Art? Tool?
As a nation as lot of us have a strong attachment to our firearms. They are mechanical marvels. In the beginning firearms were produced one at a time; it took a talented craftsman to build a firearm. Mass production of firearms started the industrial revolution. Sam Colt – not Henry Ford – was the first to apply the principles of mass manufacturing to firearms.
Today we live in the golden age of the firearm; the options for quality, reliable firearms are almost endless. We like to show off our newest acquisitions. But ultimately, the majority of firearms are tools, not works of art. It’s important to remember that a firearm is a tool. Tools are to be used – not pampered.
A big part of a “first†firearms class is learning how to manipulate the weapon. This includes empty reloads. The pistol or rifle runs empty. Old mag out, new mag in and you chamber a fresh round. The “old†magazine, which is empty, is dumped on the ground. Unless you’re in the military, where you won’t be re-supplied with fresh mags, that empty magazine has no use. Retaining an empty mag takes time; getting the weapon loaded is more important.
A lot of students have never let their empty mag hit the ground. “But won’t it get scratched?†they ask. The thought of scratching or adding blemishes to their equipment never crossed their mind. The same is true when we have them ground their weapons on the deck. They gently set them down, face grimacing as the gravel makes contact with the weapon.
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