A few observations.

[mauserman]

As I sit here on Father's Day I'm reminded of one of the most important things mine taught me and my brothers. Think for yourself and test what you are told. Now sometimes that way of doing things runs afoul of the "conventional thinkers", but there is hope!
I have found some of that spirit here on this site. While we have some differing views on some things, one thing stands out. Most if not all of the folks on this site are forward thinking individuals. It is a great relief to see that we are not hung up on the old way of doing things as far as firearms goes.
I talk with people every day who think that the 98 Mauser,pre64 Win, M1 Garand, and so on, are where we reached the pinnacle of refinement. While each of these are really good, there was room for improvement. I have owned just about every design of firearm and can say without a doubt that the systems we talk about on this site some of the most innovative and user friendly firearms in history.
I love the old stuff, but , they are kinda like old girlfriends. They were fun while they lasted, but there was a reason to move on!
As time goes on I'm interested in seeing what those guys with a bunch of pencils in their pockets come up with next. I'm sure we'll see it here first!
JMHO

[thechamp]

Agree. We do have some forward thinkers here. Scary thing is what they could come up with if they had those pencils in their pockets.... Wheres that S&W pistol that has the barrel pointing backwards..... (just for liberals of course)

I think what has driven the innovations in firearms over history is there are always little things that nobody else has thought of that can make the gun either shoot better, feel better, more durable, look better, etc.

I also believe that there is not much innovation here in the states. The gun makers here are stuck in a rutt and have no clue as to what might work better or might just be a better idea. Not sure why it is that way but the Rem 700 is still essentially the same rifle it was when it was born. Model 70 also. Savage, ditto, Marlin, same... Seems like once Roy Weatherby passed on so did American innovation, lest we not forget his old German bud Robert Kleinguenther. Granted we've had some folks design some new cartridges the past 10-20 years that are screamers but not much new on the rifle side of things. We're still stuck here building rifles with new triggers, barrels, and other enhancements on the same actions that our fathers were using and in some cases grandfathers! We might have made it to the moon first.... so far nobody else has really given a rats behind about that either... It has no air, no food, no water - shoot looks a lot to me like what the liberals want to do to America! But we were there first!

The Germans and as well as many other Europeans are hunters from as far back as you can see into history. They have always lived for the 'hunt' and killed much of their own food over time. Maybe it's those long cold winters that gives them the time to dream and implement ideas that not only work but allow them to make some of the finest guns on earth. Either that or they just can't help but want to out do each other. For whatever reasons they do what they do, we're the ones who benefit from their art, which to them it is an ART, not just something to make and sell.

I recall being at a gun show back in the late 90s and there was a dealer there who had an over/under Kreighoff in 375 H&H. The rifle was highly engraved and for the caliber was a very small rifle, almost petite it was that small. He was asking $34,000 for it at the time. He allowed me to pick it up and handle it. The work that went into the rifle was unreal. It was just FINE and as many pretty rifles as I've seen since that one is one I'll never forget. Maybe some day I'll hit the lottery and find another one!

[Corjack]

One of the largest obsticles to free thinking, is the free part, you just can not make a living doing it.