Collectible guns are a PITA
This is going to offend some folks, so let me begin with this: I do not see the point in collecting ANYTHING. I own a few antiques; they're precious to me because they have some history with my forebears. I own no antiques bar those that come with a family history. I own a signed copy of a novel by my favorite author....only because a friend gave it to me. That's a book I now have to keep wrapped in plastic, and that never will get read, because by virtue of a signature, it has become precious. I keep and care for this book because it was given to me....I would never own such a thing by choice.
I accumulate guns, but I wouldn't say I 'collect' them. I enjoy them, and I enjoy having them around, and the more, the merrier. For myself I don't consider them to be tools, but I recognize their potential as such. To me, they are toys. That statement will raise some heckles, too. Toys can be as unsafe as.....guns. Or motorcycles, or whatever. Anyway, I use my guns only for recreation (target shooting) and as such they are best called toys.
But the mere fact that so many guns are collectible means that I feel compelled to treat them in a certain way....hell, I'm feeling bad about throwing away the factory box for my S&W 686. I did that about six years ago, but would not at this point do the same thing again. Maybe I just need to get over that idea. My 686 is worth less without its box, but I love that gun and I will never sell it. If whoever gets it after I die feels bad about that....I don't think I really need to care (and still it's hard not to do).
Still, I respect artwork simply because it is called art and should be preserved for future generations. Should I not respect fire-arms, simply because they are fire-arms? As far as I can tell, collectible firearms are treated with about as much respect as art. I simultaneously hear this argument and reject it. Guns--even in limited production--are not like art because they largely are not one-of-a-kind. Anyway, nothing I'm going to buy is likely even to be limited production, so I don't call it art.
Also, the fact that some guns are more collectible than others makes it very difficult to judge the value of a gun that I might desire as a toy. Does that gun cost $600 because it's that good of a toy, or is it a $200 toy with $400 worth of collectibility? Or a $400 toy with $200 worth of collectibility? In the end, I recognize that for every toy I buy, I'm paying something towards 'collectibility,' even though I don't give a rat's ass about said collectibility.
And all of that gets me back to a modification on the subject line: the collectibility of guns is a PITA.
In case it's not clear, I'm fishing for your opinion on this subject.
I'm fishing for flames.
I'm fishing for disciples.
I accumulate guns, but I wouldn't say I 'collect' them. I enjoy them, and I enjoy having them around, and the more, the merrier. For myself I don't consider them to be tools, but I recognize their potential as such. To me, they are toys. That statement will raise some heckles, too. Toys can be as unsafe as.....guns. Or motorcycles, or whatever. Anyway, I use my guns only for recreation (target shooting) and as such they are best called toys.
But the mere fact that so many guns are collectible means that I feel compelled to treat them in a certain way....hell, I'm feeling bad about throwing away the factory box for my S&W 686. I did that about six years ago, but would not at this point do the same thing again. Maybe I just need to get over that idea. My 686 is worth less without its box, but I love that gun and I will never sell it. If whoever gets it after I die feels bad about that....I don't think I really need to care (and still it's hard not to do).
Still, I respect artwork simply because it is called art and should be preserved for future generations. Should I not respect fire-arms, simply because they are fire-arms? As far as I can tell, collectible firearms are treated with about as much respect as art. I simultaneously hear this argument and reject it. Guns--even in limited production--are not like art because they largely are not one-of-a-kind. Anyway, nothing I'm going to buy is likely even to be limited production, so I don't call it art.
Also, the fact that some guns are more collectible than others makes it very difficult to judge the value of a gun that I might desire as a toy. Does that gun cost $600 because it's that good of a toy, or is it a $200 toy with $400 worth of collectibility? Or a $400 toy with $200 worth of collectibility? In the end, I recognize that for every toy I buy, I'm paying something towards 'collectibility,' even though I don't give a rat's ass about said collectibility.
And all of that gets me back to a modification on the subject line: the collectibility of guns is a PITA.
In case it's not clear, I'm fishing for your opinion on this subject.
I'm fishing for flames.
I'm fishing for disciples.
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I'm much the same way. Only keep the ones around that mean a little
something, or that I have need of. I it don't suit me, I'll modify
it as I see fit, even if it lessens the value.0 -
I started wanting guns at an early age. My DAD was a good Father and bought me some nice cap guns.
When I was older my work money went for more cap guns.
At some point I got a Daisy Red Rider for Christmas (got up at 5am and shot two tree ornaments, rewrapped the gun and went back to bed).
Wore out the cap guns and lost the BB Gun during a crime spree.
At 18 I was getting my guitar out of hock at a pawn shop in E. St Louis Ill and saw a barrel full of Argentine Mausers for $25.00 each and got one because it looked good.
Turned 21 bought a Ruger Mark 1 target model.Joind a bull's eye club bought a S&W K-38 and a Colt Gold Cup six months later.
The next year a Colt Python ($150.00), Remington 700 22/250 with a Weaver K-12 scope that I hand loaded with a Lee hand loader.
Then I moved to Northern Calif, ran out of $$ and sold them all but the Mark 1 and the Mauser for Sex, Drugs and ,,,,,, Sex and drugs.
