How Do You Justify, In Your Mind, Large Gun Collections?

[leadcounsel]

In time...nearly all things appreciate if left in new condition.

Not true. In fact the opposite is true.

 

[coloradokevin]

Everyone is different. For me, I don't buy a gun unless I have some articulable "need" (read: want) for that firearm. At the present time I have somewhere between 12-20 guns. I don't normally buy guns to be safe queens, and I don't look at them for investment sake, for many of the same reasons that the OP touched on.

Sometimes my purchases would appear repetitive, but each gun has a reason for being in my collection. By way of example:

I bought an AR-15 variant many years ago to use as a plinking gun. When I later became a police officer I needed an AR-15 for work, and this rifle needed to be set up in a manner that was different than my original AR. Thus, I now have two AR-15's. I also had a Glock pistol in a caliber that my department didn't authorize, so I now have two glock pistols that look very similar from the outside, but each fire a different cartridge.

This can go on:

hunting shotguns vs defensive shotguns, hunting rifles vs target rifles, a semi-auto 10-22 vs a bolt action .22lr that I teach new shooters with.

I didn't start out with the idea of having a huge collection. I simply bought what I needed to fill some specific roles in my gun closet, and my collection grew over time. These days I'm finally at the point that I don't take EVERY gun with me to the range on most trips (I used to do that when I only have 5 guns or so), but I still shoot all of the guns. I also have a few more guns I'd like to add to my collection!

 

[KarenTOC]

OP: How Do You Justify, In Your Mind, Large Gun Collections?

OP: have you ever come to a point in your collecting where you had to try to justify to yourself buying another firearm?

As far as I can tell, the OP isn't asking how we justify additional purchases to anyone but ourselves.

GRIZ22: Gun "collections" are like Hummel figures, chess sets, old tools, or any other collection.

ArmedBear: See, when I think of it that way, I can't understand why I have any guns I don't shoot... I don't have any bottles of Scotch I don't drink, cars I don't drive, shoes I don't wear, etc.

I think there are two types of people in this world: those who enjoy collecting, and those who don't. The noncollectors will probably never understand the collectors - and vice versa. <insert 'to each his own'-themed platitude of choice here.>

I too am single and have thought about what a burden it would be on my family to have to try to do something with all of my guns, but I haven't stopped buying guns.

When my father-in-law died 2 years ago, I was stunned to learn that I was the executor* of his will. Let me say this: EVERYTHING you own will be a burden to your family after you're gone. Why single out your guns? They will have to sort through, clean up, evaluate, and dispose of everything you own, one way or another.

Instead, I created a catalog of all of my guns, I took two pictures of each gun (one close up of the serial number and one of the overall gun) I then created a form in Microsoft publisher. I included the two pictures, where I acquired the gun, the amount I paid for the gun, and an approximate value of the gun (which I try to keep updated), and anything particularly interesting about the gun (the ones handed down for instance) this way if something should happen to me my family has a general idea of what each gun is worth and some of the history of the gun

Wonderful idea - and if you add all your other worldly goods with any value (vehicles, electronic equipment, gadgets, widgets, and thingies) you'll be remembered fondly by all your descendants


* If you're ever asked to be executor, the only correct answer is OH, HELL NO! Well, maybe if you're a lawyer or a masochist...

 

[MICHAEL T]

More fun than collecting stamps and takes less room than collecting Cars

 

[Hangingrock]

This applies to me “If you can’t run with the big dogs you better stay on the porch”. There is only so much disposable income. Some have more than others. I’m not being judgmental nor am I wealth envious of others. I do admire the collections of others such as S&W “Registered Magnums”.

 

[rygould]

No problem in justifying it to myself. It's like a fat kid craving ice cream. I just have to have them. It's the wife who needs the justification.

She is by no means anti-gun, but she is anti-gun prices. We have settled in on a "shopping list" of pistols and long guns that while she feels is far more than I need, I feel will satisfy my ever insatiable desire for new guns. The deal is now if I bring a new one home; I either have to get rid of one, or get a better paying job.

 

[RainDodger]

I'm an adult. I don't need to justify it. I'm not being flippant; I simply don't need to justify it. If it's something I want and I can afford it, and it's not totally stupid, I do it.

I can do that because I do have a job, I take my investments and savings off the top before I ever see it, and what I have left at the end is for myself.

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

How Do You Justify, In Your Mind, Large Gun Collections?

Justify? I don't need no stinkin justify!

You might as well ask how a person justifies how often they have sex.

Woody

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

[size=+3]HEY WAIT![/size]

I figured it out.

It's to quench an urge.

Woody

 

[Phydeaux642]

I don't need to justify my actions to anyone.

You missed my question. How do you justify your collection for yourself?

"...that most guns are really not an investment at all..." Nosense.

Unless you are seeking out older guns in good condition and get them at bargain prices then I have to disagree. There are no Glocks or 10/22s or or Rock Island 1911s, etc., that are going to keep up with inflation. So, they are not good investments. Yes, if you are very selective, then maybe you can do well. You know as well as I do that 99% of the buyers out there aren't doing that, though.

