Musing on why/what we collect

[Major 2]

Eclectic militaria, ACW thru Vietnam,
From bayonets, holsters & helmets to bring backs and many, many years of accumulated chattel.

 

[AJ]

I have two rooms full of stuff. Nicer than some and not as nice as others. Will post some pictures later

 

[Model29-26.5]

Dirty Harry gun for me.
Started with a plastic model, and then a non-firing replica, that a plastic BB replica, then a metal BB replica…
Finally, the real thing sucked me into collecting models with that classic half under lug look.
629, 66, 57, 53, 29, 28, 27, 25, 19… and a couple of 22’s…48-4 pre 17 and pre 18.
I found my OCD wants me to collect all barrel lengths in all finishes.
So, for instance, if I have a model 25–5… I’ll need six of them. 8” 6” 4” in blue and nickel.
It’s the hunt and the OCD pattern recognition… with a goal… but the right one that is really nice, but not 100% collector. I’m good with a few of those, but I actually want to shoot every gun. I have eventually, because I feel that is what they were made for even if I only shoot them once.
Of course, the more you collect, the fewer times you will shoot any one of them unless you have a specific few that you shoot the most.
Finding the right one at the right price.. real nice, right price.
My gun broker account constantly has about 15 to 20 on my watchlist at any given time, and usually about eight that I am bidding on… at any given time, but I do not expect to win most of the time.
If I happen to win, it’ll either be a good deal, or one that I’m really after to complete a “set”.
Does this sound familiar?

 

['79 Magnum GT]

Dirty Harry..

All started with a non firing plastic model my brother had when I was a child over in England.

LS 6.5” model 29… I came to learn that it was actually a pre as the plastic grips were modeled after cokes.


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Then I had a Kokusai metal non firing replica
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Then I had an ABS plastic, plastic BB firing replica by Tanaka.
All Japanese models.

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Then an Umarex, German metal BB firing replica


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Then the real thing.


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After that, I went down the rabbit hole.

I remember seeing that LS Model in Dan's Crafts and Things in Rochester in 1986 or so. I ordered one and never picked it up. If I saw one there I have no idea why I would order one. Hey I was just a punk kid of 30. What would I know.

Rick

 

[AJ]

I have two rooms full of stuff. Nicer than some and not as nice as others. Will post some pictures later

 

[pawncop]

I’m an accumulator as others have mentioned. So many times a particular firearm called my name, caught my eye, tickled my fancy, call it what you will. Many were purchased with the intent of qualifying and carrying it as an off duty or second gun.

When I started in law enforcement, many officers were part of the “new gun of the week club” . A large number of those officers were really into firearms and they kinda rubbed off on me (plus I loved guns anyway).

Now these days, I am retired. I pretty much qualify with two guns, Glock 32 and 30. I still acquire those that call my name or I decide that I really want (don’t have any real needs). I have slowed my acquisitions as I probably need to downsize, but I don’t have the mindset yet.

My last four purchases have been an Iver Johnson Super Enforcer 30 carbine, S&W 1905 4th change (it was a really good deal), a Ruger Blackhawk 41 magnum, and an Sig P-210 target (recent production).

Mrs. Pawncop wants to know how the downsizing is going and I don’t have a very good answer just yet.

I don’t have anything on the radar now but I continue to be on the lookout.

 

[greenwellg]

