For years I’ve been accumulating what many affectionately call “Collectable Shooters.” Best example: a .44 Spl. Triple Lock. Now, with society, economy and gun market turned topsy turvy and inside out, contents of a crowded safe seem but a gaggle of old guns, and - in the house and at the ready - lies a modern, loaded, .40 S&W semi-auto pistol in a newly acquired ready access secure lock box.

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Sounds like my place.
One of the young bucks I work with was over, we were talking about guns, and he asked about Glocks, M&Ps, XDs, and the like.
I said, “I dont have any of those.”
“But I thought you had a bunch of handguns.” He replies.
“I have a lot of handguns, but every one of them is metal and has a hammer”
He shook his head, looks at me for a minute, says “How old ARE you?”

Oh man, have I become an accidental collector. So far my shooting life has had 3 phases. A youthful 20+ years, 20+ years no shooting, but I cared for 8 family pieces while moving around the country, and then becoming born again about 4 years ago. The youthful me was into the then "modern" guns. The born again still loves the firearms which became classic over 40 years. My honey has turned into a fine and competitive enthusiast during the born again phase. So some modern .22s for the start of honey's shooting were acquired (S&W). She I compete in service rifle matches, so Garand's, 1903s,1917s, carbines etc have been aquired. Modern handguns in our household are apparently CZs (metal & hammers). Then a couple years ago my LGS had a 1972 M28. It came home and my life changed. I had kept an M25 for 40 years so I guess I was prone to wheel guns.

Now to my point! Every citizen should own firearms. I do not carry and may soon. I have always believed that my firearms had an ultimate purpose and that purpose is to the benefit of my family, community and nation. We are moving to a new home. We put our gaggley collection into two safes at our gun club while showing our current home. We each picked a handgun to keep at home as the bare minimum. Honey kept her CZ 75SA and I kept my pre-15 Combat Master. How old are we?

My wife recently asked "What are you going to do with all that old junk?"
I said that I would, more than likely, make the pile bigger.

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Foster Positivity.

And when you actually get to shoot alongside one of those young guys, you get to show them just exactly what a dinosaur can do. I've gotten to do just that, and they usually find it humbling.

As the safe nears overfull, I have started to realize that I clearly have enough, but "need" a few more.

Not to toot my own horn, but its well known around my work not to go in with me on a “Lunch Says” bet when it comes to shooting.
I cant hit a golf ball ten feet without endangering someone, but I shoot ok.

They are not a "Gaggle of Old Guns." They're a "Cascade of Classics."

I'm proud of my gaggle of old guns. One is as old as I am, a pre-10 M&P 2", and believe me it's in better mechanical shape. Others are classics - I love the older 70-80's j-frame 36 and 60 family members. Also a 6906 because it is a 6906 - one of Smith's best 3rd gen 9mm's. My "new" ones are "that other company" - Ruger. All are good guns and well made, but not S&W's.

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Heavily armed old man.

For me it's a hobby that keeps me from spending frivolously on things that make money disappear forever. Even after I'm done enjoying them they should hold their value enough to where I'm not losing anything.

I try to spend on a new acquisition as if I'm placing a bet - meaning I don't plan on ever seeing that money again and can afford to lose it with no issue.

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SWCA 3563
10mm aficionado

I started collecting maybe 2 1/2 years ago.
Then over the last 6-9 months I sold just over 1/2 of what I collected.
I'm happy with what I kept. I don't see any more acquisitions in the future.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Sorry, but a .44 Triple Lock, wielded by a true shootist, is a far more capable combat arm than any modern plastic fantastic .40 Short and Weak.

My $0.02.

One of my clubs holds twice a year the "Great Wars Match," which is for military handguns from World War I through World War II, or replicas thereof. That would include military handguns adopted from 1896 through 1945, which means at a minimum would mean designs that are at least 75 years old. I've traditionally used an L-35 Lahti from Finland, but the next time we can have an organized match I may also bring along my .455 Mark VI Webley, which was made over 100 years ago. And of course, we can't forget the 1917 Smith & Wesson revolvers.

[QUOTE=The_Truth;140752305

I try to spend on a new acquisition as if I'm placing a bet - meaning I don't plan on ever seeing that money again and can afford to lose it with no issue.[/QUOTE]

Makes me think great minds think alike. Larry

My oldest son and I like rifles. Long Range Rifles! He's former Army and worked with a bunch of former Marines. They suckered him into a lunch on Fridays for a month bet. When he showed up at the privet range on Saturday for their shoot They had some very nice rifle, Mostly post 2010 AR-15's in 223. He told them that he was shooting a 308 and with the bigger holes groups would need to be based on "Centers", they laughed but agreed. He let them all shot their groups, before he got his Rem, 700 PPS (Retired from Ohio Highway Patrol, Rapid Response Team 2)The other guys shot some nice 1.5" groups at 200 yards, he shot a nice 1" group at 400! Just so there were no hard feelings, He only made them buy lunch one Friday, but it was steak!


Ivan

I always invite the plastic fantastic guys to a range. If around here many are not members so I haul them as quests right to the rifle range and a 100 yard target. LOL. If I go to theirs after showing them at the longest distance of their bay choice I ask for some 100 yd targets. My 45s do alright at 100 because I know where to hold and most of them are set to shoot high at 25 yards anyway, but this is where a 357 or 44 mag really shines against the plastic guns

Some are gun collections.
Some are a collection of guns.

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