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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,329
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,329 |
I would nominate the Thermos Bottle, invented in 1892. Originally called a vacuum flask or Dewar flask after its inventor, it has been keeping hot things hot and cold things cold for over a century.
But the mystery remains: how do it know? How do it know?
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,887 |
The S&W New Model three was the best pre-1900 single action.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,149 Likes: 11
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,149 Likes: 11 |
This has been very interesting, partly because (per usual) most of the people who've posted haven't read the article.
I probably should have specifically mentioned "complex" mechanical devices, but space is always at a premium in magazine articles these days, and I thought my list of other devices would make my point plain. If we really want to be sticklers, probably the oldest human-made device still considered the best for the purpose is the club, and millions are still made every year, whether in the form of baseball bats, golf clubs or nunchuks.
One of several points made in the article is that shooters are STILL spending money to convert old 98 Mauser military actions into custom hunting rifles, whether "using" rifles for hard knocks in the wilderness, or rifles made by famous semi-artists with stocks of the fanciest walnut.
Very few people do that with old Model 94 Winchesters, and as we have seen here, there isn't anywhere near as much agreement about exactly which lever action is "best," even among Winchester addicts. The suggestion that the 1873 Colt is the best single-action ever is even more debatable.
While the Savage 99 is a great lever-action (and demonstrably "better" in many ways than any of the outside-hammer, tube magazine lever-actions, whether made by Winchester or not), it isn't even made anymore. 98 Mausers are, and most of the essential parts of new 98's are interchangeable with those in the actions of original military rifles--and you can't rebuild old Dover eggbeaters with parts from those sold in Wal-Mart.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
Not to mention the fact that I HATE having to wear a rubber on my egg beater...
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,577 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,577 Likes: 2 |
This has been very interesting, partly because (per usual) most of the people who've posted haven't read the article.
I probably should have specifically mentioned "complex" mechanical devices, but space is always at a premium in magazine articles these days, and I thought my list of other devices would make my point plain. If we really want to be sticklers, probably the oldest human-made device still considered the best for the purpose is the club, and millions are still made every year, whether in the form of baseball bats, golf clubs or nunchuks.
One of several points made in the article is that shooters are STILL spending money to convert old 98 Mauser military actions into custom hunting rifles, whether "using" rifles for hard knocks in the wilderness, or rifles made by famous semi-artists with stocks of the fanciest walnut.
Very few people do that with old Model 94 Winchesters, and as we have seen here, there isn't anywhere near as much agreement about exactly which lever action is "best," even among Winchester addicts. The suggestion that the 1873 Colt is the best single-action ever is even more debatable.
While the Savage 99 is a great lever-action (and demonstrably "better" in many ways than any of the outside-hammer, tube magazine lever-actions, whether made by Winchester or not), it isn't even made anymore. 98 Mausers are, and most of the essential parts of new 98's interchangeable with those in the actions of original military rifles--and you can't rebuild old Dover eggbeaters with parts from those sold in Wal-Mart. I guess my point is not which is the best ever, but the lasting impact is similar. I would also guess there could be a good debate as to the 98 being the best bolt action available today, as there have been modified versions that certainly eclipse the original. The Colt still functions and works reliably today without modifications the same as the 98 Mauser. Improvements is a term that can be loosely used in either case, but as they were originally designed, they both perform well...
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 871
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 871 |
We all know advertising works, we just don’t think it works on US!
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,669
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,669 |
Been around one of those lately? They have changed a lot. Lasting impact, socially and politically is impossible to measure, though. The America we know is the direct result of the cotton gin & the steam engine.
'Four legs good, two legs baaaad." ---------------------------------------------- "Jimmy, some of it's magic, Some of it's tragic, But I had a good life all the way." (Jimmy Buffett)
SotG
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
Gutenberg printing press. That's the one.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,577 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,577 Likes: 2 |
Gutenberg printing press. That's the one. Wrong, even more impactful is an invention by Al Gore...the Internet
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
Gutenberg printing press. That's the one. Wrong, even more impactful is an invention by Al Gore...the Internet Stay on topic please. The discussion is prior to 1900.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,577 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,577 Likes: 2 |
I just made up the word "impactful" and wanted to use it in a sentence...
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 20,379
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 20,379 |
How about fiddles? Priced a fuucing Guarneri or Strad lately?
I replace valve cover gaskets every 50K, if they don't need them sooner...
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,108
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,108 |
No, but much more useful than a egg beater! Although she had electric and hand turned egg beaters, my late Mother always used one of these, eggbeater , for beating eggs used in Her cooking. She was a great cook and did everything Her way even if it was harder and took more time. I miss Her a lot. miles
Look out for number 1, don't step in number 2.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
Mechanical fiddle? Must be German
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,811
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,811 |
The Nov/Dec 2014 issue of Sports Afield arrived here today, containing a John Barsness article "Still The One". The article begins[list][*][i]Think had for a minute, or even an hour, and try to come up with any mechanical device developed before 1900 that's still considered the best. Steam locomotive? Pocket watch? Alexander Graham Bell's version of the smartphone? Nope, nope, and nope.[ . Automobile: No other mechanical device did more to expand hunting horizons and for the most part still the best way to get there.
laissez les bons temps rouler
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 20,379
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 20,379 |
I replace valve cover gaskets every 50K, if they don't need them sooner...
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 20,379
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 20,379 |
I replace valve cover gaskets every 50K, if they don't need them sooner...
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,577 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,577 Likes: 2 |
Where were you yesterday?
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