Kind of odd feeling

[kings6]

Over the last year or so I have started to realize I need to focus more on shooting some of my ugly old project guns instead of adding more frankenrugers to the safe. That has been the reason for the selling off of nearly all my stock pile of custom parts for custom revolver projects. Ribbed barrels, Clements hammers, Bowen sights and even base guns and tonight I sat down and realized the process of bringing my custom revolver endeavors is nearing the end. While there are still 3 or 4 guns still out getting completed, I have come to realize that I have been very blessed in that I have had the opportunity to travel the custom revolver road for a good many years and through the school of hard knocks and a maturing experience level I have ended up with a small handful of guns that not only are fun to shoot but that also aesthetically fit my older more "seasoned" tastes in style, materials and finish level.

Even with sticking my toes into the Smith & Wesson waters a few times, I have become totally comfortable in fact that I am not a collector but a lover of both the unique, ala customs, and guns that for me, have a visceral and emotional tie back to some of our hobbies founding fathers. From an old model 57 with old carved ivory grips in memory of The Grand Old Man, to a 5" model 27 and a copy of the SS4 JT/Skeeter 44 special to the purely JT inspired Andy Horvath Li'l Gun and even my Clements Quest gun that was entirely inspired by some of David's guns that Fermin has had commissioned in the past, many of my favorites are tied to something even more important, the people who have had a profound impact on my life both in the gun world but in life itself.

All I can say at this point is to those of our hobby/affliction who are of a much younger age and are still feeling that thrill of that first "custom", enjoy the process and the journey. Commission guns that ring a bell for you and that have some sort of tie to history, hero or dream. Don't be afraid to put your own twist on a project as well. There is something exciting to talk to a 'smith and share an idea you have and hear him say while he has never done something like that before, it sounds neat and challenging and he is willing to try to do it for the first time. Yes we have an expensive hobby but by planning ahead, buying parts as they come available rather than having the 'smith supply them and by taking 2 Dogs sage advice about mowing lawns and collecting cans, the custom revolver is a very doable goal.

Well, this old man's rant or musing done now. Sometimes it is just good to gets some thoughts like these down where I can actually read them to help settle into the new normal.

Take care my friends,

Robb

[paulg]

Thanks for sharing that Robb and nicely written. Like you I believe it's the ties to the people that make these adventures in steel worth while.

[whitworth]

I understand completely. Lately I've sold off a few and I think I'm about to put another on the chopping block that I swore I would hang on to. I have a couple of outstanding projects that need completion but then I want to redirect my focus, and get a zen-like familiarity with just a few of my revolvers......we'll see.

[squawberryman]

Both Robb and Max have touched on something that has touched me recently as I sold my two year wait Clements that was unshot. It is EASY to get "caught up" if you will between the "enablers" and the eye candy to try and populate a safe (or two) with a couple of revolvers from each of "the" names out there. When I got my first good gun, a JRH modified Blackhawk in 500JRH I bought bullets in three weights. Now I think why? Am I dead eye perfect with any one of them? No. Ross built that crazy expensive gun with just one round in mind, and reached his Zen with it as Max points out. Baptism is best learned by fire and I suppose my britches are still smoking a little. I'm gonna cut some more loose. I sold a gorgeous Clements 327 and that 45. Fermins' gun was the inspiration for that 45 and when I got it I looked at it and thought "That looks a lot like this other one Jack made". Away it went. Covet and acquire all you will new shooters, may you find your happiness somewhere.

[2 Dogs]

Dearest Robb, I really hate to be the one to bring this on you BUT, the real truth is, even though you think you are "there"...
I dont know if one can ever truly be. There will always be that one more custom on the horizon. The quest is simply dormant for now. It WILL flare up again. Like a raging volcano. Trust me.

[cubrock]

Makes perfect sense to me, Robb. I am still relatively young (41) and of working-class means, yet I have been able to own almost every gun I really wanted to own (almost). I reached a point starting about 2 years ago when I realized that a lot of it was foolishness. Most of the guns I owned, I had never shot. Meanwhile, my kids are growing up fast and I don't go shooting with them (or do anything with them) nearly enough. One day, I stood in my safe room looking around and asked God out loud "Am I storing up treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal?" I knew the answer even as I asked.

So, I started selling off a lot of mine. If they have a family connection (either shooting with my kids or are a family gun), they stay. If I enjoy using them more than once every year or two, they stay. Otherwise, I've been letting them go. The funny thing is, the guns that are keepers are some of the cheapest ones I own. The Winchester 670 my dad gave me for graduating college is realistically a $300 used hunting rifle, tops. Yet, it is very accurate (under 1 MOA with Winchester factory loads) and has put down several deer. I've owned MUCH more expensive hunting rifles that are now sold.

