The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: odyssey1 on September 09, 2009, 01:09:24 PM
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As nice as it is to pull the guns out of the safe from time to time when I can't make it to the range, I just can't imagine not truly appreciating a firearm without shooting it. To me, it's like owning a sports car but never driving it.
If shooting a gun depreciates the value in any way, I'm not really concerned because all of my toys go to my kids anyway when my time comes. I traded enough guns when I began the sport and have regretted every single one of them.
How do you feel?
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Amen!
I spend far too much money on custom blasters, then shoot them until they get wear marks. That's what ther're for!
Michael B
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No point in owning one if you can't shoot it ;D
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A Glock in the hand is worth two in the safe!
*I actually do own a safe queen.... it is a beat to hell, Colt wheel gun that has about 10% of its Chrome finish still on it. I have never shot the gun and probably never will because I have never been able to find a box of ammo for it for less then $35 (.38 S&W). I just cant see paying that much just to say that I have shot it. It is a family gun that I will someday pass on. Until that day comes it will remain a bottom dweller in my safe.
**Oh, and I do have a black powder new army revolver that was my grandfather's. It has only been to the range once (after he died), and it will some day be passed on also. I wont fire it either because I hate black powder....... It is such a pain in the butt that it takes all the fun out of shooting for me.
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A Glock in the hand is worth two in the safe!
*I actually do own a safe queen.... it is a beat to hell, Colt wheel gun that has about 10% of its stainless steel finish still on it. I have never shot the gun and probably never will because I have never been able to find a box of ammo for it for less then $35 (.38 S&W). I just cant see paying that much just to say that I have shot it. It is a family gun that I will someday pass on. Until that day comes it will remain a bottom dweller in my safe.
Stainless steel is a material, not a finish, are you sure you don't mean chrome, which is a plating and CAN be worn off ?
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Stainless steel is a material, not a finish, are you sure you don't mean chrome, which is a plating and CAN be worn off ?
Sure, why not ;D
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If it's that worn is it SAFE to shoot with modern ammo ?
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If it's that worn is it SAFE to shoot with modern ammo ?
It looks like it would be.
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+100! Why own a car you can't drive or a gun you can't shoot? Why did you buy it in the first place? There are actually idiots out there who pay big bucks for "collectible" bottles of wine from famous years andwould never think of drinking it. For all they know it could be full of Mad Dog, and might as well be for all the good it does them. I shoot the heck out of my greatgrandad's Parker. Its an irreplaceable family heirloom. Someday it will break and I probably won't be able to get it fixed. So what? What good is it if its not shot? Everything comes with an expiration date, including us. If you don't use it before then, you're missing the point.
FQ13
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I have to admit there are three rifles, a shotgun, and a pistol in my safe that DO NOT move. Mind you they are mostly the wife's from her mother and she will NOT part with them. The rifles are 22s that haven't been out in about 5 years but may head out eventually. The shotgun is a rusty old Mossberg 500 kept for the same reason. I firmly believe it is beyond economical repair but she won't get rid of it. The remaining rifle and the pistol are 22s for the kids to learn on. The oldest has graduated from the Single Six to an M&P9/1911 and AR and the youngest isn't QUITE ready to go to the range so they sit. The rest get pulled out when I get a chance.
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I have to admit there are three rifles, a shotgun, and a pistol in my safe that DO NOT move. Mind you they are mostly the wife's from her mother and she will NOT part with them. The rifles are 22s that haven't been out in about 5 years but may head out eventually. The shotgun is a rusty old Mossberg 500 kept for the same reason. I firmly believe it is beyond economical repair but she won't get rid of it. The remaining rifle and the pistol are 22s for the kids to learn on. The oldest has graduated from the Single Six to an M&P9/1911 and AR and the youngest isn't QUITE ready to go to the range so they sit. The rest get pulled out when I get a chance.
Those 2 are just "resting" ;D
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I shoot 'em all. Can't afford and safe queens. though my 30 cal doesn't get out much due to mag problems. They just don't want to seat properly..will have it looked at when I have some cash.
