"Oh, alright, I’ll admit, it's impressive."

Seeing her dual-wielding automatic pistols, each loaded with rounds of opposing elements, crafted with a distinctively old-fashioned design from the 20th century, made me feel a tinge of nervousness.

Moreover, seeing her equipped with such romantic, impractical weapons made me wonder if I’d missed something in choosing my own equipment.

The bolt-action rifle I carried, with its wooden stock and barrel cover, would probably be considered a vintage charm in the 21st century. But by early 20th-century standards—when plastic wasn’t commonly used in mass production—it was just another common rifle. Plus, mine was a …