Hooked up with one of those California girls (7 months in a family way) and headed for Mexico to score some horse.
Spent two weeks in LA and for a lot of reasons turned left and stopped in southern Indiana.
Got a job, got clean, and got a wife and a new baby girl.
Then I started replacing the guns I had sold.
Got into Black powder after going to Friendship Indiana with a Navy Arms 1851 Navy .36 cal for $35.00
That was the start.
I LIKE guns. I like to accumulate guns. I like to shoot guns. I think of guns as works of mechanical art to be used.
I do not collect guns, that would seem to be too much like work.
I don't sell guns, I just have some.
I've just about caught up on replacing my cap guns and holsters I had as a kid and have about 10 Daisy BB guns.
Now its time to start looking for the matching number Luger I bought and sold for $80.00
Did I say I liked guns?0 -
I have many collectible guns. The ones I collect are because they are rare either because of a low number of production models or rarity of access to the public for ownership. I like that because if I collect them, they can be preserved and passed on.
I don't like guns that are collectible because they were used in a crime. I don't want Lee Harvey Oswald's revolver, Jack Ruby's revolver or David Berkowitz's just because they killed someone. What makes that a collectible, even though they will bring collectors prices at sale.
I own every day shooters, high end custom and one of a kind guns, rare and collectible military and civilian guns, old guns who are now few in number, and a few that were passed down through family, and they are my most prized. It doesn't mean anything other than, that's what I like to own.0 -
Reblue, and drill and tap all your collector guns. Chrome your M1 Carbine? Perhaps your decendents won't curse you too badly.
Collectors are the caretakers of history. One need only watch Raiders of the Lost Ark to realize that. We only pass through history while our implements are history. History you can hold in your hand.
Do with it as you will.[;)]
And make my unbubba'ed stuff worth so much more!0 -
quote:Originally posted by sheepdip
I started wanting guns at an early age. My DAD was a good Father and bought me some nice cap guns.
When I was older my work money went for more cap guns.
At some point I got a Daisy Red Rider for Christmas (got up at 5am and shot two tree ornaments, rewrapped the gun and went back to bed).
Wore out the cap guns and lost the BB Gun during a crime spree.
At 18 I was getting my guitar out of hock at a pawn shop in E. St Louis Ill and saw a barrel full of Argentine Mausers for $25.00 each and got one because it looked good.
Turned 21 bought a Ruger Mark 1 target model.Joind a bull's eye club bought a S&W K-38 and a Colt Gold Cup six months later.
The next year a Colt Python ($150.00), Remington 700 22/250 with a Weaver K-12 scope that I hand loaded with a Lee hand loader.
Then I moved to Northern Calif, ran out of $$ and sold them all but the Mark 1 and the Mauser for Sex, Drugs and ,,,,,, Sex and drugs.
Hooked up with one of those California girls (7 months in a family way) and headed for Mexico to score some horse.
Spent two weeks in LA and for a lot of reasons turned left and stopped in southern Indiana.
Got a job, got clean, and got a wife and a new baby girl.
Then I started replacing the guns I had sold.
Got into Black powder after going to Friendship Indiana with a Navy Arms 1851 Navy .36 cal for $35.00
That was the start.
I LIKE guns. I like to accumulate guns. I like to shoot guns. I think of guns as works of mechanical art to be used.
I do not collect guns, that would seem to be too much like work.
I don't sell guns, I just have some.
I've just about caught up on replacing my cap guns and holsters I had as a kid and have about 10 Daisy BB guns.
Now its time to start looking for the matching number Luger I bought and sold for $80.00
Did I say I liked guns?
Awesome post, Sheepdip. Thanks.0 -
quote:Originally posted by dheffley
I have many collectible guns. The ones I collect are because they are rare either because of a low number of production models or rarity of access to the public for ownership. I like that because if I collect them, they can be preserved and passed on.
I'm glad we have people like you who are interested in collecting (=preserving history) in this way, but I'm just not interested in doing it myself.
quote:I don't like guns that are collectible because they were used in a crime. I don't want Lee Harvey Oswald's revolver, Jack Ruby's revolver or David Berkowitz's just because they killed someone. What makes that a collectible, even though they will bring collectors prices at sale.
Again, I don't care at all for this kind of collecting, and I find it distasteful, but I can't fault somebody else for doing it. Later down the road, that might be an important artifact.
quote:I own every day shooters, high end custom and one of a kind guns, rare and collectible military and civilian guns, old guns who are now few in number, and a few that were passed down through family, and they are my most prized. It doesn't mean anything other than, that's what I like to own.
Here I can agree with you without qualification.0 -
Is there a difference between collecting and accumulating? You have acquired a bunch of the same sort of things and you hold onto them. That could describe both.
Or maybe "collecting" is deliberately buying things you "really" like and keeping them on purpose. Accumulating might be buying things and keeping them because you cant find the time to get rid of them.
I have always liked guns and have been "collecting" them since the late 60's. I have no problem with collecting.... does not bother me a bit, as a matter of fact, I enjoy the hell out of it.0 -
Collecting is in the safe of the beholder. 0
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