Yes, most self defense shootings are up close and personal. What if you end up in an unusual situation like a Vegas or church shooting? I realize the odds are slim but having been I pilot I believe in preparing for the worse possible scenario.
Well, this has been a fun thread .
I have blued, stainless and what Star called Starvelle (which is really shiny and hard but doesn't seem to smudge at all). If you're in handgun range the handgun appearance is irrelevant.
When I was a kid, I hunted with my dad's 870 wingmaster. Beautiful shotgun, pretty blueing, pretty wood. I was always scared to death that I was going to scratch it or nick it. I decided back then that when I could buy my own guns, my working guns would be plain and if they got beat to hell, they got beat to hell.
If my edc was a pretty gun, I would be concerned with keeping it pretty and that would reduce it's utility as a defensive tool. I carry a glock 19. It started life ugly and is now all scratched up with a few nicks and the finish wore off it here and there. It would not win any beauty pageants, but I have ran a few boxes of ammo through it and I would bet my life on it.
How much training have you had, and how much practice this year?
Guess that was the point of the entire thread. I see folks worried about the idiot mark on their 1911 etc. It is fine if you are a collector in search of rare firearms but by golly. If you have one for self defense take it out and use it and practice. Don't worry about some little mark or scratch. I carry several different platforms. My favorite is a 1911 that looks like hell. Bought it brand new in the year 2000. Never had a failure of any kind and wore out the barrel. Took it to Springfield in person and they replaced it while I waited. Still functions flawless. BTW, if I were to see a used handgun with total honest wear I wouldn't hesitate to buy it if the thing was what I wanted. It is an indication that somebody sure trusted it. Call me facetious or sarcastic.
I was told by a ancient LEO that nickel plated weapons were used to intimidate. Thus the reason for their popularity among LEO's and pimps.
I carry a nickel plated M19 often and I have never been attacked so it must be effective?
Did some Googleing
It seems back in the day the theory right or wrong. Was that a nickel plated shiny weapon would let the bad guy know you were armed thus he or she would flee.
Criminals often carried shiny weapons to "show off" they were armed.
I recently went to Whittaker guns they had a polished Remington R1 with Pearl grips. It stood out among all the other 1911 models. It screamed buy me don't let your wife say "why do you need another pistol"
Personally like Gunsite myself. Been there. Now if I can only find that darn graditation certificate.
I've got to call BS on this...45acp is low pressure low velocity and VERY barrel friendly. Most going easily 80k+ before even showing signs of accuracy loss. Unless you're doing frequent rapid fire mag dumps for several hundred rounds at a time until the barrel is glowing red, I find it hard to believe that you went even 50k without one single malfunction.