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Posted By: MS9x56 Can a rifle have soul? - 04/10/20
I have a few guns that just speak to me when I use them. They fit like a fine suit of clothes or a well worn pair of jeans. You don't hAve to wonder if you can make the shot you just know you will. I often wonder when I am handling them where they have been or what they have killed. Yes to me some guns do have a soul. Your thoughts and experiences?
Posted By: Jericho Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
Every now and then when I handle an old rifle, I often wonder if this thing could talk? The places its been, the people who owned it, the game that it has taken, etc
Posted By: IMR4350 Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
I have a rifle and a shot gun that are over a 100 years old. I often ask myself the same questions. I bet they have some interesting stories if only they could talk.
Posted By: HawkCreek Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
My Winchester 1895SRC speaks to me. Before I got it I'd never once given though to moose hunting or hunting any sort of mountain sheep or goat. But everytime I pick it up (which is often since it's one of my go-to rifles) I think i should get a moose tag or get in shape to climb after a sheep or goat. It's my favorite saddle gun and handling it often reminds me of our adventures together.
Posted By: reivertom Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
I think it's just some rifles fit you like a old broke in pair of boots, and not just in size, it's more like they just feel and shoot better for you than your other rifles and it gives you confidence.
Posted By: gunner500 Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
Originally Posted by Jericho
Every now and then when I handle an old rifle, I often wonder if this thing could talk? The places its been, the people who owned it, the game that it has taken, etc


Lord yes they can MS9x56.

And how about 'the people' it's owned Jerico? an old Man, friends with my Gramps, both now deceased, was a rancher out West, he sent me his '94 Winchester 30 WCF that spent over 40 years in his saddle scabbard, the rifle has no bluing or finish left on it, sports pretty good scars on the right side of the action, I have to think from a rockslide or horse wreck.

The rifle wears three notches in the butt stock, I called the old Gent to thank him dearly for the gift, I asked about the notches, he said, "I wont answer that son"............................................how's that for some soul?
Posted By: Poconojack Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20

Absolutely.
Pre 64 model 94’s have soul
Sure it can. Every time I pick up my grandpa's old big bore 94, I think of him. It has soul:

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
Posted By: Sevastopol Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
Originally Posted by reivertom
I think it's just some rifles fit you like a old broke in pair of boots, and not just in size, it's more like they just feel and shoot better for you than your other rifles and it gives you confidence.


Exactly. If your rifle is talking to you, you should probably be institutionalized. :-)
Posted By: Blackheart Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
I don't know that I'd call it soul, maybe character ? Whatever it is, none of my bolt actions seem to have any but my lever actions do.
Posted By: persiandog Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
i have frequent conversations with my guns and dog , they have souls without any doubts.
Posted By: Mathsr Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
I put a little note under the butt plate of some of my rifles with name, address, date and if I hunted with it. I found a note under the butt plate of a Winchester 94 that was made in 1897. I wrote the old gentleman in Massachusetts and got a reply that he had bought the rifle, used, in the 1930's and hunted with it until he got too old. I think he was glad to find out where his old rifle ended up and that it was still being used.

The old Winchester carried some of its history with it when it came my way and some of my rifles do the same thing. After finding the note, I always check to see if some lost history can be reclaimed by a previous owner's note to a future caretaker.

It is the top one in the photo. I'm not sure about soul, but it seems like these days the old 94 Winchester kind of likes hanging out in the gun rack with that sleek little 53 Winchester.

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Posted By: pete53 Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
i have always wondered those same questions, who all owned this rifle ? pistol ? did they shoot some nice animals with this rifle ? has it been to different countries ? i have a old Nazi Luger pistol brought back from Iwo Jima / World War 2,by my old neighbor Mel S. was a 1st waive medic in the Black Panther squad as his wife told the story ,Mel was in a wheel chair and could not longer speak because of a stroke. i look at this pistol i own now and wonder just what did Mel see ,hear ,what and who did he try to save with poor medical equipment , that must have been hell for all these young soldiers ? yes guns try to talk to us,Pete53
Posted By: deerstalker Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
Originally Posted by persiandog
i have frequent conversations with my guns and dog , they have souls without any doubts.

Dogs without a doubt, Guns I think more of an aura obtained by the hands of many users.
I have a 1876 Winchester that was used in a murder, then hidden for 80 years in a fireplace. if any gun would have a soul that one might.
Posted By: pacecars Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/11/20
Shiloh Sharps rifles have soul and so does my Winchester Model 71
Posted By: 5thShock Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/12/20
Not by itself. When in the hands of someone who knows it, who has learned where it strikes and what it does when it hits, then it is alive.
Posted By: hackleback Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/12/20
Don't know about a soul, but I have one in particular that I think is a redhead.
Posted By: 5thShock Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/12/20
What's it like owning a gun you dare not load?
Posted By: pacecars Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/12/20
Originally Posted by 5thShock
What's it like owning a gun you dare not load?


And that the ammo is never big enough?
Posted By: fester Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/21/20
Originally Posted by gunner500
Originally Posted by Jericho
Every now and then when I handle an old rifle, I often wonder if this thing could talk? The places its been, the people who owned it, the game that it has taken, etc


Lord yes they can MS9x56.

And how about 'the people' it's owned Jerico? an old Man, friends with my Gramps, both now deceased, was a rancher out West, he sent me his '94 Winchester 30 WCF that spent over 40 years in his saddle scabbard, the rifle has no bluing or finish left on it, sports pretty good scars on the right side of the action, I have to think from a rockslide or horse wreck.

The rifle wears three notches in the butt stock, I called the old Gent to thank him dearly for the gift, I asked about the notches, he said, "I wont answer that son"............................................how's that for some soul?


Deep:

Send me a shower pic.

Smile........
Posted By: 1Akshooter Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 04/28/20
Only if they are blue steel and walnut.

Shame on me. The custom Mod. 70 "Stainless Classic" .338 Win. in the Bansners stock has been my "go to" for close to 25 years. It has been the most consistently accurate center fire big game rifle I have owned. But, it ain't blue steel and walnut.......
Posted By: Mustang0818 Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 07/20/20
My Savage 99 does. It's a 1927 99F takedown in 30-30 that my Dad passed down to me back in 1960. It's been my brush gun for blacktail since then. Our family album has photos of Dad using it back in the 30s & 40s on deer and elk. So, yes, it has soul and talks to me of days gone by every time I pick it up.
Posted By: RemModel8 Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 07/22/20
No
Posted By: Spotshooter Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 07/22/20

they have RESONANCE.... (how they react to being shot) - but not a soul.
Originally Posted by Jericho
Every now and then when I handle an old rifle, I often wonder if this thing could talk? The places its been, the people who owned it, the game that it has taken, etc


Funny thing,
I have owned such rifles and no buyer ever asked.
Posted By: reivertom Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 08/31/20
Nostalgia and mystic, yes....soul, no.
Posted By: micky Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 09/01/20
I wouldn't call it soul, but maybe flavor or history.
An old rifle definitely has a history and many stories. Some created by people and places far in the past and some by you and me. A blued steel and walnut diary.
Posted By: pete53 Re: Can a rifle have soul? - 09/05/20
a family member just gave me a 1911 officer`s pistol made for the army built in 1913 by colt now this old 1911 i wish it did speak to me .
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