Things are getting out of hand....

Ever had a “side” collection that has gotten out of hand??
Several years ago I picked up a Model 1925 Hartford Arms Co. .22 Semi-Auto. (Basically a pre High-Standard Model B) Of course I had to seek out a HS Model B just to compare the two. (I think the parts may be interchangeable). This was followed by a Colt Pre-Woodsman because they all look very similar.
I always like to have a “Theme” to my collections (however thin….) Anyway, now owning three (three of anything related consists of a “collection”), I decided my collection was “Pre-War .22 Semi-Auto Pistols” and, not wanting to spend too much, I also decided that condition would not be an issue. (After all, this was just for fun.)
My next few additions included a Hartford .22 Single Shot, so now my collection became “Pre-War .22 Semi-Auto Pistols and Single Shots Pistols that look like Semi-Autos”.
About a month or two ago I came into my first foreign born Semi-Auto (A Walther .22 Short Rapid Fire Olympia). Last week I added another scarce one and my collection is now labeled “Pre-War .22 Semi-Auto Pistols, Single Shots Pistols that look like Semi-Autos and a Repeater that looks like a Semi-Auto, but isn’t”.

As long as I would be satisfied with having an example from each company, I thought I was pretty much done other than needing a S&W Straight Line.
(Anybody know where I can find a cheap one??)

Now if I want an example of every model made pre-war, I’m not even half way there…. High Standard alone has 8 or 9 more pre-war models. There are at least a half-dozen foreign models I know of and Colt has 2 or 3 versions of the Woodsman, plus the ACE and Service ACE, either of which are probably worth more than all of my others put together.

Why do we do things like this to ourselves????

Left to right, top to bottom:
Fiala, Model of 1920 (repeater) / Hartford Arms Single Shot
High Standard Model B (Semi) / Hartford Arms Model 1925 (Semi)
Reising Target Model (Semi) / Walther Olympia Schnellfuerer 1936
Colt Pre Woodsman (Semi) / Stevens #10 Single Shot

A very nice looking herd you have there! I know what you mean, I did the same thing with M1 Garand's. I first just wanted a War II Springfield, then a Winchester would be nice as well. Then I thought one from each year of the war would be cool. Well one should have a pre war too. Thought I was done, but wait, there's more, yup, you guessed it more manufacturers to be had with the Korean war models. And finally one really should have a Navy Trophy in 7.62 NATO. Wound up with eighteen of em. Then right before the movie Saving Private Ryan came out (the movie really ran the prices up) I sold all but the pre war and Navy Trophy to buy a new Harley! Oh well, we do have fun though!

Out of hand? Looks like it's well in hand!

I know what you mean. It started with my S&W addiction. I'd find a model or caliber I really liked and before you knew it, I had one in each barrel length.

Right now I seem to be feeding a Walther addiction. I always admired the PPK/s. It was on my "someday, maybe" list. About two years ago I ran across one at a gun show that was LNIB. I had the money, probably paid a little too much, I bought it. Fell in love with the little gun.They are considered classics for a reason, ya know. A few months ago I stumbled across a Model PP .32 cal from an estate that was just too cheap to pass up. Bought that one too. Tomorrow I'm supposed to meet a guy to look at a PPK. I currently have no idea where this is going to go. There's still the .22s and then the TPH is a nice little gun. Oh my! I'm hooked!

And don't even get me started on my 1911s. I lost control of that addiction years ago.

Know the feeling exactly. Always liked the takedown Savage 99's.

One day spotted a 303...and another, then a 30-30... then non-takedowns, there's a nice 300, oooh a 243...need to get a 308. While I'm at it I should get a 22 hi-power & 250 for the rest of the Savage cartridges.....

At least I've never gotten hung up over barrel lengths with my S&W's

I like mil surps. Doesnt matter where they came from just that they shoot a cartridge that I can load for. Argentine,Chilean, Yugo,Persian,Swiss,Swedish, British, Finland and Russian. Then came the bubba'd 1903A3, the 1898 Krag, M1 carbine,M1 Garand, 1943 Ithaca 45,Chilean model of 1912 in 7mm, and a bunch of others I've most likely forgotten about. Handguns mostly S&W,2 Rugers, Beretta, cz82, sig P6. and finally a FN Browning made in Belgium. No ryme or reason if it is in excellent shooting condition I'll grab it. Been doing this for close to 50 years. Now I have to start about thinning the heard. None of my immediate family have no interest in firearms. But you know what?. I have had the pleasure of shooting firearms from the 1870's up until modern rifles in the ar family. Every once in awhile I wondered about the folks that had these firearms prior to me becoming their custodian. Was he a farmer from the midwest, pheasant from the snow capped hills of Finland or Russia?. Did he have a family that he left behind?. I've always been a fan of the Swedish rifles. Accurate, low recoil and very accurate. Kinda OT on this post but I think all of you will understand where I'm coming from. Thanks,Frank

I think all of you will understand where I'm coming from

Click to expand...

Frank, I understand 100%
Years ago I collected military rifles with an emphasis on straight pulls. I must have had 30 or 40 including all but two of the straight pulls. (I also shot all of them. Some were quite a challenge, like a Peabody Martini in 11mm Turkish....)

I was looking in the rifle safe last week and it looks like the mil surps are creeping back in. (or they're breeding in there..)
I currently have about 10 all the way from a couple of trapdoors up to a Garand. I haven't "formalized" them as a collection by giving the accumulation a name other than "A Bunch of Old Milsurps". If I give them a name then I feel obligated to actively pursue more and I really don't need that.

Now they just seem to happen and show up in the safe.....

I don't see a problem, go for it. I really like the looks of that Reising.

Three High Standards and counting . . . . .
Kevin