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I don't have a safe! 8)
I have a vault! ;D
Besides, I like girls, I'll leave the queens to Bawny Fwank!!!!! :D
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I never say never, but so far every one of them has and will continue to be shot. I love opening the owners manual and seeing that first phrase that says "To maintain optimum collector value, Do Not Fire or operate the action excessively." Normally I respond with an "oops," because I've already fired the gun. Or, I just laugh and turn the page ;D
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I have 2, one is not safe too shoot(damascus barrels) The other is very hard to get ammo for.( 5mm rem mag) it still gets shot, but only about once a year.
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I rotate through the "inventory", ammo prices have not helped with the frequency though,... :-\
Price a box of S&W .460's lately??? :'(
I do shoot them, that's why I got them.....But some just not as often as I would like....
I have an old Ward's Western Field Bolt Action .410, that was a hand down from my Grandfather. It still shoots great. Haven;t shot that one in a while....
Hmmmm.... ::)
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No queens for me either! Shoot them all, just wish I could more often. :-\
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I have one that will always be a safe queen, if not a wall hanger. Of course, it is a 1835 percussion cap half-stock musket of dubious (as in no) safety to shoot. It was my late brother's, I got it from his estate. It ain't going anywhere except maybe on a wall someday with the podwer horn my great uncle made.
Two others I am selling just because they have become queens. The rest I need to get out and dust them off before it starts snowing. I think that's planned for next week up here, will keep you all posted.
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I have one that will always be a safe queen, if not a wall hanger. Of course, it is a 1835 percussion cap half-stock musket of dubious (as in no) safety to shoot. It was my late brother's, I got it from his estate. It ain't going anywhere except maybe on a wall someday with the podwer horn my great uncle made.
Two others I am selling just because they have become queens. The r4est I need to get out and dust them off before it starts snowing. I think that's planned for next week up here, will keep you all posted.
Better there than here. ;D
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I really hate having safe queens. I do admit to having maybe 5. A few are Ruger 50th Anniversary guns that I occasionally tell myself that there are so many made that I may as well shoot them. Fortunately, I have the same guns in standard editions, so I am able to quench the thirst. I have a Luger that my mom's uncle killed a german for - even has a little stain that looks like blood on the grips. I have other 9mm's that are more fun to shoot. Lastly, I have a Colt Boa that my dad gave me. Other than the test firing at the factory, it's never been fired. My dad bought 3 with sequential serial numbers and gave 1 to each of his sons, as long as we promised to not shoot them. They are beauties to get out and look at once in a while. I have a Colt Anaconda that does get shot, but is in immaculate condition and I've considered crowning it a queen, because of it's increasing value, but so far she's still a shooter.
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I have one that will always be a safe queen, if not a wall hanger. Of course, it is a 1835 percussion cap half-stock musket of dubious (as in no) safety to shoot. It was my late brother's, I got it from his estate. It ain't going anywhere except maybe on a wall someday with the podwer horn my great uncle made.
Two others I am selling just because they have become queens. The rest I need to get out and dust them off before it starts snowing. I think that's planned for next week up here, will keep you all posted.
Path, I REALLY hope you mean the shooting, not the snow. :o
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Yeah, Ok, I'm guilty. I DO have a safe queen and its gonna stay one.
It's a stainless S&W 357 magnum, Washington State Law Enforcement Commemorative. It's never been shot and still sits in it's wood and etched glass box. I have enough other ones to shoot, so its ok if it just sits there and looks good. ;D
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Stainless steel is a material, not a finish, are you sure you don't mean chrome, which is a plating and CAN be worn off ?
PICK, PICK,PICK , give a guy a break. you must be single. ;D
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I do have one safe queen. Its my grandpas S&W Victory model he brought home in 1945. That gun is locked away with his service papers and medals. That gun is but far my favortive piece of family history.
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I have no problem with heirloom safe queens but I cannot imagine buying one.
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PICK, PICK,PICK , give a guy a break. you must be single. ;D
What EVER gave you THAT idea ;D
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I also confess to having a couple of safe queens, but, hey, they were bought as investments.
