What's an accumulator vs. a collector?

[delcrossv]

I've heard both terms bandied about and am wondering what parameterizes each.
For example, me: I buy the best condition I can afford, but I abhor safe queens. I shoot what I collect, that's where the fun lies for me.

 

[Krogen]

Hi. My name is Krogen and I'm an accumulator. (this is where the forum in unison, responds "HI KROGEN")

Anyway, enough with the frivolity. For me accumulation is a disease. If I see or think of something interesting it will go home with me. I'm simply unscrupulous. Like you, I also shoot what I own. To my mind, a collector focuses on a specific category; the objective being to fill the collection with variations on a well-defined theme. My theme is firearms. Way to wide of a field to call myself a collector.

 

[Muss Muggins]

This is just my personal definition, but a collector buys guns to keep in anticipation of increased future value. Collectors often specialize in various genres, calibers, actions, or makers. An accumulator just buys guns for whatever reason suits his/her fancy. I am the latter . . .

 

[glowe]

Internet definition: A collector's purchase enhances or upgrades specific objects in his collection. A collector may own multiple collections ... The accumulator is an introvert, the collector an extrovert. The accumulator prefers a quiet approach.

A collector does have an accumulation, so they can be both. An accumulator pays little attention to upgrading or enhancing, but rather buys whatever they feel like buying so cannot be a collector.

 

[Cellar Hound]

Accumulator

As a self-proclaimed Accumulator, I can tell you that it’s never a question of WHICH gun you are going to buy..... It’s simply the NEXT gun you are going to buy.

 

[ken158]

An accumulator does not mind shooting his guns recognizing that is what they were made for. A collector rarely shoots his guns hoping a future sale will pay off the mortgage or send the kids to college. Accumulators have more fun and collectors heirs sell or shoot his guns...

 

[Absalom]

Not to spoil a pointless thread, but accumulator isn‘t a customary term in English and this is an artificial dichotomy.

Proceed at will, it‘s a free country, but be aware you‘re just making up stuff.

 

[JP@AK]

I think Gary's statement is very much on target (excuse the pun).

I think I am both. I have a couple very specific collecting goals and I work at both of them on a fairly regular basis.

However, I also accumulate S&W revolvers that lie outside my collecting interests. Most of those are for shooting, but also just because I think they are cool to have and I find them interesting in the overall history of S&W revolvers.

I will say that I am more inclined to turn loose of guns I have "accumulated" than those that are part of my "collection." For example, I've given up a couple guns I liked because they weren't part of a collection in my safe but would fill a hole in another collector's focused project. I had a very nice .455 once that I loved shooting. But a fellow SWCA member needed it to fill a gap in his WWI collection. It now resides in his gun room.

 

[delcrossv]

Not to spoil a pointless thread, but accumulator isn‘t a customary term in English and this is an artificial dichotomy.

Proceed at will, it‘s a free country, but be aware you‘re just making up stuff.

Hey, I'm just commenting on what I've seen here.

 

[delcrossv]

Truth be told, I don't know where I fit. Some things I go looking for to fill an empty slot, others just because I think they're cool.

But I've never gone for an item unless it were sufficiently cool on its own. Never just to complete the set.

 

[loknload]

I guess I am both?
I collect various models of S&W along with Beretta and Winchester’s.
But on the other hand if I see something that tickles my fancy, I’ll buy it!
Now I do own a few handguns and rifles that are safe queens,,,never fired and gently handled. Most of the others though have been fired at one time or the other.
The ones that make to range the most though are the ones I carry on a regular basis!

 

[fkd713]

I consider myself an accumulator with a S&W collection. I have close to 3 doz ranging from 1915 era to present. I am thrilled w each and every one that I own and can and do shoot them all. They’ve been the best I could find/afford at the time and wouldn’t part easily w any. The only 2 firearms I have that remain unfired are Colt SAA from the custom shop. They were specifically bought as investments. I don’t think majority of mine will decrease w the limited shooting I do w them. I do greatly enjoy the real collectors in this forum who have wonderful high-end collections and share them and their in-depth knowledge w all of us who frequent this Forum.

 

[Babysitr]

guess I accumulate guns...shoot most all of them, take care of them, enjoy them...then off to the next one! guess the "hunt" is better than the "kill", so to speak..sure hope gun values continue to go up

 

[rbmac52]

Parameterize?

What the heck is that?

 

[g8rb8]

I am both and thus justify obtaining twice as many.

 

[JP@AK]

Parameterize?

What the heck is that?

"Verbing" nouns . . . Did you ever see the Calvin & Hobbes strip on this matter? It was hilarious.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Proceed at will, it‘s a free country, but be aware you‘re just making up stuff.

Dude. I can give you fifteen minutes on anything, thirty with a couple hours notice . . .

 

[tlawler]

I buy, sell, and trade to get guns that I desire. Nothing I have can really be called collectible in the sense it just sits in the safe and never gets shot. I do go after guns that I think will at least hold their value and possibly appreciate some even if I shoot them. For instance, I seek out P&R, or at least pre-MIM revolvers and avoid the lock like it’s the plague. I shoot mostly mild loads that I load myself and keep my guns clean. The ones I sell and trade, I generally get more out of than I have in them, but probably just enough to keep up with inflation.

 

[chiefdave]

I actively seek out pre Victory's, Victory's, post war M&P's and US military small arms so I consider myself a collector of these. If I get a chance to get a higher condition example of something that I already have I'll buy it and sell/trade the duplicate but otherwise nothing in this category gets sold.

I do buy others I put into the accumulation category for future trading toward a collectable or selling for a reasonable profit to put back into my firearms fund.

 

[RKmesa]

I can't give you an exact definition, but I can tell you that I have "accumulated" a "collection" over the past several decades...

... and I too shoot many of the guns in my collection of shooter grade guns.

With all that said, I like to consider myself an S&W "enthusiast" with a particular love for 357 Magnums, K-22s and engraved guns.