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

[PH/CIB]

Firearms are one of the best investments you can make.

I have paid thousands for home insurance and car insurance over the years and collected practically nothing but peace of mind in return.

If things get really bad, and I mean really bad, stocks and bonds, bank accounts, credit cards, money etc will all become virtually worthless.

Land that you can grow crops on, or raise livestock on, have timber on, build a shelter on, and hopefully a pump non electric well or a stream or a pond on, and a defendable perimenter,whether valuable monetarily or not will become priceless.

We live under a very thin veneer of civilization, after a week or two without food, we would all kill each other over a candy bar.

Firearms that we all enjoy collecting and shooting for fun, will now become priceless for hunting, survival and self defense.

It is easy to have a fairly large collection of firearms, and you do not have to be rich to do it, if in your twenties you just purchase one firearm a year for the rest of your life, by the time you are sixty or seventy you will have fourty to fifty firearms.

Unfortunately in my case, I buy and sell, at one point in my life I had a lot more than that, at this point a lot less, but I shoot and enjoy all of them.

 

[Nine Lives]

I'm young and only have about 8 guns, which is fairly large in my mind. I like the nicest ones I can get too, I'm an HK fan (goodbye, disposable income) so my guns are either that or other really high end ones. I also love BMW's and European suits, between those things and my girlfriend I don't worry to much about buying some cheapass gun that somewhat strikes my fancy to add to the collection. To each their own though, I can see the appeal in having a ton of them, it's just not realistic or attractive to me. Like Glocks.

 

[Nosidda Zneas]

Collecting guns is cheaper than collecting ex wives.

what from the river bottom before the cops find them?

J/K

 

[Phydeaux642]

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

It seems to me that after a point many of the purchases become redundant. As an example, I used to have seven bicycles. One day I said to myself, "Why do I need seven bicycles?".The answer for me was "For my uses, I don't need seven bicycles". So, I gave away a couple, sold a couple and now have three. I'd only have two if I could get anything out of my oldest bicycle that I completely rebuilt and now has more in parts than it's worth.

Hey, it doesn't bother me one bit how many guns you have. I enjoy looking at pictures of your collections. Some of them are outstanding and worthy of a museum setting. If the collecting is the thrill for you, then more power to you. I'm not saying that I will not buy another gun. But, at this point I am way more selective than I used to be. It has to be something special (in my mind) to go ahead and spend the money. I've also got to a point where I think I can let go of some stuff and not regret it.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Backups!

A bit of background...I shoot 5 MLAIC pistol events that require different guns. So I have a primary and a backup for each event. 10 guns.

Now, three of those are originals...which means having a replica to train with. Being careful, I've got backups for those. 16 guns.

I also shoot N-SSA events. My MLAIC revolvers do double duty, but this adds musket and carbine. 18 guns, and I inherited Dad's stuff. 20 guns.

I also shoot NRA bullseye pistol, NMLRA, and ISSF matches.

Toss in some investment-grade pieces, and you wind up with quite a collection.

I'll add that I am more selective these days...but when you have a C&R, there are bargains you can't pass up.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Backups!

A bit of background...I shoot 5 MLAIC pistol events that require different guns. So I have a primary and a backup for each event. 10 guns.

Now, three of those are originals...which means having a replica to train with. Being careful, I've got backups for those. 16 guns.

I also shoot N-SSA events. My MLAIC revolvers do double duty, but this adds musket and carbine. 18 guns, and I inherited Dad's stuff. 20 guns.

I also shoot NRA bullseye pistol, NMLRA, and ISSF matches.

Toss in some investment-grade pieces, and you wind up with quite a collection.

Great answer.

 

[Guillermo]

I never think about how many I own, probably because it is such a meager number.

I DO think of what I want.

Justify it? To who?

 

[zxcvbob]

So Guillermo, how many shoes *does* your wife have?

 

[Guillermo]

So Guillermo, how many shoes *does* your wife have?

