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chopinbloc
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You're welcome JT.
This Old, Ugly Gun That I Love
- Thread starter chopinbloc
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ApacheCoTodd
member
My absolute favorite orphan..
I bought this sad, abused not so red-headed stepchild off a friend precisely because it was so molested. And - I could reattach a lanyard loop. I'm a sucker for lanyard pistols. Weird, but it's my burden to bear.
Kind of appeals to the Bulldog owner in me.
The mythology was that these were modified after the war (during?) for pocket carry by investigators and such back in merry old England.
True? Not true? I don't much care as I like the story and have seen 4 modified exactly the same so someone had a plan I guess.
I put a loop back on it and carry it with shot, wadcutters and other low power stuff in the woods and desert.
It's heavy. It's ugly. But it sure does feel good and shoots nice with mild loads.
I bought this sad, abused not so red-headed stepchild off a friend precisely because it was so molested. And - I could reattach a lanyard loop. I'm a sucker for lanyard pistols. Weird, but it's my burden to bear.
Kind of appeals to the Bulldog owner in me.
The mythology was that these were modified after the war (during?) for pocket carry by investigators and such back in merry old England.
True? Not true? I don't much care as I like the story and have seen 4 modified exactly the same so someone had a plan I guess.
I put a loop back on it and carry it with shot, wadcutters and other low power stuff in the woods and desert.
It's heavy. It's ugly. But it sure does feel good and shoots nice with mild loads.
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Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Great thread! Guess I need an "ugly gun." 
ApacheCoTodd
member
Another from the depths of the safe.
This is definitely one of my "very last to go" firearms. It came brand spanking new from the old Army, West Berlin "Rod and Gun Club". For years it had a perfect "melted licorice" factory finish. Never did like it but got out of the finish in a very unexpected manner.
After getting out of the Army the first time, I took a job elsewhere doin' stuff and filled out one of the State Department's "return cards" and took this with me. About all that was available was corrosive and at best questionable ammo. Cleaning supplies were kinda limited as well; gasoline, diesel, kerosene and the like. One day I figured to really get at it and bought some dishwashing detergent in a market and set up a pot on our stove to heat some water.
Water gets hot, soap goes in the water, CZ bits got in the water and we get a call to go to a place to do a thing. I figure, what harm? Won't likely be gone long, I'll shut the heat off and take care of it when I get back. As I'm shutting it off, I notice significantly more grunge than I had expected amongst the bubbles and set it down to nasty ammo.
On getting back, the bubbles are gone but there's a nearly tar-like surface to the water. It took a butt-load of rinsing but when done, I realized that I had zero finish left. OK, not to worry, I'll paint it and keep it super oiled till I return to the U.S.
On the return, I had it in a soft case and somehow it had leeched off the oil I had applied but the case had absorbed a lot of humidity and kept the pistol super damp the whole trip.
So, is it ugly? It may have the figure of a Czech super model but it has the complexion of a crack-whore. And, as they say, true beauty is on the inside and inside, it's factory perfect!
This is definitely one of my "very last to go" firearms. It came brand spanking new from the old Army, West Berlin "Rod and Gun Club". For years it had a perfect "melted licorice" factory finish. Never did like it but got out of the finish in a very unexpected manner.
After getting out of the Army the first time, I took a job elsewhere doin' stuff and filled out one of the State Department's "return cards" and took this with me. About all that was available was corrosive and at best questionable ammo. Cleaning supplies were kinda limited as well; gasoline, diesel, kerosene and the like. One day I figured to really get at it and bought some dishwashing detergent in a market and set up a pot on our stove to heat some water.
Water gets hot, soap goes in the water, CZ bits got in the water and we get a call to go to a place to do a thing. I figure, what harm? Won't likely be gone long, I'll shut the heat off and take care of it when I get back. As I'm shutting it off, I notice significantly more grunge than I had expected amongst the bubbles and set it down to nasty ammo.
On getting back, the bubbles are gone but there's a nearly tar-like surface to the water. It took a butt-load of rinsing but when done, I realized that I had zero finish left. OK, not to worry, I'll paint it and keep it super oiled till I return to the U.S.
On the return, I had it in a soft case and somehow it had leeched off the oil I had applied but the case had absorbed a lot of humidity and kept the pistol super damp the whole trip.
