Define "Collecting."

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D.B. Cooper

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Define firearms "collecting." And I'm not talking about the ATF/legal/C&R Licensee definition.

@Garandimal recently commented in another discussion that "firearms collecting is a mental disorder." This was in response to a post I made about buying a CMP1911, not as a shooter, but as a piece of history. (Which fell through, by the way.)

Someone I know offline recently asked why I wasn't collecting guns. To him, buying any gun is "collecting."

Is firearm collection any different than any other collecting type hobby, such as coins, stamps, or pieces of Americana?
 
Is firearm collection any different than any other collecting type hobby, such as coins, stamps, or pieces of Americana?

Personally, I see no difference. If one has an interest in something and obtains items for that reason, I figure that's collecting. Just because it happens to be a weapon means nothing.

Now, some may feel there's a difference between "collecting" due to an interest/enjoyment and "hoarding" due to a perceived necessity or threat, but I'm not going to go there.
 
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Does this mean I am "collecting" canned goods, vegitables, etc., when I go to the store?

Good question. I would say you are buying those for consumption whereas when one collects coins (or guns) one generally has a plan of what types and conditions of coins (guns) one is going to buy. Or not. I know people who just by guns for the sake of buying guns.
 
To me, collecting means accumulating more than I need.

Not sure of the OP was tongue-in-cheek, but I think there may be some legitimate hoarding/ocd tendencies among many collectors. As one, I know that “you may never see another for this price” is the nagging voice of the devil on my shoulder.....or “they stopped making these, so grab it now”.....or “political action is coming”. Honestly, I take the most pleasure in finding those guns not on any potential ban list....those that I can take my time to really get what I want...revolvers and 1911s for example. I’m sure <9-round capacity handguns will be the last to go if the bad gets worse around 2A.

As a note, I have many that I’ve never fired....not because they are too pretty or valuable...I simply haven’t made the time.
 
I play a game with the grand kids called "Need or Want". Firearm accumulation could be also be thrown into that category. Do I really "need" it? or do I "want" it? Collecting is more a "want" that serves no purpose other than to own something you like but won't serve a useful purpose.
 
I play a game with the grand kids called "Need or Want". Firearm accumulation could be also be thrown into that category. Do I really "need" it? or do I "want" it? Collecting is more a "want" that serves no purpose other than to own something you like but won't serve a useful purpose.


No argument here.
 
To me, collecting means accumulating more than I need.

Not sure of the OP was tongue-in-cheek, but I think there may be some legitimate hoarding/ocd tendencies among many collectors. As one, I know that “you may never see another for this price” is the nagging voice of the devil on my shoulder.....or “they stopped making these, so grab it now”.....or “political action is coming”. Honestly, I take the most pleasure in finding those guns not on any potential ban list....those that I can take my time to really get what I want...revolvers and 1911s for example. I’m sure <9-round capacity handguns will be the last to go if the bad gets worse around 2A.

As a note, I have many that I’ve never fired....not because they are too pretty or valuable...I simply haven’t made the time.

I would suggest that if you are basing your firearm purchases upon concern for some future political action, then it's not really "collecting."
 
Collection is a subjective term. My "collection" is an eclectic array of firearms, "a different gun for each purpose." Some collections are themed, "every US infantry rifle", "every S&W 66 offering", etc. I think it simply depends on what one wants their collection for, and, unlike most collections, firearms can be used, not merely inspected, if the owner chooses.
 
Some words are strict in meaning, while others are open to interpretation.

Collecting and accumulating can be interchangeable to a large degree. The “tax collector” was someone who went door to door to gather the revenue due the sovereign. The money he collected was transactional in nature.

I would opine that you need to consider the intentions behind acquiring the firearm, which could be multifaceted.

A gun shop owner has a “collection” of firearms for sale. They buy and sell guns not to accumulate them per se, but to make money and their livelihood from the transactions.

Often, a “gun collector” does the same thing in a sense, albeit probably at a much slower pace. The driving force behind the business person is how fast can they turn the gun into cash and the potential profit margin, but whereas the “collector” will buy guns that they “fancy” (with an emotional factor added to the acquisition) more than simply price versus value. And when the “emotional connection” wanes, or the piece becomes valuable to the point the owner would prefer the cash from the sale over the gun in the safe, the collector sells or trades the gun. This is little different than an art collector IMO.

Personally, I would characterize myself as a person who accumulates firearms that I prefer to use. All my guns have value, but none will likely become a “collector item” down the road.
 
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I don't collect, I accumulate.

This is how I look at it.

Due to hunting (upland, big game, waterfowl), various competitions (CAS, IDPA, 3GUN, Trap, Sporting Clays) and defensive use I've "accumulated" 65+ guns. To some that's a collection, but there's no "theme" that I believe is needed for a serious collection.

So I've accumulated.....
 
My Gun Collection consists of US mil property marked martial firearms, such as M1911, M1911 A1, both S&W M1917,s, Garands, 03's, carbines, etc. There is also a python, a series 70 gold cup, and a super 38. In addition, I have a "collection of guns" (see the difference?) that includes numerous Glocks for training and protection, AR types and other 1911's for training, range fun, competition, etc., and a cabinet of various rifles and shotguns for hunting that anyone could buy at Academy or walmart.
 
I’ve picked up a few guns, here and there, over the years.
I have those guns that are tools. They have a purpose.
I have those guns that are for fun. I like having fun.
And then there are those that I collect. A good many I didn’t buy as shooters. None fall into the tool category, but some do fall into the fun category.
Here’s just some of the ones I collect. These are Turkish Mausers . I guess you can say that I like my Turks.
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I also like Mosin carbines.
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I always try to buy a gun that has a purpose. I just traded for a rifle to get back into rifle hunting, I have my shotgun for SD, I have my EDC carry combos, I have hunting handguns, and that's pretty much it. Money can be tight sometimes so if I have extra funds for a gun i make sure the guns I get are tools first. For instance I need a .22 revolver pretty soon (gift for my son), and an Ak or AR ( I have absolutely no semi auto rifles) BUT if I had the funds you bet your @$$ id be buying wartime garands,1911s, 1917 revolvers, and others
 
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There are degrees to serious collectors of any item. Some folks collect like they are running a museum that no one but a small circle of friends see on display. Only handled with lint free gloves in climate controlled rooms. Some folks buy an item and find that there are other similar ones that interest them and look to buy more.
The last one is my collecting or accumulating plan. I have S&W revolvers that are 'cult' guns but collecting them went out the window because shooting them is too much fun. (S&W 681, 696, 60-4 60 no dash are that category) Recently I saw a 39-2 with all the papers, tools and box. This pistol gave me the bug to find other single stack S&W pistols.
My Dad collected P'08 and P38. He only had a couple war trophy ones in his collection, most of his others were commercial versions, he never shot a one.
To me a general interest in firearms can lead an accumulator to become a collector.
 
I think if you have some firearms that you don't shoot. You are a collector of firearms. I have a friend who has over 300 firearms and there are a few he doesn't even remember buying or even knew he had. Now that's not even collecting that's hoarding. IMO. I have 17 firearms and I can barely get around to shooting all of them.
 
I’d say that if you buy guns, or something else, because you like them without much practical purpose that’s basically collecting. I have a few that are just cool to me and I’d never carry or shoot at an animal or grab when my back window was broken. You can shoot your collectibles or not. Use is inconsequential.
 
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