Ten Guns that Should be in Every Collection

- Colt Peacemaker .45 Colt
- 1873 Winchester SRC 44-40
- Luger 9mm
- Colt 1911 .45 ACP
- Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum
- S&W Registered Magnum .357 Magnum
- S&W .44 Magnum
- M1928 Browning BAR .30-06
- Thompson SMG .45 ACP
- M1 Garand .30-06
 
Don't think I could narrow it down to 10. There are way more. I'd say it would be easy to name 100 classics that belong on that list.
 
Well, I didn't think coming up with the ten guns that should be in every collection would be all that hard... until I started building the list. How do you limit it to only ten?

So I took a shot at it and here's what I came up with... for now. I might change my mind on one or three of these tomorrow or an hour from now.

1. S&W Model 29, 6.5"
2. S&W Model 41, 5.5"
3. Ruger 10/22 Sporter
4. Winchester Model 9422-M XTR .22 Magnum
5. Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 30-06
6. AR15 5.56 x 45mm
7. 1911 45ACP (brand TBD)
8. Browning Hi-Power 9mm
9. 12 Gauge Over/Under (brand/model TBD)
10. Colt Python Royal Blue 6"
 
Ooh! I love doing these! Here is what I think everyone should have in their collection:

1. Gold Plated Jennings .380
2. Arrizabalaga double with heavy scrollwork
3. Whitney Wolverine
3. Hi Point C9 "Yeet Cannon"
4. BSA Martini International
5. 20mm Lahti
6. Turbiaux Le Protector - AKA the Palm Pistol
7. Some sort of fancy wheellock - any maker, but the fancier the better
8. A sporterized Mosin Nagant
9. Ithaca Auto-Burglar
10. Since this is a S&W forum, a Model 31.

I'm telling ya, my collection is going to be the BEST...


(in truth, there are a lot of good replies already, and as absurd as this list is, it also isn't far from things that I like. I have a few of these, I would like to have a few of the others....)
 
Ooh! I love doing these! Here is what I think everyone should have in their collection:

5. 20mm Lahti


(in truth, there are a lot of good replies already, and as absurd as this list is, it also isn't far from things that I like. I have a few of these, I would like to have a few of the others....)

I know where one of these is and I've seen it. It's from Finland and mounted on skis so the reindeer can pull it.
 
Lestert357, Thanks for including the Thompson! That put a smile on my face. My uncle spent a few months early on during WWII assembling Thompsons at the Savage plant in Utica. I wish he could have snuck one out in his lunchbox. LOL.
 
Honestly, you probably don't need 10.

a .22 revolver for training, plinking, target shooting or varmits , either a S&W 63 or S&W 617 based on personnel preference. I like prelock. While I love my Colt woodsman and I respect the Ruger Standard model in it's various Marks, but semi autos can be ammo sensitive. Additionally, the lower quality rimfire ammo dosen't always go boom. The revovlers double action is a plus in dealing with that issue with the minimum of extra manipulations.

A K or L frame .357 revolver. It's the ulitmate general purpose handgun. You could load it with .38 spc target loads for target shooting, plinking, limited competition. A good .38+P or appropriate .357 load will function fine as a self defense round against unarmored two legged threats. A heavier .357 magnum round will give adequate protection against 4 legged threats and can be used for handgun hunting. Yes, you do sacrifice capacity, however, the relevance of capacity will vary based on your environment and mission. While a an L or K frame isn't the most concealable weapon, I've CCWed both in NY without issue (4" 686, 2" 64). Granted I used bulky cover garments and had to pick the right holster and belt combo, but I was never spotted or called out.

Alternatively, if capacity is required for your environment or mission I'd go for a double stack semi auto like a Glock 19, S&W M&P, SIG P320, etc. I am not as confident in 9mm against 4 legged threats and wouldn't hunt with one, but YMMV. Against humans, the 9mm has a known track record and I'm confident it can do the job. You could also go .45,.40 or .357 based on personal analysis.

So that's two so far. Lets look at long guns

a .22 long rifle. Bolt, semi or pump. It'll do targets or varmints and it's just plain fun.

A shotgun, pump or semi auto. 12 gauge can be used for defense, hunting, target shooting, trap and clays, etc. Yes, you might have to change barrels, loads and chokes, but that beats carrying multiple long guns. You again sacrifice capacity, but gain versatility. Also, you gain recoil along the energy and terminal ballistics.

If you are worried about capacity, a good AR is the way to go. You can gain some versatility with different uppers or calibers, but you might get some interesting looks if you try bird hunting with it. you could add a .22 upper and eliminate the separate .22 rifle.

A centerfire hunting rifle, bolt or Semi in an appropriate caliber for your area. It'll put meat in the fridge.
 
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1) Magazine fed semi-auto rifle. The more in circulation the harder to argue unusual
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2) 12 gauge self-defense pump shotgun
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3) Pre-WW2 revolver
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4) 1911
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5) Something in nickel chambered in .357 Magnum
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6) Pocket revolver
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7) Bolt action rifle
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8) Double barrel shotgun
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9) Single barrel trap gun
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10) pre-64 Winchester
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I've told this story before. I was there and remember how hilarious this was.

