Do you like "Pretty Guns"?

[MacAR]

The thought of NOT using it never entered my mind.

Same with me. Just yesterday, I had the BRNO SLE out blasting some hand thrown targets in the back yard. Hadn't had her out in a while, and decided enough was enough. That gun is valued, pre-panic, at $1500; I have carried it on lots of long, hard walks after quail, rabbit, and squirrel. Like you, I got a bit excited when I noticed the finish going off the action corners, trigger guard, and top lever. Just makes it feel more like "mine", if you will. But heck, most of my guns have wear on what would otherwise be "pretty" walnut and steel. That's the point, after all.

Mac

 

[Choctaw]

Well, I like Glocks so I guess I really don't have any taste when it comes to guns.

 

[CDMCKY]

I have several "pretty guns" which I bought because I got them for a
great price/trade. I got them as an investment, they're worth a lot more
than I paid for them, and I'll never shoot them.

 

[George P]

I never understood that either. Every gun I posted above has been in a holster, even the brand new one I haven't had a chance to shoot yet. I've carried that Open Top every year since I had it engraved.

Back in 2005, I splurged on a Merkel 28ga double. Not the high end British gun I really wanted but something really nice within economic reach. I remember getting excited the first time I noticed that the finish on the fences was starting to wear from handling. For me, it is an honor and privilege to be able to impart wear on such a fine firearm. The thought of NOT using it never entered my mind.

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I also didn't spend $600 to put a fancy walnut stock on my 541 only to leave it at home.

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I waited a long time to find a really nice commemorative Winchester .38-55, to hunt with it.

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Same for this Winchester 63.

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This hand built flintlock cost me nearly $3000 and I've hunted with it every year since. The only real issue is finding time to use them all.

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Have you applied a varnish to the case coloring? That helps, as does wearing gloves if your skin/body chemistry is like mine where the sweat can be corrosive to such finishes................

 

[.308 Norma]

Well, I like Glocks so I guess I really don't have any taste when it comes to guns.

Sure you do! Earlier in this thread Legionnaire wrote "pretty is as pretty does," and "I like good looking utility." Now I don't know whether or not Legionnaire owns any Glocks, but I can truly say that I like the looks of the two that I own; they look "useful," and "purposeful," and I know they're reliable. All those things work together to make my Glocks "pretty" as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Legionnaire]

Own Glocks? Yup. I've owned a 23 and a 9mm conversion barrel for a lot of years. Very utilitarian ... and I like it.

 

[Choctaw]

Sure you do! Earlier in this thread Legionnaire wrote "pretty is as pretty does," and "I like good looking utility." Now I don't know whether or not Legionnaire owns any Glocks, but I can truly say that I like the looks of the two that I own; they look "useful," and "purposeful," and I know they're reliable. All those things work together to make my Glocks "pretty" as far as I'm concerned.

You are absolutely correct. My Glock 20SF looks like the cool and deadly killing machine it actually is. My resident feral pigs hate it.

 

[mavracer]

Well to be honest I like guns even some that are ugly lol.
I love some pretty wood fancy grain on a double barrel shotgun is great but some nice straight grain walnut on a lever gun can be purdy too.
As to metal finish I'm pretty eclectic I think a nice even matte black can be pretty.
I'm ok with a little scroll engraving but too much can get gaudy, would prefer scenic if you're covering a lot of real estate.
Like usual I agree with @CraigC that honest wear doesn't distract from beauty, some of the scratches are tied to great memories.

 

[Rembrandt]

I do like "Pretty Guns".....and engraving. Fascinated at the artistry and skill required, have a great appreciation for the talent to do this kind of work. Browning has it's higher end engraving done in Liege, Belgium....the majority of which is done by women. "Master Engravers" are allowed to sign their works and can easily double the value of a firearm if done by a Master. Much like a painting done by a famous artist the value follows the artists name.

....and yes, they all go to the range and get shot.


