My childhood love of museums perhaps has made me think differently over my lifetime.
I believe that some things must be preserved.
One of my responsibilities in the Conglomerate I worked for was to curate our 500 piece motor vehicle collection.
If I have a 1904 quarter, I am not putting it in the gum ball machine because money was meant to be spent.
If I have a stamp printed half upside down I am not mailing my taxes with it because stamps were made for postage.
When I was a young pup and could only afford one or two firearms, I shot everything I owned. I totally understand that position.
As I grew older and my collection became more robust I began to acquire firearms that were there only to enjoy their visual appeal. Originally these were similar to shooters I already owned. Later the field expanded.
These are among the firearms that remain unfired since leaving the factory. These are not "Safe Queens" by definition since many of them are on display in my office and my home study and occasionally on loan. I do have display cases. I guess this goes back to my love of Museums.
For many years this Deluxe Texas Ranger Commemorative (50 produced) was on the corner of my office desk. It started many conversations.
I fell in love with this first pistol in the 70s when first I saw one at Lew Horton's. At the time I was too young to buy it.
This is the USMA Bicentennial class pistol. I like serial numbers, I requested #45
For the 25th anniversary of the SIG P226, 226 of these high polish and engraved firearms were produced.
My personal favorite are these 6, 8 shot, 357 Magnum revolvers. This represents one of every variation the factory has produced so far. All six have the serial number however with different prefixes.
