Originally Posted by
Jeff Michel
Why wouldn't it? There isn't anything mystical about an old gun. The firearms today are built of far better materials than was available even 50 years ago. They crank them out fast today because they can. These processes weren't available in the past but don't think John Moses or Oliver Winchester wouldn't of jumped at the chance. Everything wears out with use and not everything produced by the hand of man 100 years ago is something to be held in reverence. Labor was the coin of the realm and hand fitting was the normal part of the process. People walked a lot more back then too. Technology will always move forward. As pointed out prior, it could be just plain old used, broke in and that does enhance reliability
and "smoothness". You can pay a pro to tune it up or pay the manufacturer to do it, either way the end result will be the same. If you take the time to compare the cost of that old Colt or Winchester back in 1900 and what the average worker was paid and it will be pretty plain that guns were a lot more expensive compared to today's wages and basic costs of the average off the shelf firearm. You also have to consider where exactly is the skilled labor force going to come from that will hand craft your new pistola at a reasonable cost? Heck, I can't even find anyone that wants to run gutters at my house. Sorry if this sounded like a rant, I like the old ones a well as anyone but I'm quite content with my Ubertis, Marlins and Miroku
Winchesters. But since I never had a brand new 125 year Winchester to compare current production to, the comparison between old and new will continue.