What The Heck, Let's Go OT
 

Sharpsshooter's thread on serial numbers got me to thinking about "gun collecting" vs. "gun acquiring".

Are any of you guys serious collectors of a specific category of fire arm? Not talking muzzleloaders here, but cartridge guns.

I've never collected any particular style, make, or category of gun. But I seem to have acquired a bunch of them. I like single shots and have several - two falling blocks and two bolt actions (though I like the falling block actions more). The only "repeater" rifle I have is a Marlin 1884 lever action in .357 Mag - a really sweet little thing. Military rifles hold no appeal for me, nor do semi-auto's or the whole family of black stock stuff, or even classic bolt actions. In the handgun department I prefer revolvers over semi-autos, though I do have a Colt 1911 Officers Model .45ACP, Ruger Mark I .22 LR, and Walter PPK/S .380. The revolvers include two Rugers (.22 & .41 Mag) and two Rossi's (a .357 & a .44 Special - my absolute favorite). One last handgun, a .38/357 Remington Rolling Block is a hoot to shoot. So as you can see, I have a group, not a collection.

What about you?

If I was a collector it would be custom rifles or hard to find rifles. But I am guilty of acquiring rifles. Am I serious about it? Not anymore.

If I won the lottery i'd own all the original Colt percussion revolvers. I had a couple of Uberti Colt 1860's, but having all the originals would be a dream come true.

I'd have to win the lottery to afford some of them. An original Walker is mighty pricey.

I was doing the Pre-64 Model 70 Winchester thing for awhile - but somewhere along the way lost interest. Now I do not have any down from 4 of them.

I Think the distinction is if you collect guns you can never have to many . Everybody thinks its ok to be a collector. But if you acquire guns and you have quite a few you are considered a hoarder and that is considered unacceptable. Shoot they even consider it a disease or obsessive compulsive behavior so you better quit acquiring guns and start collecting. :s2::s2:

Point taken Sharpsshooter! You're right of course.

I'm a collector doctor. I swear I am. You should see my spectacular collection of discarded defunct items. I'd be happy to show you to my garage's display area.

I never thought of cayugad as a hoarder. However, I think he gets confused on which gun to hunt with sometimes. :p

I am really saddened to hear this. You have been a mentor to so many. I feel betrayed, let down. I hope you find help and can regain your former "collectors" passion. :(:(:s14::confused0024::cry::cry:

Please seek help.:D:D

p.s.
Want to buy a nice Renegade????

Buy a Renegade? I have three or four of them I think. So I will pass. I have actually been looking at a custom flintlock in .54 caliber with all the real good parts. I don't really care if its a fancy carved, shiny brass job. But just to have a real nice flintlock would be the crown to the acquirement (I am not a collector).

As for which gun to hunt with.. which ever one draws my fancy that day. For some reason, I have a real hard time parting with weapons. Now gear I am known to see off, but usually once a weapon finds my home, it has a home for life. I do have some center fire rifles that have not been shot in 30 years... do they count Semisane?

Now that's the cayugad that we all know and love :cool2::cool2:

I feel better already.:woot:

I've also given up on collecting guns. I've tried collecting dollars as well but there is no money in it.

I think one ofthe differences between a collector and acquirer is that the collector buys guns to admire and fondle but not shoot. In the case of collectable revolvers some won't even c0ck the hammer for fear of scratching the cylinder.
Me, I consider myself an acquirer. When I buy a gun, I intend to shoot it. I have a couple that I probably could have been better off not shooting. One is a Ruger Number 1 Tropical; stainless/grey laminate, in .405 Win. They only made this rifle in this configuration for 1 year. They still make it in the blued model but not in the SS.
Another that comes to mind is a Browning 78 with octagon barrel in .45-70. Probably a couple others too.

I'd sure shoot the ones on my list. Guns are meant to shoot, and I could care less about the next guy who owns them.

I'd be a collector/shooter. :D

I started out as a bowhunter so I wanted my centerfire gun to reflect the single shot approach. I went with a Ruger number 1. Then got my knight mk85 in the late 80's. My shotgun is a Beretta 390 and a Winchester 120. About 5 years ago I got interested in pistol shooting and I leaned toward revolvers; ruger gp100 and a smith and wesson 629. Both awesome guns. About 5 months ago I bought a glock 23. This is one fantastic gun.I have an old savage in 22 hornet which is fun to shoot. A ruger 10/22 is my squirrel gun. I did buy a an old marlin 336c in 35 remington which I plan to take deer hunting with me this year. Not collection but a bunch of useful tools each in their own right.

I collect but I am not real serious as my funds are pretty well limited. Its kind of hard to support my habits as well as put a son through college, a daughter through middle school and make moma happy with a new Lincoln MKX plus we just built our new dream/retirement home. I wasn't always a Soldier either...LOL...As of right now I don't know if I will be able to work after my retirement due to injuries that I have sustained...My buddies always tease me about having more metal in me than a 57 Chevy. I had to go in the court house here in Clarksville, TN to take care of some business they give me the pat-down and I just laughed and told'em that the metal was because I was injured in the war. They gave me a funny look and let me through.

Neither a collector nor hoarder. One gun, one job.

One C.F. rifle – Sako L579 Forester .308 (my dad’s, now mine)


One ML rifle – Omega X7 .50 cal (first/only ML)


One 12 gauge – Remington 870 (meat and potatoes gun)


One 20 gauge – Remington Model 17 (Also used to be my dad’s, precursor to the Ithaca 37)


One .22 – Remington Model 552 Semi Auto (first gun, new from my dad, to my mother’s horror – she’s English)


One semi auto pistol – Walther PPK/S Stainless .380 (my Dad’s now mine)


One revolver – Colt King Cobra .357 4” barrel


That’s it. Don’t really need anything else. What I want? Would be nice to pick up another ML, to mainly increase my range work by alternating guns in the heat. Would also like to get a .22 revolver – maybe the Ruger Single Six Convertible in .22/.22mag, just because it’s cool.

I would like to be a collector I guess, but that costs money. There for awhile I found myself buying guns when I had others I hadn't shot yet. I recently sold a lot of them, partly because I needed the money, and partly because it seemed somewhat wasteful. At the same time looking back at it there's a couple that I regret selling.
Right now my stance is that one can't have too many guns. At the same time, I personally can't justify owning one if I don't have a use for it. There's a couple centerfire rifles I would really like to have. Unfortunately the state of MN says where I live I can't hunt with one, so aside from the range I don't know that one would really get used much. So I don't buy centerfire rifles right now.
I'm sure this will change, just where I'm at right now.

And for the record, I would like a nice Renegade.