Annie Oakley Special tonight on PBS at 9pm.|General Discussions & Questions|Forum|Winchester Collector

I saw that piece some time ago and it is, in part, what I based my opinion on.  It’s an interesting biography and worth watching.  But the only reason any of her guns would be special is because other folks think so.  If I owned one, I’d happily sell it to them (or trade for something else if they had what I wanted).  RIP Little Sure Shot.

clarence said

Huck Riley said
But the only reason any of her guns would be special is because other folks think so.

True, but doesn’t that apply to the guns or other property of ANY celebrity?  Buffalo Bill, Wyatt Earp, Teddy R.?     

Yes, like I said in the original thread: “I wouldn’t even want a gun owned by Wild Bill Hickok if he never used it in a fight.  Teddy Roosevelt has a nice 86 but, well, ho hum as far as I’m concerned.  If I owned any of these guns, I’d sell them and buy a bunch of brown relics with no history simply because they *might* have history.”

Hi Apache.  My attraction is largely aesthetic, but also historical.  

As to the aesthetic, I find myself in a minority, in that I actually, honestly, like guns (and leather) that are dark; both metal and wood.  I like the OBFMCB rifles and the 7.5″ plain Jane SAAs (although I really like the 1851 Colts too).  [As a slight digression, does anyone know why many long guns get dark while most handguns get silver?  I know some Winchesters get silver (I have one) but it seems most old Colts don’t get the dark patina.  Holster wear?  I don’t know.]

As to the history, I like the 1800s U.S west.  Guns served different purposes back then, as they do today.  But the “romance” (if you can call it that) has more to do with people shooting each other than it does people shooting animals, glass balls and what have you.  If a gun is part of that history, I’d prefer it over one that is not.  Also, there are some people I like more than others.  For instance, all other things being equal, I’d take Ringo’s gun over Holiday’s gun.  But that’s just based on my personal, and probably a wrong, BS legendary understanding of the two men.  But I’m okay with being wrong.  None of this is as important as wives who love us, and look out for our health.  

Balancing the two, I’d take the aesthetic over the historical.  In other words, if Ringo also used an 1875 Remington, I’d sell it and buy an old SAA that may or may not have ever been used.

Then there is money:  I’d take a barrel full of one over a single of another.