Browning Renaissance High Power

Browning Superposed Broadway Trap, Pidgeon grade






Browning Liege (4 Barrel set) Bolino engraving

 

[George P]

I do like "Pretty Guns".....and engraving. Fascinated at the artistry and skill required, have a great appreciation for the talent to do this kind of work. Browning has it's higher end engraving done in Liege, Belgium....the majority of which is done by women. "Master Engravers" are allowed to sign their works and can easily double the value of a firearm if done by a Master. Much like a painting done by a famous artist the value follows the artists name.

....and yes, they all go to the range and get shot.


Browning Renaissance High Power
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Browning Superposed Broadway Trap, Pidgeon grade
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Browning Liege (4 Barrel set) Bolino engraving
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Yeah for no black plastic and matte finishes!

 

[bannockburn]

Rembrandt

The wood on that Browning Superposed Broadway Trap c'est Manifique!

 

[Old Dog]

I love pretty guns. I love tasteful engraving, gold inlay, color case-hardening, finely figured walnut or a maple burl, aged ivory, high-polished blue steel, fleur-de-lis checkering, shiny nickel... I even like floral-carved holsters, sharkskin or elephant hide.

And everything to be carried and fired, often.

P.S. - Rembrandt, if you ever need to sell that Hi-Power or the Superposed...

 

[entropy]

I never got the engraving fascination?

The Pioneer Woman Edition Glock!

"Master Engravers" are allowed to sign their works and can easily double the value of a firearm if done by a Master. Much like a painting done by a famous artist the value follows the artists name.

True, but many master engravers didn't need to sign their works. Gustave Young's work stands out, even from attempts to copy it.
Unfortunately, I cannot commission engravings from my favorite engraver (even if I could afford it) Heidimarie Hiptmayer, she passed some years ago. I use to salivate looking at examples of her and Klaus' work in The Gun Digest annual over the years, as well as Winston Churchill's engravings.
I've seen some shotguns done by Angelo Bee, nice work. Saw a Ljutic done by him, for sale a back in 2016. I could not afford it then, I'd have to do a lot of trading to get it now.

https://www.trapshooters.com/threads/ljutic-mono-gun-angelo-bee-engraving.263008/#post-2445384

 

[Orion8472]

I find the 1873 rifle to be quite pretty!

 

[FROGO207]

Heres a couple of mine.

 

[tark]

To me, THIS is pretty !

 

[entropy]

Now, if a guild engraver could have had a few hours with it before it went to the Fallschirmjäger.....

 

[Speedo66]

I like to look at some guns I consider works of art, like the Tiffany guns, but have no desire to own them.

To me, a good looking gun I would enjoy owning would include a nicely figured piece of wood and high polish bluing or some real case color, preferably both.

 

[bannockburn]

tark

Very cool! There was a company called SMG Guns that was trying to make a semi-auto version of the FG42 but a check on there website shows it hasn't been updated since 2018. Price at that time was around $5500.

 

[tws3b2]

No, Never cared much for fancy. Just give me an old well used everyday wood and metal and I get all tingly.

 

[whughett]

Perhaps if I had unlimited funds I’d buy one or two. Trouble is my mind set tells me guns are for shooting and shoot them I would. Just doesn’t make much sense to pay for the pretty stiff just to subject it to the rigors of constant use.

 

[SDGlock23]

I would yes I like pretty guns. I do find though that the guns I carry aren't really that pretty.

 

[tark]

Now, if a guild engraver could have had a few hours with it before it went to the Fallschirmjäger.....

And maybe gold plate the trigger and muzzle brake...

 

[marksman13]

I like good looking firearms, but pretty just doesn’t do it for me. I don’t like engraving at all. None of it, I do like high luster, deep blue finishes, really nice wood, color
case hardening and nice checkering though. I picked up my “prettiest” gun this week and I do think I like it a LOT.

 

[Legionnaire]

@marksman13, that's some pretty wood! What's the cartridge?