Why I collect what I collect

[usmc2427765]

I really enjoy my nightly visits to the forum. The experts will mull over the possibility of a refinish on a weapon or the possibility of a cut barrel or replaced parts. The ongoing debate on whether a refinished weapon has any value to them or is not worthy of consideration. The forum members that really know their stuff will go on for several paragraphs about the smallest detail and ,even at 71, I find it fascinating.

I collect S&W revolvers along with a few Colts for one reason and one reason only : who carried them. I collect Texas LEO weapons. It is not important to me the possibility of a refinish or cut barrel, rather my ability to document them to the LEO or agency. I have a few and among them a Texas Ranger Colt. I look at these old guns and wish they could talk and, I swear, there are times I can almost smell the mesquite fires they were near and the smell of the Brill, Myres or Dawson leather that carried them.

I want our leather experts like Crazy Phil, Turneriver and Red Nichols to keep up the the good work and keep the information and images coming.

Thanks for the fellowship. Brian Jefferies

 

[JJEH]

Love your post and I completely understand where you coming from. Now we just have to see some pictures

BTW, I recently started following RIA and even set up an account (what a mistake.... so many nice things to get, not enough $). A couple months back a Sig P226 was for sale. It was carried by a TX Ranger, with letter and everything. I think the estimate was in the $1,200 to $1,800 range. Cool gun. Not sure if it sold. I can look, it's still in my wishlist

 

[rubiranch]

I come here because I don't know, well "didn't" know anything about guns - or knew very little. I do know a lot more today than I did before joining here. Everyone here loves sharing what they know and I greatly appreciate their help.

I don't collect guns but have acquired a few over the last year or so.

I collect Cars from the movie Cars.

 

[Old TexMex]

I really enjoy my nightly visits to the forum. The experts will mull over the possibility of a refinish on a weapon or the possibility of a cut barrel or replaced parts. The ongoing debate on whether a refinished weapon has any value to them or is not worthy of consideration. The forum members that really know their stuff will go on for several paragraphs about the smallest detail and ,even at 71, I find it fascinating.

I collect S&W revolvers along with a few Colts for one reason and one reason only : who carried them. I collect Texas LEO weapons. It is not important to me the possibility of a refinish or cut barrel, rather my ability to document them to the LEO or agency. I have a few and among them a Texas Ranger Colt. I look at these old guns and wish they could talk and, I swear, there are times I can almost smell the mesquite fires they were near and the smell of the Brill, Myres or Dawson leather that carried them.

I want our leather experts like Crazy Phil, Turneriver and Red Nichols to keep up the the good work and keep the information and images coming.

Thanks for the fellowship. Brian Jefferies

Brian, I get it. I collected weapons that were used by criminals. Started off with a couple I found that had been dropped down a hole in the wall of an old illegal casino, and a few that my old county sheriff (my godfather) wanted rid of, a meat cleaver from a barbecue joint altercation, that sort of thing. Don't really look for them anymore but had quite a number of old butchered hideouts.
Sort of the dirty side of the same coin.

 

[Valmet]

This hobby never gets old. Between being able to use and shoot these things, the history that comes with many of them is awesome to say the least and most of the ppl I've met over the years are really great folks. My interests run the gauntlet of Finnish Valmets, Belgian FALs, pre-WW1 Enfields, German Weatherby's, S&Ws, the list goes on. No rhyme or reason to it, just go after what I like

 

[Rustyt1953]

I believe that the objects that one collects are secondary to the community that comes with them. The joy is in the discussion of, the learning about, the showing off of and the fun of rubbing cyber elbows with those who share your passion.

Whether they be guns, guitars, knives, pokémon or parking tickets is irrelevant. They just give us access passes to fun places like this.

 

[Old TexMex]

I believe that the objects that one collects are secondary to the community that comes with them. The joy is in the discussion of, the learning about, the showing off of and the fun of rubbing cyber elbows with those who share your passion.

Whether they be guns, guitars, knives, pokémon or parking tickets is irrelevant. They just give us access passes to fun places like this.

Is there a Pez dispenser forum that's as much fun as this one?

 

[g-dad]

Is there a Pez dispenser forum that's as much fun as this one?

Pez dispenser collection?? Yes, here's my collection of 1. Say hi to Woody!

 

[kennyb]

Much to learn and this forum is an excellent campus ....

 

[inspcalahan]

Interesting take on collecting that you guys have, of which I totally understand. For either the law side of things, or the nefarious types, what type of documentation/provenance to you get with the guns to show the history? That makes the weapons so much more interesting! Maybe there should be a thread dedicated just to that - LE or crook weapons and their provenance! Other than a few of my own firearms that have history, I only have one other like that. It's a Gov't Model that letters to a Sheriff in SoCal early in the 1900s, as part of his community sponsored "arming and training" of a local militia. I'm still conducting the research at this point, having found lots of news articles and such. One of these days I'll put it all together.

 

[turnerriver]

I sure hope you're setting up a display at the annual SWCA symposium this June. It's in your neighborhood in Richardson ( Dallas ) Texas. I'm planning on bringing some Texas gun leather; I appreciate the encouraging words.
Regards,
turnerriver

I really enjoy my nightly visits to the forum. The experts will mull over the possibility of a refinish on a weapon or the possibility of a cut barrel or replaced parts. The ongoing debate on whether a refinished weapon has any value to them or is not worthy of consideration. The forum members that really know their stuff will go on for several paragraphs about the smallest detail and ,even at 71, I find it fascinating.

I collect S&W revolvers along with a few Colts for one reason and one reason only : who carried them. I collect Texas LEO weapons. It is not important to me the possibility of a refinish or cut barrel, rather my ability to document them to the LEO or agency. I have a few and among them a Texas Ranger Colt. I look at these old guns and wish they could talk and, I swear, there are times I can almost smell the mesquite fires they were near and the smell of the Brill, Myres or Dawson leather that carried them.

I want our leather experts like Crazy Phil, Turneriver and Red Nichols to keep up the the good work and keep the information and images coming.

Thanks for the fellowship. Brian Jefferies

 

[BigBoy99]

This hobby never gets old. Between being able to use and shoot these things, the history that comes with many of them is awesome to say the least and most of the ppl I've met over the years are really great folks. My interests run the gauntlet of Finnish Valmets, Belgian FALs, pre-WW1 Enfields, German Weatherby's, S&Ws, the list goes on. No rhyme or reason to it, just go after what I like

We must be "blood brothers" as our interests are the same. I say I'm not a collector but an "accumulator" and I buy what "strikes my fancy at that moment."

 

[webley green]

Collecting has been with me for years, Webley Revolvers Government Models 1-VI that have unit markings. Royal Flying Corps, Royal Horse Artillery, and others. Webley Green revolvers that were owned by British Officers serving from 1880 through the end of WWI. Documentation has been half of the search, most of which are accompanied with photographs.

It's been a fascinating hobby with a definite historical connection. We often say, 'if this gun could talk' for those in my collection I know where the officer served and for how long. The unit marked pieces have their own history as well.

 

[Lt JL]

I know you guys know what i mean, and feel, when I pick up a triple lock, or a 1911 (not A-1) , or a 38-44, and wonder what stories they could tell if only they could talk.
Most of my old duty guns would only tell boring stories, but a couple of times------