RM Vivas
US Veteran
A burgeoning interest in pre-war N-frames (HD,OD & M1926)
I’ve been nurturing a nascent interest in pre-war N-frames. Aside from enjoying the aesthetic of the shrouded ejector rod, I feel that the HD/OD market is under-valued (relatively speaking to say the RM/NRM market) and will be the next Big Thing.
Initially it was confined to Heavy Duty models, but then I started looking at Outdoorsmans’ and then it metastasized into Model 1926s’ as well.
I see HD, OD and M1926’s in my future (similarly, I also see more overtime and less disposable income; go figure). The question I have now, in a similar vein to the discussion about specialization at this years Symposium, is -how- should I collect these models.
A technical purist would shoot for one of every variation, experimentals, custom ordered, etc. There is merit in this approach and it has a delightfully academic and clinical aspect that appeals to me. It does, however, lack a certain element of soul.
The other option, and one I am leaning towards, is guns that may not be mechanically or developmentally unique, but that tell a story. I’m looking at a trio of 5 inch factory nickel guns up for sale and they are all mechanically unremarkable, serial numbers are spread across production and are, for the most part, just plain Jane nickel 5-inch HD’s. However, 2 letter to little gun shops and one letters to the Alabama Highway Patrol.
I’m thinking that as much as a collection of evolutionary guns appeals to my OCD/compulsive side, I’m thinking a collection that focuses on law enforcement, military used, known competitive shooters, etc. sort of guns might be the way to go. It’s a rather broad category and I suppose I could break it down further and do -just- law enforcement guns, or -just- competitive shooter guns or the like. I like the ideas though of a collection that has a little bit of everything that will appeal a little bit to everybody. Obviously, the only person it has to appeal to is me, but I like the idea of being able to share it with a wide range of people.
I could also very easily see, as time goes by and the collection grows, either I develop a taste for one specific them and go that way (LE guns, competition guns, etc.) or I stay with the broad theme but fold in some of the technical purist stuff.
Thoughts?
Best,
RM Vivas
I’ve been nurturing a nascent interest in pre-war N-frames. Aside from enjoying the aesthetic of the shrouded ejector rod, I feel that the HD/OD market is under-valued (relatively speaking to say the RM/NRM market) and will be the next Big Thing.
Initially it was confined to Heavy Duty models, but then I started looking at Outdoorsmans’ and then it metastasized into Model 1926s’ as well.
I see HD, OD and M1926’s in my future (similarly, I also see more overtime and less disposable income; go figure). The question I have now, in a similar vein to the discussion about specialization at this years Symposium, is -how- should I collect these models.
A technical purist would shoot for one of every variation, experimentals, custom ordered, etc. There is merit in this approach and it has a delightfully academic and clinical aspect that appeals to me. It does, however, lack a certain element of soul.
The other option, and one I am leaning towards, is guns that may not be mechanically or developmentally unique, but that tell a story. I’m looking at a trio of 5 inch factory nickel guns up for sale and they are all mechanically unremarkable, serial numbers are spread across production and are, for the most part, just plain Jane nickel 5-inch HD’s. However, 2 letter to little gun shops and one letters to the Alabama Highway Patrol.
I’m thinking that as much as a collection of evolutionary guns appeals to my OCD/compulsive side, I’m thinking a collection that focuses on law enforcement, military used, known competitive shooters, etc. sort of guns might be the way to go. It’s a rather broad category and I suppose I could break it down further and do -just- law enforcement guns, or -just- competitive shooter guns or the like. I like the ideas though of a collection that has a little bit of everything that will appeal a little bit to everybody. Obviously, the only person it has to appeal to is me, but I like the idea of being able to share it with a wide range of people.
I could also very easily see, as time goes by and the collection grows, either I develop a taste for one specific them and go that way (LE guns, competition guns, etc.) or I stay with the broad theme but fold in some of the technical purist stuff.
Thoughts?
Best,
RM Vivas