 

[thewilbur]

After selling off my firearms before and during my divorce, I was in financial hot water for a few years. When I started to collect again, I bought a few firearms to establish what I considered to be a foundation. I then added new stuff to load for and experiment with.

I think it is important to have and maintain a core collection... a foundation. I discovered that after selling off my earlier collection, I wound up only missed a few. However, I do not regret my earlier purchases, since the experience of loading, shooting, and hunting with them was worth a great deal to me... almost as much as the guns themselves.

 

[The_Pretender]

If you feel you have to justify it, something is probably wrong from the get-go.

 

[FLAvalanche]

My wife used to complain about my guns. I told her I would stop buying guns when she stopped buying those stupid Precious Moments figurines.

Probably one of the reasons she an ex-wife...

 

[JohnBT]

Collecting guns is cheaper than collecting ex wives.

 

[SaxonPig]

"Anyone" includes myself. If I want it, I buy it. I don't feel the need to justify my expenditures. Wanting is justification.


I wanted these:



And these:



And these:



And all the others that are not pictured. No further explanation required.

 

[Guillermo]

What I'm asking is have you ever come to a point in your collecting where you had to try to justify to yourself buying another firearm?

uh...no

 

[inSight-NEO]

SaxonPig-

Quite the envious collection there. Of course, the first thing that popped in my head when I saw the pics is "this guy is either unmarried, has too much money, has way too much time on his hands or any combination of the three!"

Still, assuming these are truly yours...nice.

 

[Nushif]

Ahhh! I saw a P38! I want it!

 

[wvshooter]

I don't think anyone needs to justify any size gun collection. There are lots of fun things to collect and guns are just one choice.

As far as investing goes I've made several investments down through the years that have cost me several thousand dollars. It would be nice if I could go back in time and just put that same money into guns. It would have been so much smarter.

 

[rattletrap1970]

I'm a mechanical designer, been doing that for going on 18 years now. I've always loved mechanical things; I think the inside of a pocketwatch is art. Every gun, rifle, pistol or shotgun to me is a work of art in it's own way. I almost think of gun collecting as the same thing as collecting paintings, except you can use them. Every one has a personality, they all work, behave and feed differently. A friend once said to me, "How many guns do you need?" I said, "All of 'em"

 

[inSight-NEO]

Upon reading all of these "I do not have to justify my excess to anyone" posts, I wonder, how do you guys get past your wife (for those who are married)?

It seems the only logical answer to this would be having the appropriate funds to satisfy personal thirst, along with paying the bills on time, having plenty of "emergency funds" set aside, taking care of the kids needs and keeping the wife shopping at Macys. I guess "justification" becomes much less of an issue when you have plenty of money to burn.

However...some of us actually do end up being held accountable for such purchases, and thus are not able to sport such a "cavalier" attitude. Otherwise, the costs could end up being much greater than the sum of all weapons purchased...figuratively speaking.

For those who are able to rack up countless numbers of weaponry, I salute you. I am just glad I'm not the one having to clean/store all of those damn things!

And yes...I am a bit jealous. So what?

 

[zxcvbob]

I like them; I can afford them; they don't take up too much room yet.

All the bills are paid on time, the house is paid-off, there's food on the table, I'm paying for most of my kid's college expenses, I give money to charity, and I'm maxing out the contributions to my retirement accounts. There's not much money left at the end of the month after I've taken care of all that, and I'll spend some of it however I like with a clean conscience.

(I think I spend more on gunpowder than I do guns.)

 

[Officers'Wife]

Why do you feel the need, in your mind, to justify having any possession regardless of number?

But if you insist I'll give you the words of my Grandfather- When he was still alive he kept a pair of mules and harness for said mules as well as 'farmed' 5 acres with them. When a local wag asked him why he bothered with the animals the old gentleman replied... "Because I can."

 

[Guillermo]

I wonder, how do you guys get past your wife (for those who are married)?

My gun purchases are no more her business than her shoe purchases are mine.

 

[inSight-NEO]

Why do you feel the need, in your mind, to justify having any possession regardless of number?

At some point, it comes down to what one "needs" and what one simply "wants." Needs are based on reality/practicality/survival...wants are based on wishes/dreams/pleasure. The justification part is situation/conviction based (along with any number of variables).

Either way, I applaud those with large collections, regardless of the reasons; and yes, I somewhat envy them as well. It is understandable...guns are cool. I am a huge fan/proponent of guns and always will be.

By the way, I am not knocking those who buy whatever they want, whenever they want. I honestly have no issue with it. Rather, I am merely pointing out the differences between those who can and those who possibly cant (or probably should not). Again, if you are married with children, for instance, you are no longer merely held accountable to only yourself.

Regardless, I know this is a bit "off topic," so I will not bother elaborating. After all, this is an interesting thread, with interesting responses. I would hate to see it closed. Therefore, I will shut up and try to avoid being partially responsible for this thread taking a trip on the downward spiral.