I think we will be very surprised when we meet some our heroes in heaven. Elmer Keith is probably going to humbly chuckle at a lot of us at how we chased dreams inspired by his writing. I strongly suspect he will tell us his life would have been better spent at home with his wife and children rather than being gone months at a time guiding hunts all over the western hemisphere. Hopefully, we will all chuckle together at our shared foolishness and rejoice in the redemption of a God who loves us anyway and makes beauty from the ashes of our misspent days.

I realized several years ago that more often than not, our heroes hold us hostage. We let our lives get tainted by trying to emulate them and squander our days with regret when we can't reach what we mistakenly think is the standard they have set before us. Instead, we should find out what God has planned for US, taking from our heroes only what is helpful on our own journeys. In many, if not most, cases, what we learn from them will be from their mistakes, not in what we see as their successes.

We aren't taking any of these pieces of steel with us. If they don't help us on our eternal journey, they are just dead weight around our necks. Just a couple cents, maybe not worth even that.

PS - I'm not casting any aspersions on Elmer Keith or any of the men we collectively admire here. Just pointing out the obvious - that their feet were made of clay, just like mine, and they made their share of mistakes, just like I do.

[bushog]

Well put you guys.

Many have noticed my stable has been declining steadily too. I just counted and I'm down to 7 custom single actions.
At one time I had a dozen Bowen's alone. All the coveted USFA flat tops and all the Colt/King customs have flown away. I've still got a few that are on the wish list but they may or may not get built. I've always said that my favorite was the next one and that goes for many things with this terminally human fella'.

Unlike Robb, Tim and Greg, I don't have any kids, no younger generation in the family that's interested in sixguns. So why?? It has been fun to see some of the new guys come up and get guns built and to hear the thrill in their voices when I've said yes to a less than attractive offer.

For me the only way to find what I really like was to buy (and sell) them.

Hell, it's just a thing.

I believe the best thing I may have ever read on this forum was, posted by a relative newcomer (I could be wrong so before somebody lets me have it...):

"Do I own the guns or do the guns own me"?

More will come and go but doing it with you, all my semi-anonymous friends it sure is fun!

I've got a FA and a Bowen that should be here within a month and I'm as excited as I've ever been.

[cmh]

Very well said Steve....

[mike454]

I can't make any proclamations about slowing down, I've told my wife too many times that I have all the guns I want, need, desire, Most recently right before I bought a Bowen Best Quality 50 Special, and again before I bid at the Keith auction. I do have a number that I'd like to sell if I can get off my butt and do it, but for me there will always be a next one. I like the hunt too much.

[kings6]

I don't think I will ever lose the excitement of custom revolvers, I am just of the age where I don't feel like I want to be like that young football player I was years ago when I thought I needed to order the entire right side of the menu when I went out for lunch! Ironically, the deposit is being sent off today for a project that is being done simply for artistic reasons, not to fill a perceived need. Older age does have a few perks I guess

[jdoc]

Philosophy and life. The eternal quest......for knowledge, my friends.

[arokcrwlr]

I think there's something in the water...

I too have reached this epiphany and have let a few of my "prized" acquisitions go.   It was hard to pry my hands from them, but they're just steel and wood and the proceeds have gone to a worthier cause - family and, hopefully, associated memories.

In fact, I have throttled down much of my obsession.  Strangely, it doesn't bother me nearly as bad as I thought it would.  I still have enough to shoot and enjoy while I'm able (and more than any one man realistically should have).  I have three boys that will get what's left when the time comes. But (there's always a but , I do have one more in the works that I am looking forward to.  For the most part, I am done with the chase, but ( ) I've also learned to never say never...

Thanks for the post Robb - it's interesting that several have had the same reflective thought.

[dougader]

I know my tastes have changed over the years. There was a time when all I would look at was a semi-auto or a double action revolver.

Then I saw Bowen's website. Ack. Then I ran into guys on this website. Y'all truly are enablers.

Robb, I think I'm where you're at but on a much smaller scale. I have purchased barrels, parts, etc. to get ready for a custom project only to decide later that's not what I really want at this point in my life.

So I just have the 2 Harton Ruger's stamped with my name on the top of the barrel. Boge's little Harton 32 was the inspiration for these. They are exactly what I want in a nice SA. The 32 Single Six is for my daughter and the 45 Colt Montado is for my nephew. I already told them about the guns and made the bequeaths in my will.

When all is said and done none of it really matters to me. Family is everything. Everything. But I sure enjoy the guns in the mean time...

[bigbores]

Ive been afflicted with GCD (Growing-gun Collectioniasis Disease) for for a few years...

I'm attempting to control my GCD with a new rule... I can get a new one, only if I make room buy selling/trading an old one.
Guess I'm not ready to reduce there numbers just yet.

And I can say I don't have any new gun projects planed or in the works.
Racing Engines on the other hand...

[cmh]

Reading these post gives a guy on the verge of rebuilding his collection alot to think about.... It surely does. At one time I had quite a collection of sniper rifles from WWII to the present and I pulled the trigger on a few while others were much to rare to chance.... And I finally tired of having rifles I could not (would not) shoot...