You know, that funny post about steel vs. plastic set my mind to wander and I've come to realize that in firearms, I'm a sort of pseudo traditionalist. I like traditional features and platforms, but I want modern conveniences.
For example the double action revolvers I like so much are easily 100 years old in design, but I favor stainless steel models with modern rubber grips and modern sights.
On working guns I usually want synthetic and stainless, but I have my fair share of wood and blued too. My small sample really runs the middle of both trends nicely. I've got everything from old blued rifles and shotguns with wooden stocks in traditional designs to a modern flat top AR15.
That doesn't surprise me too much really, because as I mentioned my favorite guns are old designs with modern conveniences, materials, and improvements.
I know a lot of traditionalists. Blued finish and wood stocks on long guns, blued 1911s and revolvers with wooden grips... and I have to admit it looks nice and rustic.
But I'm also well acquainted with people like a good friend of mine who likes black shiny plastic and wants everything to look like it belongs in a movie.
As I sit between the XD and the M1 Carbine, I straddle both worlds however. I guess appearance just doesn't matter as much to me.
Where are you on this spectrum?