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Remember when gun collecting was actually about collecting guns? Do you ever get tired of the endless discussions of which cartridge is better, which gun is the best gun for concealed carry or home defense? I sure do. I like to talk about a gun because it's interesting; I like to buy guns because they're interesting. My last purchase was a rolling block rifle of Belgian maufacture. It probably started life as a school gun somewhere. Chambered in .32 short rimfire, it was probably produced for the US or Canadian market. Had it been intended for the European market, it would have more likely been chambered for 6 mm, 7 mm, or 9mm rimfire. I learned that the purchasers often purchased bayonets for rifles of this sort, often plug bayonets which reather startled me. But I found a book on plug bayonets which should now be making its way from Great Britain. to me, this is what the gun hobby is really about for those of us who love guns. So much of the rest seems more for the person who has only a few guns and considers them to be tools and nothing more.
I like the interesting and unusual. I have an American Arms derringer, Wheeler's patent. The two barrel breech block twists around to fire the second shot. The funs were made in the Eighteen-sixties and are chambered for several small caliber rounds. Many, including mine, have two different chamberings: one barrel is a .22; the other is a .32. What did the manufacturer have in mind? Was the idea to pick the cartridge based on the size of the opponent, or to use the bigger round if he were farther away? Often, this sort of information turns up, many times in unexpected places.
This isn't my gun. Mine still has virtually all the blue finish on the barrel bloc.
What do you like to collect? What guns do you like because they're interesting, not the equivalent of a power drill that was made last month in China?
I remember gun collecting. I managed to get my hands on several WW1 and WW2 military rifles over the years. I also have a Winchester 94 "Big Bore" rifle in .375 Win, which cartridge isn't commercially available any more. I tend to approach gun collecting like a "type collection" in coin collecting, in which one tries to get a representative sample of each variety. Next I want to get a heavy-barrelled varmint rifle in one of the small speedy calibers.
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
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I can remember going to gun shows with my father when I was young and there were always some old world fowling pieces on display, beautiful and unique rifles and a variety of special pieces and curia. You could also find deals from time to time.
I went to my first gun show as an adult about two years ago and it was literally wall-to-wall black rifles, tactical gear, sniper rifles, sniper scopes, night vision, Kalashnikovs, SOCthis and USPthat (and all MSRP less 5-8%)
I've been to two more with coworkers and both were the same. Gunbroker.com killed the gunshow.
I'm too young to remember a time when gun collecting was actually affordable for anyone who isn't rolling in cash.
For example, that Winchester rifle collection would be worth around 100K. Just the Henry would go for $40-60,000...
That sounds good, but it's really not anywhere near that.
The rifles are all hard used and the Henry is pretty beat up & shortened. They all came out of Mexico where the rancheros & campesinos didn't take very good care of their weapons. I have several other not pictured, including a parted-out 1st Model '73 with a 3 digit serial number. Not to mention a couple small tool boxes full of original Winchester parts.
My Dad actually assembled a collection of about 100 Winchesters during the '60s when he worked in northern Mexico. Then sold the culls to pay for the remaining 3 dozen which were split up between me & my two brothers. He paid an average of $20 for the '73s, $50 for '66s, but did drop $400 on the Henry about the time he retired in 1975. He also bought a couple nice Single Actions for $30 each. He did turn down a Texas Paterson 5" or 6" for $500.....he wasn't sure of it's authenticity.
Pretty much the same for most of the handguns, although I collected several of those myself.
I can remember going to gun shows with my father when I was young and there were always some old world fowling pieces on display, beautiful and unique rifles and a variety of special pieces and curia. You could also find deals from time to time.
I went to my first gun show as an adult about two years ago and it was literally wall-to-wall black rifles, tactical gear, sniper rifles, sniper scopes, night vision, Kalashnikovs, SOCthis and USPthat (and all MSRP less 5-8%)
I've been to two more with coworkers and both were the same. Gunbroker.com killed the gunshow.
Do you seek out the "collectors" gun shows? Many regions have special collectors associations that hold competitions for their shows. In my area it is held twice each year. Without contest the collector's shows are the best ones of the year.
I don't fault gunbroker and other auction sites for meeting the needs of sellers and collectors. There are some pretty good auctions out there by dealers who specialize in certain areas or rare collections as well.
There are still frequent gun shows in Texas. They are far from dead.
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