Speaking of art and science...

[Brad]

Oldenburg did some interesting sculpture. My wife is a fan of him, Henry Moore, and most of all Brancusi.

Art isn't a whole lot different from guns. Some like one thing, others something different. Some like milsurps, some prefer old western guns, some prefer a plastic fantastic handgun. In the end it is the pleasure of the end user that matters.

 

[freebullet]

Some like milsurps, some prefer old western guns, some prefer a plastic fantastic handgun.

Yes, yes, yes, & yes.....aww dang, that makes me realize something.....

 

[smokeywolf]

I'm a connoisseur of metal and wood work. Don't think I'll ever grow to appreciate the plastic guns.

I marvel at the fit and finish machinists were able to produce back in the 19th century and prior.

 

[Rally Hess]

I love a good piece of wood on a gun, but have come to appreciate the plastic versions for working guns. Hard to watch a nice piece of wood bounce around in a boat or a water dog shake muskeg off onto a pretty shotgun. I have a Ruger 10/22 SS, that wears a Hogue stock made like the Mono grip pistol grips. I can set it on a seat and it stays there, and water is of little concern. Little beaver blood or urine get on it, no worries.

 

[Pistolero]

Brad,

Has your wife been to the Nelson-Atkins Museum here in KC? They have the Shuttlecocks and a bunch
of Henry Moore's sculptures in the outdoor park areas. I kind of enjoy Moore's work, but wouldn't ever
claim to understand it. She would probably enjoy a visit if she hasn't been. I might be able to get a short
visit into the conservation dept if I get some notice. Great folks and always fun to see what they are
restoring.

I have a couple of plastic guns, consider them soul-less tools, at best. Kinda like a good condition Stanley
jack plane from 1920 compared to a Craftsman belt sander from 2010. Both will pretty much do the same
job, but one is so, SO much nicer in the hand, and peeling of a long, thin, smooooooth ribbon of hardwood
with a razor sharp blade is just somehow BETTER. I do use the belt sander when I need to just get some
stuff done, but there is a certain warm enjoyment of a jack plane, too.

Like a double tap with a good, well broken in (say 40,000 rds or so) 1911 compared to the same thing with
my M&P 45. Both will get the job done, BUT......

Bill

 

[Brad]

We have been to the Nelson Atkins a few times. She enjoys the scultpure garden. We have also been to Spoonbridge in Minneapolis.
My wife enjoys the renassaince era sculptures but is a huge fan of more stylized works and loves the impressionist era painters.
I've seen my share of churches in Italy, inside and out. I'm oddly familiar with many situations types of painting and canidentify a Degas dancer in a heartbeat.

My scientific mind doesn't always "get it" but I can appreciate the talent it took to create it.

 

[Pistolero]

OK, I figured she would like the garden with all the Henry Moore's. The Shuttlecocks and the
Greek lion were my biggest jobs there. Fun stuff, WAY out of my normal engineering.

Bill

 

[Ian]

In my line of work, "degas" is what the pressurized coolant recovery tanks are called.

 

[Brad]

We even went to Paris and saw Princess X by Brancusi. Supposedly an abstract rendering of Marie Bonaparte but that isn't what it looks like to most.