So, is it ugly? It may have the figure of a Czech super model but it has the complexion of a crack-whore. And, as they say, true beauty is on the inside and inside, it's factory perfect!
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DNS
Member
As a 22lr nut i couldn't turn down a much abused early 90's Heritage i found at the pawn around 10 years back. The poor revolver had all the finish removed and had been clear coated, badly. The 6.5" barrel was rusting underneath too.
Cleaned it up, baked on some Krylon, cold blued the barrel and cylinder, drifted the front blade, and its the most accurate revolver i own. Touch ups are done with a permanent marker and its spent many years as a truck/ranch gun.
Best $90 i ever 'wasted'.
Cleaned it up, baked on some Krylon, cold blued the barrel and cylinder, drifted the front blade, and its the most accurate revolver i own. Touch ups are done with a permanent marker and its spent many years as a truck/ranch gun.
Best $90 i ever 'wasted'.
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chopinbloc
Member
It's hard for me to pass up anything that goes "bang" for under a hundred bucks and that one sounds like a whole lot of fun. Got pics?
ThePenguinKnight
Member
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I have deep envy of you and your children who have or will have heirloom guns, especially those which are well worn, loved and used guns. There's only a couple of those kinds of firearms in my family and, although I am the most given to guns and shooting and hunting in our clan, I've been told that I am probably not on the list to ever receive one of the heirlooms.
My kids will be getting some pieces that I've put a lot of time behind, that will have many stories and exploits circling around. I don't have anything as weathered as yalls yet, but I hope my kids appreciate them as much as you all seem to appreciate yours.
My kids will be getting some pieces that I've put a lot of time behind, that will have many stories and exploits circling around. I don't have anything as weathered as yalls yet, but I hope my kids appreciate them as much as you all seem to appreciate yours.
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chopinbloc
Member
That is a really terrible thing to tell someone. I'm sorry to hear that. Not that things are important, just that it illustrates a very callous an unloving attitude for family on their part.
ThePenguinKnight
Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2007
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Eh, more about having too many people ahead of me in line. But thanks for the sentiment.
History in the hand is a great thing. The "ugly gun" that is really just well-worn and has already been collecting stories will just continue collecting history as it passes from hand to hand.
1911 guy
Member
I have two. One I got ugly, the other I got new and made it ugly myself.
The first is one of those .22 caliber Yugo trainers. The stock is dinged, the outside diameter of the barrel looks like it was machined with a rock, maybe an angry beaver chewed it. But it shoots to point of aim with every brand of cheap .22 rimfire i can find, the leaf sights are properly regulated and it has nice square Patridge style sights that I grew up with. Unfortunately, I bought it for my son so I can't keep it forever.
The second is a Charles Daly 1911 (I know, made of Philippino beer cans). It has seen nearly daily carry for a decade, has virtually no finish left and being a cheap(er) pistol, the fit and finish isn't top notch. Not bad, just a bit lacking. But it has been dead nuts reliable. Accurate at farther than I can shoot well, feeds empties from a mag (ticks off instructors at classes doing malfunction drills) and has an O.K. trigger. But it's still ugly as homemade sin.
The first is one of those .22 caliber Yugo trainers. The stock is dinged, the outside diameter of the barrel looks like it was machined with a rock, maybe an angry beaver chewed it. But it shoots to point of aim with every brand of cheap .22 rimfire i can find, the leaf sights are properly regulated and it has nice square Patridge style sights that I grew up with. Unfortunately, I bought it for my son so I can't keep it forever.
The second is a Charles Daly 1911 (I know, made of Philippino beer cans). It has seen nearly daily carry for a decade, has virtually no finish left and being a cheap(er) pistol, the fit and finish isn't top notch. Not bad, just a bit lacking. But it has been dead nuts reliable. Accurate at farther than I can shoot well, feeds empties from a mag (ticks off instructors at classes doing malfunction drills) and has an O.K. trigger. But it's still ugly as homemade sin.
I saw no "ugly guns" in this thread; only dependable, grizzled old friends. I've had a few. Never owned a Herters but do remember that they had a reputation for accuracy, reliability and toughness. My only "ugly" short gun is a pre-war German PPK in .32acp. Not pretty at all but accurate and a fine shooter.
It looks worse in the flesh. Bluing almost worn away, Hints of rust and a cracked grip I had to glue up.
It looks worse in the flesh. Bluing almost worn away, Hints of rust and a cracked grip I had to glue up.
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