One of my clubs has a Wednesday night .22 league target match series that a lady member of the club has been running for a number of years. We were somehow talking about gun acqusition while all of us were gathered at the firing line before the match. In the course of the discussion she said, "I have 20 handguns."

In perfect unison, every guy there, including me, said "ONLY 20?"
 
Bolt action long gun in .30-06
Lever action rifle in .357 or .41 Rem Mag
Semi-auto or bolt action long gun in .223/5.56
Ruger 10/22 Mannlicher stock (they just look cool)
Marlin Model 57M
Any reliable make 1911 .45 auto
S&W Model 19, 6+"barrel .38 spl/.357
S&W Model 57 .41 Rem Mag
Browning A5 12G or 16G field bbl and rifled bbl for slugs or Winchester 1897 in 16G.

All subject to change at a whim.

PS: If you carry slugs in your pocket, keep them in a plastic bag, inside a second plastic bag, so you don't get any of their slime in your pocket.
 
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I'll play.

Here is my wish list:
1. Manurhin MR73
2. SIG P210-2 (Neuhausen)
3. S&W 17
4. Ruger Mk IV
5. Glock 19
6. M4 (5.56)
7. A .308 bolt with 18 -19 inch barrel (Scout or similar)
8. Colt 1911 .45
9. Browning Hi-Power
10. Glock 26
11. SIG P226
12. Beretta M9
13. S&W 642
14. Glock 43x
15. Glock 48
 
The modern ten essentials:

1: an AR-15
2: a polymer frame high capacity 9 mm handgun
3: a K frame .357 S&W revolver
4: a .22LR revolver
5: a pocket semiautomatic pistol, caliber .380 or less
6: a J frame .38 SPL S&W revolver
7. a 1911 style .45 ACP pistol
8. a 12 gauge shoulder stock riot gun
9. a bolt action .308 rifle
10. a lever action rifle, caliber of choice, from .22LR to .45-70

That is all . . .
I like the way you think. This is the only list I've seen that I have every single one of, except my pocket gun is a 9mm Kahr CM9(close enough) and my bolt action is 260Rem.
 
Sorry, can't do it! Maybe the "top 10" revolvers that belong in a collection, or the top 10 pistols, top 10 milsurps, you get the picture.

What I can do is list the top 10 guns in my collection:

1. S&W Registered Magnum
2. Pre-war Colt Super .38
3. Martz .45 Luger
4. Ruger Mk. 1 Bull Barrel (my first pistol)
5. Ruger 10/22 (first firearm I ever bought)
6. S&W 27-1, 3.5" bbl
7. S&W 29-3, 4" bbl
8. Pre-war Colt Woodsman
9. Colt Goverment Model .45
10. S&W 66-3, 2.5" bbl
11. Clark Long Heavy Slide .45
12. uhhh....nope, can't do that either! I'm DQ, sorry!
 
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I'm going to stick to Top 10 Handguns for the Collector/Accumulator. I'm a bit more of a modern Collector with more of a focus on Military and Police theme. This is in no particular order:-

1. S&W Model 27
2. S&W Model 29
3. S&W Model 19/66
4. S&W Model 36 or Colt Detective Special
5. Browning HP
6. Colt 1911 or clone
7. Glock 17 or similar
8. Sig P226/228/229
9. Beretta 92
10. Colt Python .357mag
 
Not to " upset the apple cart" , but I suggest 10 pistols/ revolvers and 10 rifles/ shotguns.
Mdl.36
Mdl 49
Mdl 10 or 11
Mdl 19
Mdl 17
Mdl 27, 28, 29
Mdl 25 either or Both
1911, 1911 a1
Det. Spcl., Agent, Cobra
Series 70 1911
Browning Hi Power
Ruger black hawk
Ruger single six
Colt woodsman
Ruger Mk II
Rats, cant count!
Rifles/ shotguns
Win. 94
Win. Mdl 70
Ruger American ( 6.5 Creedmore)
Browning BAR
Springfield or RIA 1903
M-1 Garand
.30 Carbine
Rem. 870
Ithaca 37
Browning auto
Ruger 10/22
Win. or Rem. .22 Rf target
AR-15
AR-10
Ruger No. 1 in any caliber
Wll, still cant count!,LOL
 
Rimfire bolt rifle, Anschütz 1423

Single shoot .22 l.r., Weihrauch HW52

or the Anschütz G33 surplus rifle

Rimfire pistol, Hämmerli 212

Rimfire revolver, Korth Sport

Semi Auto rifle, AR carbine

9mm pistol, P210-4

.222 bolt gun, Sako Vixen

Shotgun, I can do without the Merkel and prefer my Remington 870

1911, a 9mm Nowlin Challenger that is smooth!


...and the gun that I carry everyday
 
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