At what point did you stop accumulating, and start refining your collection.

[Normandy]

Since 20 is your highest choice, I'll go with that.
I had more M1 carbines than that. Almost that many Garands. But, the bride informed me that the family budget included more than just my gun collection.

I pretty much sold off my milsurps, and bought "us" a travel trailer for camping comfort.
THAT refined my collection.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Looking back at my records, I decided I started collecting with a purpose at 4 handguns. Pretty much every gun after 4 was bought for a purpose of rounding out or developing my collection.

At gun 16 is where I started focusing my collection on one particular model and type. I now have 56 of the same model in variations and types. Since I started buying that particular model, I have only bought handguns that were either for plinking (22's) or for carry.

 

[Sarge]

I started "refining" my "accumulation" about 50+ yrs ago.
I started out to collect P.38s and later expanded into K98ks. I currently have around 60+ of each. Then there are the 15+ full autos and 3 or 4 mortars.
Since I was having trouble finding gunz that I needed to fill gaps I expanded to US and ruskie with a few Brits thrown in.
Then I went to Viet Nam and when I came back I collected VN period gunz to include the 4 that I brought home.
I have my "collection" and then I have my "shooters" and the 2 are Never mixed!
Sage

 

[marv]

My refinement occurred at an event rather than a number. A mini stroke paralysed my right eye requiring me to shoot pistols crosseyed. Can't shoot rifles so I retired them and started buying more pistols.

 

[GLOOB]

Well, I stopped being interested in cheap milsurp firearms after the first couple sat around collecting dust.

But I also stopped being interested in revolvers after my minty SW and Ruger sat around collecting dust.

And I still want to buy a Hi Point in the future. So I guess I have never refined or collected anything.

If I was into collecting, I would want an HK P7M13. I saw a picture of one in a magazine when I was a kid, and I thought it looked pretty nifty. When I finally buy one of those, I will have started a "collection."

 

[Magnuumpwr]

As of now my number is exponentially larger than you have listed in the poll. If or when a life experience occurs that causes me to do the unthinkable, sell any of my guns, I will be sure to post it. For now I will keep adding low, mid, and high end guns to my extended family.

 

[AustinTX]

I haven't started, and I don't intend to ever start.

I basically never sell anything. I can't think of any circumstances or reasons for which I'd ever sell any gun of mine other than these:

(1) Upgrading a specific model/variant in my collection by replacing it with the same gun in better condition. Not going to happen often, because I'm pretty picky about condition in the first instance.

(2) Getting rid of a gun bought for purely practical purposes that turns out to be a poor fit. I once won an LCP on GB after submitting a really low bid that I was sure wouldn't win. I already knew that the gun fit my hands poorly, so I was irritated with myself after I won it for bidding in the first place. Promptly sold it off NIB for more than I paid for it.

(3) Getting rid of a gun bought for purely practical purposes that turns out to be an unreliable POS. Haven't done this yet, but if my Kahr P380 doesn't come back working perfectly after its fifth trip to the factory I'll (try to) dump it with problems disclosed.

(4) Selling off something I didn't want that I won in some contest, manufacturer giveaway, etc., if I were ever so lucky.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Sounds like a whole lot of folks have collections/arsenals that are way bigger than my meager little band of misfits.

Guess I have some work to do.