Paul R Zartman
Contributing Member
Mine were tools when acquired, after working on them, now they are all collector items....perfect...
Someone once said, life is too short to carry an ugly gun.
It's a good thing that there are collectors out there who preserve the fine pieces of the gun makers craft.
I do have one or two left that I bought as investments.
While I’ve probably never had or used as many tools as you, as an Electrician, and later on a Controls and Instrumentation Technician, I figure I’ve had and used my share of "tools" over the years. However, I just can’t exactly consider my guns as just tools.
Take my old Ruger 77, 30-06 for example. I’ve used it to put a heck of a lot of meat on the table. But I did that for fun - not because we needed the meat. As an Electrician, I used “tools” to make a decent living. And because of that, I was able to BUY the danged meat (if I would have wanted to) rather than use my 30-06 to go out and hunt it down myself.
On the other hand - call my 30-06 a collector’s item??? Nah, I used it - a lot. And it has the dings and scratches that say it’s been used. But I keep it around for a couple of reasons: first because I’m kind of a sentimental old fool, and second, because it’s a backup to my 308 Norma Mag - which as I’ve said several times, was my retirement gift to myself when I turned 62.
Who says you can shoot guns that you collect.I don't totally understand anyone that "collects" anything and only looks upon it whether it is a gun or a classic car they never drive. I sort of think of them as a pretty girl that you admire, but never take out dancing. Such a waste!! MHO.
Not to mention that I use tools to work on my guns, but I don't use guns to work on my tools.
I don't totally understand anyone that "collects" anything and only looks upon it whether it is a gun or a classic car they never drive. I sort of think of them as a pretty girl that you admire, but never take out dancing. Such a waste!! MHO.
Shoot me a PM, HowieG and I'll tell you who has one.It depends on the rarity and value. If I had a 1970 Hemi Cuda Convertible, I highly doubt I would drive it except to run it up on a trailer. Way too rare and way too valuable to actually drive around town. Only 14 were made and they are priced in excess of 2 million bucks.
Our guns are tools. I take very good care of my tools, but I don't worry about reasonable wear and tear. I see posts where guys get worked up at a minor scratch. That's not me. I'm not careless with them, but I don't go over them with a fine tooth comb looking for new wear or defects.
I didn't mean to insult anyone by using the term "tool". You can substitute "shooter", "sport gun", "recreation gun", etc. All the same to me in this context, but I can understand how "tool" could be a bit offputting.Pretty much the same with me.
I'm been a full time field tech since 1995. What I call tools are for work, or for chores that are effectively work. I'll lump in my self defense guns that are actually prepped for, practiced with, and carried for self defense as tools. That's because I don't carry self defense guns for pleasure or recreation.
My other guns that are owned solely for the enjoyment of shooting aren't tools to me (whether designed for self defense or not). They are for my recreation or sport.
When I hunted back in the day, I didn't hunt for sustenance, I hunted for recreation. Eating what I killed was part of that recreation. It was still cheaper for me to just simply grill up hamburger bought from the grocery store back then as it is now. Pretty much the same with fishing, as it too was for recreation and sport.
I do understand that guns are technically tools when being used, but I like to separate what I do for a living from what I do for fun. Not to mention that I use tools to work on my guns, but I don't use guns to work on my tools.
I think it's okay to have both.I'm just curious how most folks here think about this. I am a tool guy. I rebuild motors, I do all my own vehicle maint (even on our diesel pusher), have a nice welder, tons of nice tools, etc, etc. Our guns are tools. I take very good care of my tools, but I don't worry about reasonable wear and tear. I see posts where guys get worked up at a minor scratch. That's not me. I'm not careless with them, but I don't go over them with a fine tooth comb looking for new wear or defects.
I get that we're all different and I'm not running down the folks who like to keep their guns pristine, but I don't think they own a tool as much as a collectors item, at least from my viewpoint. If we're not using a gun or it does have a distinct purpose, we tend to sell/trade them. We are not collectors by any means.
No offense intended here. I have no problem with however anyone looks at or treats their guns. It was just a thought that popped into my head, so figured I post a poll.