What is your collecting niche? Why?

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policerevolvercollector

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As my screen name indicates, the police or company issued revolver holds a special fascination for me. It is more the history than the gun itself. I have police guns that served in interesting places not to mention interesting times. Just knowing that my guns worked in every state and many foreign countries and from skid row to the White House is what inspires my pursuit of them. These worked for a living in my chosen profession in some cases over a century ago. The officers that carried them and I share a bond. The times and technology have changed. But, the basic principles of the "job" have not.

Secondarily, I do love rescuing an orphan! There is something about taking a cosmetically(& sometimes mechanically) challenged gun and putting it back to its' intended purpose basically unrestored. Taking a $20 single barrel shotgun and breaking clays or taking birds as well as any high dollar gun or using a beater Model 10 etc. on the range and doing as well as a Colt Python is ,and I hope always will be, a thrill!

What is your collecting specialty ??

Best,
Charles
 
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I'm much like you except I'm more into semi auto police pistols. Just recently I've caught wind of a cook County Sheriff's m&p 40 up for sale, shall be adding it to my collection soon enough. I also recently acquired a Baltimore pd m&p 45 I'll just say this gun has seen better days and the story behind it is a complete mystery to me so far.

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I'd call them more areas of interest than specialties. A broad term would be fixed sight I, J, and K-frames:

- Chiefs Specials '50s - '70s, (why? 'cause I'm a retired Chief) and their Centennial and Bodyguard derivatives

- Postwar I-frame .32s & .38s, Hand Ejector, Terrier, and Regulation Police (including no-dash Models 30, 31, 32, & 33 with flat latch and diamond grips) (why? 'cause my grandmother taught me to shoot her Mod. 31 when I was seven -- great memories)

- Postwar M&P .38s, no model numbers (Okay, a Victory, a Model 10-6 HB, and a 3" Model 547 snuck in, too, just for comparison purposes. You understand, right?) (why? just a J-frame on steroids)

When I was in my 20s all my Smiths had adjustable sights (fixed sights weren't cool). Back then guns with fixed sights were for old men. Now, at 64, I guess I still think that. I see the simple elegance in the fixed sight profiles and am really drawn to them. I can do about as well with fixed as with adjustable sights so I go for what appeals visually, now.

Cheers,

Bob
 
Not much of a collector but more like an accumulator. Now having said that have 4 semi auto pistols that have either military or police history. Most of my revolvers are just plain civilian. When we get to rifles and shotguns things change somewhat.2 police turn in Rem 870's 18 & 20" bbls. I'm into military surplus rifles as my first one was an 1891 Argentine mauser. And basically when I started with mil surps because those were the ones I could afford. U.S. service rifles M1 Garand,M1 carbine, semi sporterized 1903A3, and a cut down Krag. And I like some 22 rf target rifles and heavy barreled 308's and one '06. Frank
 
I like revolvers but have semi autos also. I have 5,6,8,9,and 10 shot revolvers. I need a 7 shot but not actively looking right now.
 
I like P&R S&W DA revolvers from the 50's, 60's, and 70's, Colt SA and DA revolvers, Antique firearms of civil war vintage, old bolt action .22s (thank goodness they are still relatively inexpensive...comparatively), and I love long range rifles. I can't seem to ever get into a niche without something else catching my eye and reviving an old fever.

I'm broke :).
 
Guns older than me with a bent toward military handguns. Several sub- collections including pre-WW2 .22 semi-auto pistols and early examples of European revolvers.....
 
I started out in the 70s' with S&W revolvers,don't have a lot,don't want a lot,all for shooting,no safe queens. Lately it's been 3rd gens in 9mm and 40S&W,there again don't have a lot,don't want a lot. I only have one 10mm,a 1006. Not a fan of 45acp,so I have none of those.
As far as collecting 'niche',I collect the old Super Vel ammo and Norma handgun ammo.
Also S&W OEM 3rd gen mags,currently have 90 in 9,40,&45. I sell,pass-on many of them to members here. Member TSSH refers to me as 'king of 3rd gen mags'. I pick them up at gun shows,then sell them for $5 over what I paid + postage. 45 and 10rounders of 9 and 40 have been hot lately.
 
I used to collect Mosin rifles. There are so many different variations with even more different markings. Their history was fascinating. They were made in Russia, France, and the USA, even issued to US troops. One rifle could have served in the cold winters of Finland down to the Balkans and Spain.

Thew were cheap and fun to collect. You could buy several and eventually trade one to someone else for one you didn't have. Finding unusual rare ones was fun. But, like everything else they skyrocketed in price and what's worse people started making fake stamps to raise the value of what would have been a run of the mill Mosin. Both combined ruined the collecting aspect of it, especially the fake stamps. I got out of it about 2 years ago. Slowly sold off most of what I had. Kept a few for the range but that's it.

Collecting milsurp has become a game for the rich. I couldn't collect revolvers for the same reason. I'm not willing to pay for perfect examples and quite honestly don't think there is any value in untouched guns. Much rather have worn and used with history.

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Same as you, Charles.

Police and service revolvers with agency markings, and then particularly WW II era Victory models. I've even got a Victory model with a police backstrap rollmark, happily combining the two fields of collecting.

Funny enough, I couldn't really tell you why. Just sort of happened. Acquired one on a whim, started reading up on it here and elsewhere, got another, not just S&W, Colts also, and the ball was rolling. I do like the history and having guns that give me an excuse for background investigations.
 
If its a .357 Magnum caliber it starts to get my interest. If its a K frame it moves up on the list. If its a 2 1/2 - 3" round but K frame I'm really interested. Now if it's a 2 1/2" model 19/66 I'm thinking about doing something silly, as these were the revolvers the "Cool Kids" had, for the first 10 years of my time on the job.
 
My first extensive collection started when I was 10 years old. I collected beautiful girls then progressed to beautiful women. I had a nice collection with all color hair, all heights and smiles. I kept this collection, regularly rotating and upgrading, till I settled on one particular model. She was of 1953 vintage, same as me, had dazzling blue-grey eyes and long brown hair. I did not figure that this particular model was jealous and made me get rid of my entire collection. So I had to find other things to lust for.

Early Winchesters.
Well worn guns, that show a history of use.
Antique US manufactured pocket knives.
US military knives
Cartridges
Colt Woodsmans
Heiser and Lawrence holsters
Big game animals
War stories
Experiences

These have kept my mind working, but I have to admit that every once in a while my mind lusts for my first collection.
 
I have had a couple of handguns and holsters for years and years, but
about 20 years ago I started collecting a few more handguns. I'm at
about 2 dozen now, and a gross (144) of holsters.
Have been thinking about thinning the herd a bit (I'm 82 Saturday)
planning on thinning down to just a few favorites (both guns and holsters), but that will be the hard part.
In the meantime I continue to look, and buy, when I find something
that I just must have. You know how that goes?
 
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