The case against shiny defensive firearms.

[Spike Jones 5 2002]

The only thing I want "it" to see is the hole under the blade of the site.
Then the puff of the burnt power.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

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.

How much training have you had, and how much practice this year?

 

[The Bubba Effect]

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.

 

[Max Volume]

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.

We have a winner.

 

[Max Volume]

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.

Another winner.

 

[Max Volume]

How much training have you had, and how much practice this year?

Personally like Gunsite myself. Been there. Now if I can only find that darn graditation certificate.

 

[Max Volume]

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.

 

[Max Volume]

An ancient pic of my baby getting a cleaning. Other than wear there is no shiny BBQ gun stuff.

 

[Bigtanker]

I recall Mas Ayoob writing that a shiny pistol makes it more likely to be seen by the bag guy, thus making it know to him sooner and more likely to run.

It's been a few years since I read it.

 

[Max Volume]

^^^^^^ yer sooo behind the times. I've read the latest issue of Handgunner.

 

[Brad69]

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"

 

[71silverbullet]

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'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.

 

[Expat]

It sounds like I need to get something really shiny so that I can try to reflect light into the bad guy's eyes and potentially blind him without having to shoot him in the face.

 

[HoughMade]

[video=youtube;9Jsr53yvyrM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jsr53yvyrM[/video]

 

[indiucky]

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?

Jimmy Rogers liked his "silver mounted gat"



I'm a pistol-packin' papa, and when I walk down the streets
You can hear those mamas shouting "don't turn your gun on me"
Now girls, I'm just a good guy and I'm going to have my fun
And if you don't want to smell my smoke, don't monkey with my gun
Like a hobo when he's hungry, like a drunk man when he's full
I'm a pistol-packin' papa and I know how to shoot the bull
The whole of men don't hold me and they sure leave me be
I'm a pistol-packin' papa and I ramble where I please
Oh well, I have that funny feeling, that luring ramble's call
I swing aboard of some freight train and I shoot my pistol low
Sometimes one shot will do, near sometimes it takes four or five
And sometimes I shoot all around before I'm satisfied

When you hear my pistol puffin' you better hide yourself someplace
'Cause I ain't made for stoppin' and I come for a shootin' race
My sweetheart understands me, she says I'm her big shot
I'm her pistol-packin' daddy and I know I got to drop
You can hear my Newsport roadster, you can take my Hartford hat
But you can never take from me my silver-mounted gat
I'm a pistol-packin' papa and I'm going to have my fun
Just follow me and you will hear the barking of my gun

 

[1775usmarine]

I CC my 3rd Gen S&W's like my 3913. My 4506-1 rides in a shoulder holster.

 

[MCgrease08]

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"

Wouldn't open carry achieve the same results?

 

[HoughMade]

The eternal debate.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Personally like Gunsite myself. Been there. Now if I can only find that darn graditation certificate.

A partial answer, but ok. Did they mention anything that would lead you to believe finish was relevant?

 

[Max Volume]

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.

The rifleing was not the problem. The top barrel lugs started chipping away. It was one of those two piece barrels Springfield used. They replaced it with a one piece barrel.