How many does it take to be a "collection"?

[flundertaker]

In my mind collectors have something that is very rare or 1 off. By my definition most here are not collectors. I certainly am not despite having more than a few. Accumulation is the better word. Collectors dont do anything to the item that lessens is value. Shooting a gun lessens is value. Racking up miles on a collectors quality car lessens the value.
The more I think about it the more it makes my head ache. Call yourself whatever you want. I'm an accumulator.

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[walkin jack]

The OP has asked a very good question. I believe the answer, if there can be an answer, would be very subjective. I've been giving it some thought and here's what I've come up with.

A gun might be considered a rather unique object. A gun might be used for self defense, target shooting, hunting, for investments, or even just for its esoteric qualities. Just for the pleasure derived from it's ownership. Something you want just for the pleasure of owning it for what ever qualities attracts you to it. I currently own guns for every one of those reasons, some of them for more than just one of those reasons. 12 hand guns and 3 long guns.

My modest little group is no collection by some standards if we go strictly by numbers, I know but I consider it to be one.

But strictly speaking the true definition may be a number of guns of a certain type. Resources not being a problem I would have a "collection" of guns of the old American west. Another "collection" of WWII weaponry etc.

But after all is said and done I expect that we all will define a collection how ever we choose. That works for me.

 

[M3Stuart]

Collections are groups of things that sit around and are admired. Nobody spends their coin collections. People don't put their stamp collections on envelopes to mail their bills. So, if you shoot most of your guns then they are not a collection. Though you may have one or two that you consider too pristine or rare to shoot because you admire them more the way they are.

 

[G-Mac]

Collectors dont do anything to the item that lessens is value. Shooting a gun lessens is value. Racking up miles on a collectors quality car lessens the value.
The more I think about it the more it makes my head ache. Call yourself whatever you want. I'm an accumulator.

So, it's impossible to be a "collector" of "shooter"-grade guns?

 

[flundertaker]

So, it's impossible to be a "collector" of "shooter"-grade guns?

Nope. Accumulator of shooter grade guns. See this is why my head started aching.

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[5-Shot]

A collection begins when you have one more gun than you shoot.

Ed

 

[kozmic]

Nope. Accumulator of shooter grade guns. See this is why my head started aching.

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Sorry not buyin' it! I currently have 37 guitars and play each and everyone one quite often. A lot of them I will throw in a case and take it out to play without hesitation. Many are considered collector pieces by those who know that sorta stuff and most are worth much more than I paid for them. My insurance company calls it a "collection." Coincidently, some of my guns fit the very same criteria.

Sorry, but IMHO, that kinda puts a wrench on your definition.

I have collections therefore, I are a collector.

 

[G-Mac]

Collections are groups of things that sit around and are admired. Nobody spends their coin collections. People don't put their stamp collections on envelopes to mail their bills. So, if you shoot most of your guns then they are not a collection. Though you may have one or two that you consider too pristine or rare to shoot because you admire them more the way they are.

According to Merriam-Webster....

col·lec·tion noun \kə-ˈlek-shən\ : the act or process of getting things from different places and bringing them together

: a group of interesting or beautiful objects brought together in order to show or study them or as a hobby

 

[Cyrano]

I helped out on a case where a Civil War buff carried around the head of a Buffalo Soldier he dug up out of an old Army fort (Fort Craig) and showed it off at gatherings. The head was the center piece of his "collection." Not cool. Not a serial killer though.

That's why they moved all the bodies from Ft Craig cemetery to the National Cemetery at Santa Fe a few years ago.

 

[Cyrano]

I shoot all but a couple of the guns in my collection. As to size: my collection of New Zealand marked guns is all the way up to two: an MLE Mk II*, and an S&W Victory. Actively trying to increase the collection, but no luck so far.

 

[finesse_r]

Just to be safe I would guess any time you hit triple digits it qualifies as a collection to gun owners, and as an terrorist’s arsenal to the ATF.

 

[DR505]

That's why they moved all the bodies from Ft Craig cemetery to the National Cemetery at Santa Fe a few years ago.

Yes, I was there with the anthropologists removing all the remains. It took us quite some time. We found many undocumented (as in not registered, rather than illegal alien) children in the graveyard and actually traced some of their living relatives.

 

[johngalt]

How does multiple copies of the same model count?

The media doesn't get their terminology right. We don't have arsenals, we have armories.

Firearms are manufactured in an arsenal. They are stored in an armory.

 

[sqhead]

When you find one in your safe and you have no idea where it came from,I have a 28-2 and can't for the life of me remember when or where I got it........and for the rest,well,you guessed it,all ruined in the big flood ( tub runneth over )

 

[chief38]

No specific answer to this question. I know "Collector's" that have modest amount of guns and also know shooters who say they are not "Collector's" who have many more. More to do with how you look at yourself and what your priorities are. I truly consider myself partly both.

I think true Collectors focus in on a specific aspect, type or period of guns and when they satisfy that nitch, they expand to the next. Shooters tend to be all over the map whereas one day they might buy a Pump Shotgun and the next day a Revolver then a week later a 1911. The Collector seems to want to own every possible example or type of a certain gun but then again some don't get quite as specific.

I am more confused now then before!

 

[A10]

I'm trying to get two of each Nframe.....but it's not a collection. I have a few really nice ones that folks would want in collections though, but for me it is more amassing than collecting.

 

[HERMAN.40]

I tell my wife, Just ONE more dear, Thats all I need.

 

[TenTea]

In my former life, I was a collector of USGI objects spanning from Span-Am to VN including guns, knives, bayonets, swords, leather goods, web gear, field gear, tools, munitions, uniforms, helmets and accoutrements...with a goal of getting one representative specimen of each *thing*...haha!
Lofty goals for a young man and it was indeed: a collection!
I did shoot all the guns, Trapdoor to AR15.

Now?
The above collection is gone and I have a small *group* of guns I enjoy shooting, playing with and loading for.
I am not a collector, but I am a well provisioned shooter capable of fomenting a resistance...teehee!
My first handgun was a K38, many moons ago and I've kind of gotten back into S&W's in the last couple years. I still gravitate to the *old* stuff.

 

[billwill]

I'm not a collector, I just rent storage space.

 

[islamoradamark]

its just like coin collecting cant just have one coin i think its about enjoyment and when u shooot those coins its all part of having fun