Guns: stock, custom smithed, factory mods?

[Melensdad]

Just curious, but I was talking to a friend today who is looking to buy a gun. He has never owned a handgun, but is looking to get a carry permit and get a gun for carry. He came to me to ask some questions and eventually it led to prices, features, etc.

When I told him that something like a factory stock Colt pattern 1911 pistol would cost him roughly $800 to $1000 depending on features I think he almost choked. He was looking to spend roughly half that amount, or less.

So we were talking about some of my handguns and I realized that most of my guns are customized in some way. Some just as simple as custom grips. Some are factory built to my specs from the ground up. Some were stock and modified by pistol smiths. I have a modest amount of guns, don't consider it a collection, and others here seem to have far more than I own. But now that I think about it, I have 3 stock pistols. Of those, one is a S&W 4516, another is my little pocket AMT 380, and the last is the brand new Para-Carry 9.

But today I was in contact with Para-Ordnance and my Carry 9 is about to be modified. Para doesn't have a "custom shop" like some of the other gun companies, but they did agree to do a couple modifications for me, the most notable is that my gun will soon become a 2-tone green and black pistol. I'm trying to find some suitable grips, but have not found those yet, I've sent a couple emails to a custom grip maker and am awaiting a reply. I'm actually thinking of working up this gun in a them based on my favorite science fiction TV show.

So I ask, do you:

• think of guns as art
• basic tools?
• keep them in unfired condition
• shoot the heck out of them?
• etc etc etc

[BigAl]

I too have a pretty extensive gun collection . Some are very rare and some are as they left the factory . Two of my favorites are rifles that were rebuilt by P.O.Ackey . He was a incredible gun smith .
For personal safty a Auto is hard to beat . The last pistol I purchased a while back is a Colt 45 acp or something ??? It is for protection in the woods against wolves in Idaho . It has something like a 13 round clip . My son picked it up for me . AS you can see I don't get involved in guns as much anymore . I just been carrying a big stick the last few years . I guess someday the kids can fight over it .
I have not fired one in a long time . I basically use one rifle that has been my all time favorite for years . A slightly modified 7MM mag .

[Bobcat]

I am not a 'gun guy'. The weapons I own are strictly utilitarian. Winchester Model 12, Ruger 10/22, and Continental Arms 45ACP.

Got the shotgun at a gun show, it was barely within a 1/4" of legal, and a crooked hacksaw job to boot. At $40, no complaints. I had a smithy add a variable choke just to gain a little length and incase I decided to use it for more than just clearing my hallway of the uninvited.

Took the Ruger from the ex-husband of an ex-girlfriend who was drunk and shooting it in the air at his apartment complex. I take it to the boonies with me as a survival hunting rifle, but haven't had to actually use it as such. It's plain jane and staying that way, the waskly wabbits won't care what it looks like. Tin cans beware!

A friend of mine gave me the 45 pictured below. The mods were done by the US importer and don't really do anything for me. It's my traveling piece and spends most of it's time between the Jeep/Bike and nightstand, that is when it's not terrorizing innocent targets on the range. I've cycled thousands of rounds through this thing and the only failures have been in ejecting snake shot. I guess the aluminum casings just can't get out of the way fast enough. Another friend liked this 45 so much that I gave him one just like it. It cost me $400 from a shop in Vegas.

[Big Dog]

All my competition shotguns are custom fit with stock modifications for length of pull, butt cant and comb height. Gun modifications include titanium tube sets, forcing cones, trigger rework and some have porting. Rifles typically have scopes and slings installed by me. I use a tripod on my 6mm varmint. Pistols are stock and limited to grip changes only.

[Melensdad]

I am in love with a grip maker by the name of Esmeralda!

Look what just arrived in the mail. She carved these to my specs, based on a design I made up and sent her drawings of, but she obviously took my design up to a much higher level.

The wood is Cocobolo dorado, which is very hard and is able to be used on thin grips without cracking after it is carved. Depending on the way the light hits the wood grips the wood grain really shows up differently, its a great looking affect.

[rugerman]

Most of my guns are pretty much stock with the exception of grips, scopes, peep sights, some trigger work , spring replacements, general stuff that I did myself. rugerman