collectible mindset thoughts

[Niner]

An American mindset early on. First you get a C&R and buy some of everything for $100 or less...often four for a hundred from Century, once upon a time, with shiping paid... mostly junk...but maybe not. I skipped the four fors and bought $50 Turk Mausers in "good" condition shipped free instead. LOL. Life was lovely. Lots of American's are still new at this and maybe this is where they still are ....kind of like discovering whiskey and not knowing there is a lot more out there than they can ever drink. ( Sorry for the metaphor.. just crossed my mind.)

Eventually , we Americans, get to the point we are more particular what we collect, or maybe just decide that we want one kind of collection. Or if not one of a kind, at least as good of an overall collection as we can manage.

Europeans, and others, in less open countries as far as gun collecting is concerned have to buy according to allowed numbers on the one hand and with "retail" money figures on the other. It isn't as easy and more thought has to go into what is collected and how, often by moving other arms out of collection in order to keep up with collection restrictions.

Some of us are more interested in the differences. I want to see how an Enfield is made and how it shoots different from a Mosin Nagant, and from a Mauser, and a French MAS, and an Italian Carcano, etc. This will continue with me until I no longer collect.

A good example of a firearm I have never had, and never fired before would be hard to pass up over a better historic sample of a firearm I have a lessor valued representative of in my collection.

Any thoughts on this collecting hobby.....from all the places that our members come from? I'd be interested to know how you think of it.

[Woftam]

Very different out here in aus, with more restrictions on firearms ownership and a lack of big firearms wholesalers. Would I gone down the "four for" road if it had been available ? Possibly. Three of my guns were bought over the net/phone. It took a lot of photo's and hard thought though before deciding. I still much prefer the opportunity to put my fingerprints on something before I buy it.

I have always been reasonably focused on what I acquire, mainly because my discretionary funds are limited. Although I have observed the phenomena you describe in others in aus. Personally I will acquire enfields until I have acquired those that I want which are realistically within my means of acquiring. Pragmatically I have a "want" list (4) and a "would if I could" list, but chances range from slim to buckleys. Once those four are acquired then it's whatever takes my fancy that is readily available.

One issue in buying here is the spreadout nature of our continent/population, and therefore gunshops/gunshows. The disappearance of cheap, quality milsurp ammunition makes reloading a must. As well as eating into funds having to acquire dies/powder/cases/projectiles for multiple calibres makes acquiring multiple types of rifles unattractive at some point.

Philosophically I appear diametrically opposed to yourself. A good example of a firearm I have never had, and never fired before would be passed up over a better historic sample of a firearm I have a lessor valued representative of in my collection.

[joseyclosey]

I have reached a level in numbers of rifles that i am happy with, i have a few less desirable rifles in my collection that i may trade later on.

My "ticket" is in for renewal at the moment, when i get it back i will have 2 variations which are already earmarked to be filled. One .303 and one 7.92.

Joe

[dhtaxi]

My firearm certificate as issued by my local police force allows me to own a amount of firearms if I wanted to increase the amount it would mean beefing up my security I would have to install a monitored alarm.

The alarm would be monitored in my local police control room as well as extra security on the house at my expense. So its not worth me applying for extra slots on my certificate.

This means I have to work with the numbers I'm allowed to own. When I first got my certificate I would buy anything and everything as long as I had the money to pay for them.

I'm more selective now I try to keep two slots vacant in case anything comes up I really want but the problem there is the vacant slots are for particular calibers 303 for instance so if I wanted a 6.5x55 Id have to apply to my licencing department to change the slot to 6.5x55 with a reason the change.

Complicated so I tend to be careful what I apply for and buy.

At the moment Im Ok with what Iv got Id like a couple of .22 trainers or martini,s IM also wanting a 6.5x55 as you may have guessed. But other than that I'm concentrating on shooting what Iv got in rotation I want to develop loads for them and concentrate on learning how they shoot at different distances and improve my groups. I'm also toying with the idea of a Nagant sniper but it will mean going through the chew on of altering my certificate.

Another consideration is the price of ammo and components in the UK now they are getting frightening.

Last but not least is the problem I have with iron sights my eyes ain't what they used to be so sighting systems are a consideration peep sights make a rifle more attractive or military snipers although they are more expensive.

Oh and last of all I need more money to spend on them need to stop eating.

[Grubber]

I seem to be collecting in the oddball rifle direction.

At first I wanted to get at least one representitive rifle from each major

country in ww2. Now I also seem to have a fondness for odd looking or odd caliber rifles. one stipulation to my collecting is they all have to shoot.

That seems to amaze some folks. That rifle is how old? And your shooting it? My pistol collecting has no real direction if it calls to me I will try to buy it. Although I did go after a webly because I wanted a pistol to go with my enfields.

Grubber

[A square 10]

i took a definite direction enfields & springfields up front , its stayed pretty tru but ive added US handguns and webleys & enfields to the list , i strayed recently into swiss but have corrected that now , im afraid id loose control completely if i didnt stay narrowly focussed

[DSchnopp]

My limiting factor is my wifes good will. Last year her mother was laid up for a couple of months (300 miles away) and I was there every weekend. I hit the jackpot as far as my rifle collection. I have not bought any US rifles due to the cost. I would love to getan M-1903 Springfield and an M-1917 Enfield.

Dave

[Niner]

Dave, you might consider getting that Springfield from the CMP while the getting is good. No telling when they might run out.