I have plenty of others to shoot and I don't always get around to all of them. All guns are good. I hope to get quite a few more and make it even harder to keep up. ;D
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Every gun I've got was bought for a purpose. I wish I had money for safe queens though. ;) Don't know if I could ever sell a gun I own, my Remington 700 .270 has been used by five of my ten little brothers to take a deer, my P220 was my old man's LE service pistol, my Remington 870 Express was my first gun purchase at the age of twelve, and my LE issue Mini doesn't have as much personal and family history but its the only carbine I got. Maybe when I'm able to collect a wider collection I'll be able to comprehend selling a gun.
Should we declare all heirloom safe queens forgiven? I still think that they deserve to get shot every once and a while though.
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Every gun I've got was bought for a purpose. I wish I had money for safe queens though. ;) Don't know if I could ever sell a gun I own, my Remington 700 .270 has been used by five of my ten little brothers to take a deer, my P220 was my old man's LE service pistol, my Remington 870 Express was my first gun purchase at the age of twelve, and my LE issue Mini doesn't have as much personal and family history but its the only carbine I got. Maybe when I'm able to collect a wider collection I'll be able to comprehend selling a gun.
Should we declare all heirloom safe queens forgiven? I still think that they deserve to get shot every once and a while though.
OK, Heirlooms, Investments (gun stuff went up while the stock market went down) Hard to find ammo or no longer safe (Yes TAB, I'm letting you off the hook).
Another category of safe queen is the one that has no real "Meaning" for you, beyond you like it, but it just doesn't get shot any more, those are the ones that should probably get sold to buy ammo for the ones you DO shoot.
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OK, Heirlooms, Investments (gun stuff went up while the stock market went down) Hard to find ammo or no longer safe (Yes TAB, I'm letting you off the hook).
Another category of safe queen is the one that has no real "Meaning" for you, beyond you like it, but it just doesn't get shot any more, those are the ones that should probably get sold to buy ammo for the ones you DO shoot.
And shockingly, Tom and I agree 100%. I lost out on a sweet unfired AYA #2 at a gun show because the private dealer would only take cash and he wanted six bills (on a 3K shot gun). By the time I made it to an ATM and back with the extra hundred (I only had 5 in cash) someone else had bought it. That gun was meant to be bought and traded. I wouldn't have shot it, hell I would have probably traded it before I left the show. Like wise I will inheirit my great grandads damascus Webley. I won't sell it and won't shoot it either (I value my my life). Beyond this though, they might as well be airsoft if you don't shoot them.
FQ13
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I don't think it's anyones business what I do or do not do with my guns. If I want to hold them hostage in a safe so be it.
I have bought guns that I have no intention of firing. but I buy them because I want them. I like guns.
They are not necessarily safe queens, and I could possibly shoot them some day, or maybe not. I would never consider selling a gun once I have it. Perhaps some day if I'm destitute I may reconsider.
I have kept every gun I have ever purchased or been given (passed down from my father) except two. A .22 semi-auto rifle that I bought for $30 new and traded it for a set of mags for my 68 GTO in 1970. I thought at the time it was a pretty good deal, but what do 17 yr olds know?.
If I hadn't made the trade I would still have the rifle. The GTO is long gone.
The other gun that I no longer have is a Remington 742 30.06 that I gave to my son this year that belonged to my father and thought my son would like to have as a remembrance of his grandfather.
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I don't think it's anyones business what I do or do not do with my guns. If I want to hold them hostage in a safe so be it.
I have bought guns that I have no intention of firing. but I buy them because I want them. I like guns.
They are not necessarily safe queens, and I could possibly shoot them some day, or maybe not. I would never consider selling a gun once I have it. Perhaps some day if I'm destitute I may reconsider.
I have kept every gun I have ever purchased or been given (passed down from my father) except two. A .22 semi-auto rifle that I bought for $30 new and traded it for a set of mags for my 68 GTO in 1970. I thought at the time it was a pretty good deal, but what do 17 yr olds know?.
If I hadn't made the trade I would still have the rifle. The GTO is long gone.
The other gun that I no longer have is a Remington 742 30.06 that I gave to my son this year that belonged to my father and thought my son would like to have as a remembrance of his grandfather.
That first line might have come across grumpier than you intended, or not.
Truth is none of us really give a crap about what the others do with their guns (unless we miss out on "THE DEAL" ) But we have kind of warn out the Glock/1911, 9mm/.45 arguments so we're kind of reduced to safe queens.
