Who carries old vs new?

Taykaim · 07-05-2011, 00:18

My younger brother (he just turned 21 and got his CCW and so has all kinds of CCW related questions) asked me a question last night that I didn't really have a ready answer for.

The question was simple, "Why do you carry that gun?"

I got him to clarify, and the inference was, "Why do you carry that old one when you have so many other newer choices."

My EDC is a second gen G19, issued to me in 1995, Serial "SWXXX US" two pin model. It was not new then, and I've given it a hard life. With the following changes over the years from when it was issued to me till now. Extended slide release, several recoil springs over the years, one trigger spring replaced for no reason. Hogue handall, tritium sights, till they dimmed, then tritium fiber optic sights which are still bright.

That plus around 50k bullets through it and a couple encounters with dirt and gravel, plus over 15 years in various holsters has left it so holster worn that my newer glocks always look just incredibly black and shiny compared to the matte gray my slide had become. It has a number of spots worn smooth where other 2nd gen pistols are textured, shiny spots on the slide where my main EDC holster grabs it. The spot where my finger indexes just past the slide lock is worn smooth.

In short, this old gun has been through a fair bit.

Even though its appearance lacks quite a bit, it doesn't have a rail, or the new style extractor, or any super nifty trigger modifications or aftermarket internals (whoops, the current guide rod is a lightning strike, but thats it).

Is it weird that although I have other 19's, Gen 3's in excellent condition that have never let me down in training or recreational shooting, I have a 23 and a 26 and a 27 and compact and full size 1911s, an XD compact and subcompact, an S&P 40, a keltec p11 and taurus tcp (second most carried gun of mine), Sp 101, a J frame, and a few others suitable for concealed carry, I have this semi irrational attachment to this old gun. Its been through a lot with me, never failed me even once. While I dont actually believe that if I set it aside and start carrying one of the others I'll immediately get in trouble, and have my gun explode or something equally silly, I just don't want to give up old reliable.

I guess what I'm asking, is if any of you guys carry an older gun despite having newer options, or if that just makes me a weird firearm luddite or something.

JuneyBooney · 07-05-2011, 00:27

Tell him because you "like it."

MadMonkey · 07-05-2011, 00:43

Because it works?

Fedor · 07-05-2011, 05:49

Trust.

Lior · 07-05-2011, 06:22

Tell him that Glocks have a 250 year life expectancy.

Toorop · 07-05-2011, 07:19

I like it.

Cheytac · 07-05-2011, 07:26

Why not?

dosei · 07-05-2011, 07:32

Because there is no other gun you own that you are more intimately familiar with and instinctively able to operate.

pizza_pablo · 07-05-2011, 15:34

I carry my newest, a 27. Only because it is the most comfortable and was purposely bought for that role.
If I had an "old" pistol, that performed well, in my hands, I would not deny its carry, simply due to age.

jakebrake · 07-05-2011, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMonkey

Because it works?

and you just happen to own it?

AngelDeville · 07-05-2011, 15:38

So I shouldn't carry my 1954 3" Detective Special?

Just got a G26 so I might carry it once in a while...

but it came with a Tupperware case so it may be too old as well....

collim1 · 07-05-2011, 16:47

I carry a Sig P239 9mm made in 1995. It looks rough from alot of holster wear, but it has significantly less than 50k rounds through it.

I hope to be carrying it still in another 15years. Only thing I have changed is recoil springs and have bought new magazines, although the original ones still work just fine.

HarleyGuy · 07-05-2011, 17:00

I usually carry a G26 but lately I have been carrying a Kel-Tec.32 in a pocket holster mainly due to it being lighter and the weather being hotter.

However, I've been seriously switching over to my S/W 642, 5-shot stainless Airweight. I've had it since '95 or '96 and it's still NIB.
I want to take it to the range and try it out before I start carrying it, but I have NO concens at all over carrying an old "wheel gun" with only 5 bullets.

FireForged · 07-05-2011, 22:57

A pistol from 1995 is old?

HotRoderX · 07-05-2011, 23:17

History and Trust nothing more needs to be said.

collim1 · 07-06-2011, 06:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireForged

A pistol from 1995 is old?

With all the "latest and greatest" that has hit the shelves in the last 5 years, yes it is.

Back then CCW was much more limited. You had a choice between a full size duty pistol or airweight revolver. There was not very much in between back then.

cowboy1964 · 07-06-2011, 06:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by collim1

With all the "latest and greatest" that has hit the shelves in the last 5 years, yes it is.

Back then CCW was much more limited. You had a choice between a full size duty pistol or airweight revolver. There was not very much in between back then.

Baby Glocks came out in 1994 (thank you Bill Clinton!). Of course virtually no one in this country could legally CC any kind of firearm.

dregotglock · 07-06-2011, 08:21

as the saying goes "if it aint broke, why fix it"?

long term reliability is very comforting.

Donn57 · 07-06-2011, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by collim1

With all the "latest and greatest" that has hit the shelves in the last 5 years, yes it is.

You had a choice between a full size duty pistol or airweight revolver. There was not very much in between back then.

Not really. Pocket pistols have been around for a long, long time. The difference is that recently they have become available in more powerful calibers.

Donn57 · 07-06-2011, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy1964

Baby Glocks came out in 1994 (thank you Bill Clinton!). Of course virtually no one in this country could legally CC any kind of firearm.

By 1994, I had been legally CCing for six years. By 1994, there were 20 states that were "shall issue" states.

txgunguy · 07-06-2011, 11:21

I've carried many but I keep going back to my 2nd gen 23. Born in feb 91. Its super reliable and very accurate.

rvrctyrngr · 07-06-2011, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by txgunguy

I've carried many but I keep going back to my 2nd gen 23. Born in feb 91. Its super reliable and very accurate.

Funny. One of my G23s is just slightly older (Aug '90). I bought it in June of '91 as a present to myself returning from Desert Storm...it's on the table next to me as I type this.

***BuckyP*** · 07-07-2011, 06:09

Carry what you're comfortable with. I know a guy who was a detective (now retired) and his departments armorer. He carried a 1929 Colt 1911.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelDeville

So I shouldn't carry my 1954 3" Detective Special?