What is happening to me!!! Going from modern to vintage?
When I became 21 years old I started buying the modern AR-15, AR-10, AK-47, CETME rifles because they were so cool. Now, I am 23 years old and these “modern” rifles I bought are starting to bore me. I started getting interested in Springfield 1903, 7mm Mexican Mauser, Mosin Nagant 91/30, Lee Enfield .303, and so on.
Is this normal? What is happening to me? I am going from admiring modern rifles to buying old vintage battle rifles?
Well, for one, the older guns are cheaper.
However, outside of that a second very simple answer is – you now have most of the interesting modern guns you want, and are realizing that the differences between them in many cases in nuanced and not extreme. So you are getting interested in things you don’t have.
Third, there is some truly classic history around the older rifles. Not that there isn’t interesting history around the M-16, but for some it pales in comparison to something like the Mosin Nagant.
Here’s a pretty funny tongue in cheek comparison of the M-16, AK47 and Mosin Nagant:
http://www.mouseguns.com/compare.htm
My favorite is the line that says:
“Your rifle can be used by any two bit nation’s most illiterate conscripts to fight elite forces worldwide (AK47). Your rifle is used by elite forces worldwide to fight two bit nations most illiterate conscripts (M-16). Your rifle has fought against itself and won every time (Mosin Nagant).”
While tongue in cheek it does make the point that the older guns with classic battle proven designs have been represented in the history of war in many, many places. Something that newer designs are doing and in other 30 or 40 years probably will come to equal, but as of right now don’t quite have that historical depth.
Thinkingblade
Vintage Chupa Taco Commercial (courtesy DitherCorp.)
