Were older guns made better than modern ones?

[Alan]

I’ve been thinking about this lately, were older firearms really made with better craftsmanship and longevity or do today’s materials and machining actually win out?

 

[RHGun]

Older quality guns were made better as gunsmiths actually fit and assembled them. Today with the advent of MIM (metal injection molding)process for manufacturing no so good with no gunsmiths assembling them.

 

[Mogulmasher]

I'd say they are made better for sure. I own a AH Fox Sterlingworth 12ga double from 1917 and that gun operates smoother then just about any brand new gun I've ever held. The quality and fit of the parts is pretty impressive, it is just put together so well.

 

[Alan]

Older quality guns were made better as gunsmiths actually fit and assembled them. Today with the advent of MIM (metal injection molding)process for manufacturing no so good with no gunsmiths assembling them.

You’re right...hand‑fitting made a huge difference. MIM and modern production methods have their place but they don’t replace the feel of parts that were individually matched and tuned

 

[Alan]

I'd say they are made better for sure. I own a AH Fox Sterlingworth 12ga double from 1917 and that gun operates smoother then just about any brand new gun I've ever held. The quality and fit of the parts is pretty impressive, it is just put together so well.

Some of those early doubles were built with such care that even a century later they feel unbelievably smooth. It is pretty hard to replicate that level of fit today.