Gun Collection out of Control? Part II

[Smoke]

Just read a thread by someone that thought their gun collection might be out of control. It was a modest collection, but the question made me think.

Do you ever feel you might need to "cull the herd some?"

Once a gun gets in my aresenal it is rare it will leave. I have sold very few of my guns. Only those I felt were inferior quality or just didn't "do it" for me.

I currently stand at:

Handguns: 8
Shotguns: 6
Rifles: 12

None of these are currently for sale. There are always some gaps to fill in, but nothing urgent.

Do ya'll ever feel "Out of control"? I don't.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Out of order, but not control. The difference is that order suggests some storage arrangement such that any desired firearm is easily found and retrieved. The notion of control of a collection raises an inference that your collecting habits are haphazard and there is no concentrated effort at building a collection with representative pieces. I fall into this latter category. They just keep following me home.

 

[ball3006]

My collection has matured to the

point where I don't want to sell anything. As my taste changed about 20 years ago I sold a few to get into other areas but now that I am into milsurps with all the history they offer, the collection will remain stable. Most modern firearms don't raise my interest like older firearms do. However, in 8 years when I retire I will have to cull the pack as we will be doing alot of RVing and there won't be room for alot but on the other hand, I will have a residence down south, for winter, and up north, for summer, so I can store the excesses there.....chris3

 

[GW45]

I have just about everything I could want in the following:

9 pistols
6 revolvers
15 rifles
7 shotguns

It would have to really catch my eye now for me to want something else.

Although a .45 carbine and one of those Mossberg Security .410s would be nice - but no hurry....

 

[10-Ring]

Addicted, NO! I can stop any time. Obsessed? Well, maybe
I don't think it's a big deal as long as you main responsibilities in life are being met.

 

[dakotasin]

i don't think my accumulation is out of control, though i'm not exactly sure how many i have.

it is a rare moment that i get rid of a gun, but it does happen. if i am completely perturbed w/ a gun, it will go. as of now, i have only sold 2 handguns, 2 shotguns, and 1 rifle.

as my tastes evolve, i pick up new gun, but not at the expense of an older one. i have found that even though, today, i prefer something else, tomorrow i want to go back to what i had yesterday. i guess you could call it a 'rounding out'.

 

[Kahr carrier]

Nope Never out of control ,just out of money on occassion. The funny thing about guns they can be a hobby or an investment.

 

[Schuey2002]

I can stop at any time..

OBTW, who wants to go shootin' ?? I'll bring the ammo..

 

[redneck2]

I know a guy...

who loves, and I mean LOVES, older Winchesters and Brownings. He's in his late 50's and started "collecting" when he was still mowing lawns as a youth for money. Remember, back then a 12 year old could walk into the Western Auto or Montgomery Wards and buy a gun.

He has multiples of the 30's-40's-and 50's vintage models in every caliber (or gauge) still in the original wrappers. His best guess is somewhere between 800 and 900 total.

He just always thought it'd be his retirement fund. I'd say he's probably right.

He doesn't talk a lot about his collection. If fact, it's hard to get him to tell you anything, but then, that's probably smart on his part. Kinda cool though...when was the last time you saw a NIB Belgian Sweet 16 or 42 Winchester??

 

[444]

Yeah, I decided that my collection is out of control. First let me state that I am single and I keep my everyday living expenses low. I have always owned guns since I was a child and always read the magazines and dreamed of buying just about everything I saw. Over the years I accumulated a decent collection (to many a pretty sizable collection) and I never sell anything. But, about a year ago I got promoted at work. I started making significantly more money. Plus, I had the opportunity to work almost unlimited overtime. I started working 70-80 hours a week for most of the last year. If I saw something that tickled my fancy even only slightly I bought it. I spent thousands and thousands on guns, ammo, reloading equipment, holsters, gadgets........... Recently I decided that this is crazy. I don't have time to shoot or reload because I am either working or too tired. I have dozens of guns I have never fired. I decided that at least for awhile, I am going to quit working all that overtime, enjoy the stuff I already own and be happy with it. Owning six or more of the same gun is nice, but it is right on the border of going too far.

I am an addict. But, I don't want any help. I want to wallow in my addiction.

 

[Baba Louie]

Out of Control?

Never.

Out of Money, I understand.

Not enough time to shoot em, can't keep em fed proper-like, I've got to live with, but out of control?

My girlfriend told me about her Dad and Brother (hey 444, they live in P-Rump too) so while visiting with them they showed me their (ahem) collection.

I was duly impressed I mean to some people 5 guns is a collection.

Then GF starts to reel off what she's seen of "the Few, the Good and the Proud" that my son and I (it sounds better if I include him... at least that's a trick my Dad used ) own. It got quiet fast.

There's only maybe 50 - 60 - 70 or so, I'm not sure. I've got a list somewhere. Most are old milsurp (I mean, when you could buy a Swedish Mauser for $69 why stop at one? I bought 4, kept 2)

But out of control?

Take my Dad. Over twice the amount I think I own. He's a retired machinist and Gunsmith and a lot of his are "working, work ons, never work", thousands of bits and pieces (he started in the late 50's) OK, Maybe hundreds of bits & pieces.

But out of control?

My grandfather worked at Lake City Ammunition plant east of Indep MO (old hometown). Burlap sacks of brass waiting for me to pick up some day.

Not out of control. In control.

Now, collecting knives. That's almost out of control.

Adios

 

[FPrice]

Hi.

My name is Frosty and I am a gun-aholic.

(Hi Frosty!!!)

But, I can quit any time I want.

I just don't want to.

Quit, that is.

 

[444]

"Burlap sacks of brass waiting for me to pick up some day."

When are WE leaving ?

 

[444]

By the way, you want to talk about out of control ? I am right now cleaning Sten magazines. Tapco had them for $2/each. I have 50 dirty, cosmoline covered mags to clean. I am doing a few a day to keep from flipping out.
Being prepared is one thing. Satisfying your desires is something else. But 50 magazines ? For something I almost never shoot ? I can have 1600 rounds loaded in magazines and ready to go.