OldMarksman
Staff
What Alan Ladd's character Shane said that, he was responding to Jean Arthur's character Marian Starrett, who had said "we'd all be much better off if there wasn't a single gun left in this valley".
Even as a nine year old, I was incensed by her words, and I agreed with Shane's response.
Of course, Shane's gun was a beautiful plated Colt Single Action revolver with ivory grips. At the time, I did not notice the missing front sight.
His words took on a different meaning for me as times changed. At some point, our local police officers no longer carried Colt or Smith and Wesson revolvers. I saw on their belts handguns that were black, light alloy and later polymer, that looked like...tools. Rather like staple guns or glue guns.
The grips are often integral to the frames. One cannot order a set of stag or synthetic grips for today's popular service and defensive pistols, not to mention pearl that might be suitable for the proverbial houses of recreation in New Orleans. Nor can one add some tasteful engraving.
No. The most functional of today's weapons for defensive carry are tools, and to me that's all they well ever be.
I just do not enjoy looking at them. For appearance, I would prefer a blued, plated, or case-hardened steel handgun any day, with some nice grips. Doesn't have to be a revolver. Ever see a Colt Woodsman engraved by the late E. C. Prudhomme?
As things have turned out, what I carry now is a tool, and it looks like a tool.
I did not foresee that quite that way when I heard those words sixty five years ago.
End of rant.
Even as a nine year old, I was incensed by her words, and I agreed with Shane's response.
Of course, Shane's gun was a beautiful plated Colt Single Action revolver with ivory grips. At the time, I did not notice the missing front sight.
His words took on a different meaning for me as times changed. At some point, our local police officers no longer carried Colt or Smith and Wesson revolvers. I saw on their belts handguns that were black, light alloy and later polymer, that looked like...tools. Rather like staple guns or glue guns.
The grips are often integral to the frames. One cannot order a set of stag or synthetic grips for today's popular service and defensive pistols, not to mention pearl that might be suitable for the proverbial houses of recreation in New Orleans. Nor can one add some tasteful engraving.
No. The most functional of today's weapons for defensive carry are tools, and to me that's all they well ever be.
I just do not enjoy looking at them. For appearance, I would prefer a blued, plated, or case-hardened steel handgun any day, with some nice grips. Doesn't have to be a revolver. Ever see a Colt Woodsman engraved by the late E. C. Prudhomme?
As things have turned out, what I carry now is a tool, and it looks like a tool.
I did not foresee that quite that way when I heard those words sixty five years ago.
End of rant.