I bought an 1871 Mauser carbine for $200 at Chantilly. Another 1871 Mauser rifle at a gun store in Portsmouth Va for $400. First Mauser's ever made both single shots, not upgraded. Both went to a collector friend, can't even remember his name, but you can bet he remembers mine. He showed me where he had them positioned and they were the cornerstones of his collection. Bought oddball calibers because we could make ammo for anything. How about a 256 Newton, yep made ammo for that. Had my own wildcat. 8.15X46R with a ruined bore. Bored the barrel .357 and shot MOA groups at 100 Yards (5 shot) with the original iron sights. There is a photo of that gun on this forum, bought from Greentop, just north of Richmond in 1978 for $350. Had two worn out triple locks but never did anything with them. Bought a Civil War sniper rifle at the Houston gun show 2 inch diameter underhammer with false muzzle and bullet starter. Shot 10 shot sub inch groups with a HS Trophy and single hole ragged groups with a 38 Python Target (not .357) 38 special only.
Bought a perfect Hungarian 91-30 Sniper. SVT 40. Had 80 Finnish rifles on pegs in my 702 square foot garage in the second house I built garage was 36 deep and 21 wide.
Bought a 37 Ford 5 window coupe all original even 6 volt system.
Rebuilt 200 salvage cars and drove for free for the better part of my life.
Built two houses drew the plans myself did most of the work. paid myself nothing for 32 months then sold them for $335k and $430K. Lived in them 22 years and now they are my retirement plan. Wife has a nice one from the county.
Basically I am an opportunist who uses his knowledge and experience to create and resurrect things that have been neglected or destroyed.
I grow assets, buy low and sell high.
Now closing in on 75 I play pickleball for the exercise and camaraderie.
I have sold 99% of what I ever owned firearm wise. Just recently Picked up some nice S&W hand ejectors and K22's.

 

[jaydoc]

I was late to the gun game as I didn’t grow up with gun people. My buddy who was LEO was into newer H&K pistols I started looking at that stuff but the found the P7 squeeze cockers. These were my very first guns.
I then got introduced to 1911’s and that addiction bit hard. I decided early on though that I wouldn’t keep anything I didn’t or wouldn’t shoot. Briefly dabbled in anything John Moses Browning, then expanded to just interesting guns. That included some revolvers. I don’t have the funds to get too crazy collecting. I decided to go with N frame revolvers (and a few others) that are from my birth year-1966. Not everything from my birth year trips my trigger though. So it is S&W (mostly but not exclusively N frame), 1911, BHP’s and then one offs to fill in the must haves I.e. a good.22 rifle, an AR, some shotguns etc.

 

[Riposte1]

I don’t consider myself a collector but more an accumulator. It goes back to my dad and I watching war, western and detective movies. My first serious entry into accumulating was 1870’s through 1950’s military artifacts and arms. I got into it at a good time when very few were collecting them and the supply was plentiful at good prices.

I wasn’t looking to acquire every variation of a specific gun but rather accumulated a wide representative collection of arms from that period. I was fortunate to find really nice specamins at excellent prices. In addition to arms I collected a good number of recruiting posters, trench art and various items from a field Victoria to helmets, photographs and even aircraft propellers My office looked like it was out of a army recruiting office with a 1940’s oscillating fan on the wall, iron radiator and art deco 1930’s penny weight machine that told fortunes. Eventually I sold the collection and moved on.

Now I’m into snub nose revolvers and think I have either 17 or 19. I’ll continue collecting and will probably expand into pre 50’s longer barrel service type revolvers. Then who knows.

That is exactly what I tell people, I am an accumulator and there is no method to my madness

I accumulate handguns and rifles, even a few shotguns but not nearly as many.

Then again, while retired now, I have been a Peace Officer, An LE Trainer, A military trainer and a gunsmith - I got the bug early: bought my first 1911 at the age of 15 ( it was perfectly legal back then)... not because I liked 1911s but because it was cheap.

I bought an M1 Carbine at the age of 14 - before that I recieved my first actual firearm at the age of about 9 - but I shot my Grandad's .22 at the age of 4 (and up until I was 10 always shot under the supervision of an adult).

Riposte

 

[AJ]

That is exactly what I tell people, I am an accumulator and there is no method to my madness

I accumulate handguns and rifles, even a few shotguns but not nearly as many.

Then again, while retired now, I have been a Peace Officer, An LE Trainer, A military trainer and a gunsmith - I got the bug early: bought my first 1911 at the age of 15 ( it was perfectly legal back then)... not because I liked 1911s but because it was cheap.

I bought an M1 Carbine at the age of 14 - before that I recieved my first actual firearm at the age of about 9 - but I shot my Grandad's .22 at the age of 4 (and up until I was 10 always shot under the supervision of an adult).

Riposte

Refer to Posts# 42 & 45.........I am an accumulator.