Got a better subject to argue about on a slow day ? Start a thread about, I know I'm not the only one here with LOTS of opinions ;D
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That first line might have come across grumpier than you intended, or not.
Truth is none of us really give a crap about what the others do with their guns (unless we miss out on "THE DEAL" ) But we have kind of warn out the Glock/1911, 9mm/.45 arguments so we're kind of reduced to safe queens.
Got a better subject to argue about on a slow day ? Start a thread about, I know I'm not the only one here with LOTS of opinions ;D
Hey Tom, I am a grumpy old fart........ and isn't it past your bedtime?
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I don't think it's anyones business what I do or do not do with my guns. If I want to hold them hostage in a safe so be it.
I have bought guns that I have no intention of firing. but I buy them because I want them. I like guns.
They are not necessarily safe queens, and I could possibly shoot them some day, or maybe not. I would never consider selling a gun once I have it. Perhaps some day if I'm destitute I may reconsider.
I have kept every gun I have ever purchased or been given (passed down from my father) except two. A .22 semi-auto rifle that I bought for $30 new and traded it for a set of mags for my 68 GTO in 1970. I thought at the time it was a pretty good deal, but what do 17 yr olds know?.
If I hadn't made the trade I would still have the rifle. The GTO is long gone.
The other gun that I no longer have is a Remington 742 30.06 that I gave to my son this year that belonged to my father and thought my son would like to have as a remembrance of his grandfather.
This was a nice post, and it caused me to a bit of soul searching. My family has shrunk a bit in the last few years and I am the last male heir on my my mom's side . Not that gender matters, as my two female cousins are vegetarians who would rather own a pet rattlesnake than a gun (drama majors ::)). The pont is I wound up inheiriting a fair bit of hardware. Those who follow my posts know that I have not been shy about selling it off and buying new guns that I want. I am now finished. I would be a lying weasel if I said I have everything I want, but I do think I have what I need. I still want a 1911 and I am simply easy when it comes to SxS shotguns. That said, for the first time in my my life I think I have what I need as far as a battery goes except for maybe a big bore revolver. Still, I traded a lot of guns based on what I wanted, not based on my idea of how nice it was to own them. I could have sold other stuff to pay for those trades. As David said, that stuff would probably be gone 15 years from now, but I still would have had the gun. I already regret trading in a Bond Derringer. It was a stupid call that I won't make again. The Glock I got is a better gun and much more practical, but if I'd traded a flyrod instead, I would have had a nice little .357 that I could hide in a pair of Levi's. Seller's remorse is a terrible thing. BUT it's easily prevented. Don't sell. :-\
FQ13 who is better armed, all things considered, but still a bit sad about what I traded away
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This was a nice post, and it caused me to a bit of soul searching. My family has shrunk a bit in the last few years and I am the last male heir on my my mom's side . Not that gender matters, as my two female cousins are vegetarians who would rather own a pet rattlesnake than a gun (drama majors ::)). The pont is I wound up inheiriting a fair bit of hardware. Those who follow my posts know that I have not been shy about selling it off and buying new guns that I want. I am now finished. I would be a lying weasel if I said I have everything I want, but I do think I have what I need. I still want a 1911 and I am simply easy when it comes to SxS shotguns. That said, for the first time in my my life I think I have what I need as far as a battery goes except for maybe a big bore revolver. Still, I traded a lot of guns based on what I wanted, not based on my idea of how nice it was to own them. I could have sold other stuff to pay for those trades. As David said, that stuff would probably be gone 15 years from now, but I still would have had the gun. I already regret trading in a Bond Derringer. It was a stupid call that I won't make again. The Glock I got is a better gun and much more practical, but if I'd traded a flyrod instead, I would have had a nice little .357 that I could hide in a pair of Levi's. Seller's remorse is a terrible thing. BUT it's easily prevented. Don't sell. :-\
FQ13 who is better armed, all things considered, but still a bit sad about what I traded away
You shocked me!!!! I thought you would be the one (besides Tom) that would give me a ration of crap over my post.
I really appreciate that you came back with a thoughtful reply..... my hat is off to you.
And Tom, go to bed.
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Hey Tom, I am a grumpy old fart........ and isn't it past your bedtime?
