A thing of the past? No, but they're lacking in practicality. I'm not knocking around a classic blued-and-walnut rifle in the truck, backcountry, or underground. I don't feel bad about beating up a matte/polymer rifle or shotgun.
That's true, but most folks don't knock around their stainless polymer guns either.
Entirely fair. If I'm carrying a weapon while working (climbing waste dumps, shimmying into old workings, hand-mining ore samples, etc.) it tends to get banged up. I'll happily admit to carrying an old S&W revolver while mining - the old ways aren't dead yet.
Originally Posted by Dutch
For sure, my farm and truck guns are all either disposable junk or ss/synthetic.
My upland shotgun was completely redone when I bought it, including re-cut checkering, re blued barrels and re-colorcase hardened the side plates. If I shot waterfowl, the gun would be stainless synthetic.
