offending,...and I don't mean to offend anyone here about this issue. this is my opinion,.... an original with wear and tear is honest, appreciated and respected. a new build with faux wear and tear only constitutes an attempt to make someone think it's original. a new build that is crisp and detailed, suggests an attempt to emulate a rifle that is respected enough to be reproduced.

Well I too do not wish to offend but I feel the same as you in regards to having so much respect for a rifle that I wish to reproduce it. The difference is you want the reproduction to represent what the rifle looked like as it left the builders bench and I want mine to look like it did during it working life. To each his own, as my old Supervisor used to say when we thought a customer was weird, "if the cat wants buttermilk let him have buttermilk".
Dennis

hanshi · « **Reply #93 on:** February 18, 2019, 09:55:08 PM »

I like that gun, Mike. My personal term for that sort of thing is "character", not aged.

iloco · « **Reply #94 on:** February 18, 2019, 11:01:10 PM »

Very nice work on that rifle Mike. I like it a lot.

ron w · « **Reply #95 on:** February 19, 2019, 05:54:45 PM »

Quote from: Dennis Glazener on February 18, 2019, 09:44:27 PM

Quote from: ron w on February 18, 2019, 08:14:04 PM
well,....with fear of offending,...and I don't mean to offend anyone here about this issue. this is my opinion,.... an original with wear and tear is honest, appreciated and respected. a new build with faux wear and tear only constitutes an attempt to make someone think it's original. a new build that is crisp and detailed, suggests an attempt to emulate a rifle that is respected enough to be reproduced.

Well I too do not wish to offend but I feel the same as you in regards to having so much respect for a rifle that I wish to reproduce it. The difference is you want the reproduction to represent what the rifle looked like as it left the builders bench and I want mine to look like it did during it working life. To each his own, as my old Supervisor used to say when we thought a customer was weird, "if the cat wants buttermilk let him have buttermilk".
Dennis

Quote from: Daryl on February 18, 2019, 09:09:31 PM

Quote from: Mike Brooks on February 14, 2019, 05:26:32 PM
I like that gun Daryl. But, I'd like it just as well properly aged.

I'm not likely to live long enough to get it "properly aged" but I'll give it a whirl, Mike.

.
I understand wholly. it's a personal choice. the original question was "why age contemporary pieces", ...opening a discussion for both pro and con ,... and I gave my opined reasons for not aging them. I tried to say my peace without ruffling feathers, in a group of builders who seem to think that if it don't look old, it's not worth having. it just seems to me that all these guys want to have a collection of originals, but can't afford to, so the fabricate the collection. to me that is just wrong.

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #96 on:** February 19, 2019, 06:48:48 PM »

"... in a group of builders who seem to think that if it don't look old, it's not worth having."

I sincerely hope this conversation doesn't head south as I'm sure no offense is intended by anyone and I know for my own part, I'm very hard to offend. I do think the above statement is just plain wrong. I like to age rifles because (1) I just prefer the appearance and (2) it's what a very large proportion of paying customers want. I have built, can appreciate and also very much like a well-made rifle built 'as new.' I enjoy those equally. I'm pretty sure most guys (if not all) who are aging rifles also feel the same way. I don't think I've ever met anyone who feels anything that doesn't look old is not worth having; at least I can say with certainly, nobody has ever expressed that opinion to me.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #97 on:** February 19, 2019, 07:01:02 PM »

I started building muzzleloaders because I was attracted to the way the old guns looked, all warm and with tons of character. So, I have spent the last 39 years trying to duplicate that same look and feel, it's been a long and crooked road. Fortunately I have had nearly 400 people that supported me financially on the road I've been traveling. I seriously doubt I would have had the same success if I were making "as new" guns. I made one "as new" gun once at a customer's insistence. I couldn't stand the sight of the thing when it was done.

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #98 on:** February 19, 2019, 09:14:40 PM »

Quote

I understand wholly. it's a personal choice. the original question was "why age contemporary pieces", ...opening a discussion for both pro and con ,... and I gave my opined reasons for not aging them. I tried to say my peace without ruffling feathers, in a group of builders who seem to think that if it don't look old, it's not worth having. it just seems to me that all these guys want to have a collection of originals, but can't afford to, so the fabricate the collection. to me that is just wrong.

I build mostly rifles like my Gillespie family built. I have probably built more that were not aged than those that I aged to different degrees. Never every was there any thought or concern that anyone would mistake one of my rifles for an original. They could pull the lock, trigger plate, buttplate or barrel and quickly see it was a contempoary rifle. I have heard this before, antiquing a gun makes people think it's an original. I just don't think most builders go to that extreme. Maybe a few have that goal but not many have the desire or talent to do it.
Dennis

rich pierce · « **Reply #99 on:** February 19, 2019, 09:39:28 PM »

Almost all rifle old barrels from the percussion era have narrow grooves and wide lands. Dead give-away.

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Author Topic: Why Age Contemporary Pieces? (Read 20219 times)

ron w

rfd

rfd

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ron w