Second shift for 18 years, now I just crash when I'm tired ;D
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Second shift for 18 years, now I just crash when I'm tired ;D
I know what you mean about shift work. I worked a lot of shift work in my life working in the power industry. It got harder the older I got. I'm thankful to have a day job now but I still have a hard time sleeping at night, I seem to get most of my energy after 6pm and I'm ready for bed about 4am. I find I need an afternoon nap to keep me going now days.
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I ALMOST did get one once. It was an 1873 Springfield Trapdoor. It was fun to handle because it was something that normally you don't get to see other than behind glass in a musuem. IF I would have had the thousand they wanted for it I would have done it. I don't think I would have fired it.
The other one I would have as a Safe queen if I could find it is the Carbine my grandpa carried in WWII
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I've only sold 2 guns ever. They were 2 Beretta 92's. One "blue" and the other stainless. Both were crap out of the box. The matte one had a hammer that didn't fit and wouldn't function. I took it to their service center locally and they replaced it with a crappy hammer that didn't look like the rest of the gun. The other had a trigger that wouldn't operate without enough force to bend it. I had it worked on - poorly. Neither gun was ever right, so I traded up to a Glock 19 and my new Mossberg with the money from the other 2.
The only other gun I've ever been parted from was a Remington Nylon 66 that was stolen from my car. That was in '94 and I'm still a little heartbroken over that one. I'd have shot that one to death. It was my favorite .22 ever.
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What EVER gave you THAT idea ;D
All 10,137 of your posts
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I have a few I haven't shot....that sit in the safe and come out to be admired from time to time. Not that I won't shoot them, there just isn't time or the right time.
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All 10,137 of your posts
;D
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I guess I have some safe queens. There were some I just had to have. Then there are some that I just haven't had the time or ammo to shoot. There are some unfired ones that I bought because they were such a good deal I couldn't pass up. The way the economy has gone they may not have been a bad investment, but were not bought for that intended purpose. I haven't shot those with the thought that I could use them for trading purposes to get others that I think I want more. Then I have a hard time convincing myself to part with them. I can only recall selling one gun and that was because it just didn't fit my hand well. I did give a few away though. I had gotten a really sweet deal on some of the Romainian .22 trainers at one time and used a few as Christmas presents as I had intended. Hello, my name is Wolfe and I'm a gunaholic. Is there a twelve step program? I'm sure some antis think the reason for my love of things that go bang is that I must have a complex about inadequate body sized parts or something. But that is their problem.
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I guess I have some safe queens. There were some I just had to have. Then there are some that I just haven't had the time or ammo to shoot. There are some unfired ones that I bought because they were such a good deal I couldn't pass up. The way the economy has gone they may not have been a bad investment, but were not bought for that intended purpose. I haven't shot those with the thought that I could use them for trading purposes to get others that I think I want more. Then I have a hard time convincing myself to part with them. I can only recall selling one gun and that was because it just didn't fit my hand well. I did give a few away though. I had gotten a really sweet deal on some of the Romainian .22 trainers at one time and used a few as Christmas presents as I had intended. Hello, my name is Wolfe and I'm a gunaholic. Is there a twelve step program? I'm sure some antis think the reason for my love of things that go bang is that I must have a complex about inadequate body sized parts or something. But that is their problem.
Yes, but only if you park right in front of the gun store and it's 8 steps to the gun counter
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No safe queens, but I have a few 1911's that could be confused as 'queens' because they still look new....even though they are over 20 years old and have been shot a lot......I just maintain them well, even if I shoot the hell out of them.
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No safe queens, but I have a few 1911's that could be confused as 'queens' because they still look new....even though they are over 20 years old and have been shot a lot......I just maintain them well, even if I shoot the hell out of them.
Awww now...that's just braggin'.
What kind of bore cleaner do you use?
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Awww now...that's just braggin'.
What kind of bore cleaner do you use?
Good ol' Hoppes No.9.......Kroil.......and a little JB Bore Bright....and sometimes, after shooting lead bullets, a Lewis Lead Remover.
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Good ol' Hoppes No.9.......Kroil.......and a little JB Bore Bright....and sometimes, after shooting lead bullets, a Lewis Lead Remover.
Yeah,....nothing quite like the smell of No. 9.