I have no idea

 

[browningguy]

I just buy them because I like them.

 

[Zanad]

for me, I have havent "started" on what I want to buy.... a crate full(20) of mosins or AK or sks should get me started.

 

[AKElroy]

Quote:
Collecting guns is cheaper than collecting ex wives.

what from the river bottom before the cops find them?

The guns or the wives?

 

[agent89]

I think it is human nature to collect what is appealing. Guns like so many other hobbies sometimes get a little out of control. I have curbed my buying for sometime. I have a way of thinking of it as "shop from my own store". If a new gun sparks interest, I remind myself that I have something similar that I could use. The fact that I am on this site could be trouble for me (want a lcr)

 

[Officers'Wife]

One day I said to myself, "Why do I need seven bicycles?".The answer for me was "For my uses, I don't need seven bicycles". So, I gave away a couple, sold a couple and now have three. I'd only have two if I could get anything out of my oldest bicycle that I completely rebuilt and now has more in parts than it's worth.

That's a question of priority not lack of justification. You trade little pieces of your life for the money you earn. Somewhere along the line we have been convinced having too many possessions is immoral. I have thirty teddy bears. Do I need thirty teddy bears? Of course not. Am I evil for keeping thirty teddy bears when there are people that don't have one? Nyet kamarade, that nonsense hasn't taken a foothold in my household.

 

[Mike OTDP]

There's also investment.

I'll stipulate that most production firearms are not a terribly good investment. They don't depreciate as much as a car, but you have the same "lose 10% of value once you get it off the lot" loss.

Older guns, though, can be very profitable. Anyone who bought Civil War guns in the '60s or '70s could sell at a high profit, and they are still appreciating. And I bought my E. German Makarov for $169...from a guy who had a crate full of them. I'm kicking myself for not buying the whole crate, as they have doubled in price. Cz-82s will probably go the same way.

 

[bannockburn]

I think Mike ODTP makes an excellent point that for him, he needs different guns (and their accompanying back-ups), for a variety of specialized purposes.

Many, many years ago, a prosperous knight would have had a number of different weapons for any number of different battle conditions. He might also have had at least 4 to 6 horses. Typically 1 or 2 pack horses for carrying his armor, weapons, and supplies. Next he would have a large draft horse which would be his primary war horse for battle or tournaments. There would also be another horse (a back-up if you will), usually of the same size and breed as the war horse, which the knight would use for practice. He might also have another horse which would primarily be used for basic transportation.

Now substitute cars, trucks, or motorcycles for horses, and handguns, shotguns, and rifles for swords, lances, and battle axes, and you might have a modern day collector.

 

[Legionnaire]

Temperance in all things. With alcohol, some drink more, some less ... some not at all, and some think others shouldn't drink. Although sometimes the word temperance is used to refer to the total abstinence from alcohol, it really means habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion. But like some can drink more than others without becoming intoxicated, some can afford and appreciate more firearms than others without becoming prodigal (i.e., wastefully or recklessly extravagant). As long as one hasn't crossed that line, no justification needed.

 

[Phydeaux642]

That's a question of priority not lack of justification. You trade little pieces of your life for the money you earn. Somewhere along the line we have been convinced having too many possessions is immoral. I have thirty teddy bears. Do I need thirty teddy bears? Of course not. Am I evil for keeping thirty teddy bears when there are people that don't have one? Nyet kamarade, that nonsense hasn't taken a foothold in my household.

No, it is a justification question. All seven bicycles served the same function - commuting. I figure two is plenty for that purpose. So, how many Colt 1911s do you need? If your answer is "all of them" then that's fine with me, but for me I have found that one or two is enough.

 

[Officers'Wife]

If your answer is "all of them" then that's fine with me, but for me I have found that one or two is enough.

Your priority is that two is enough of that particular asset. Any more is a not a good use of your personal capital. Back on topic, hubby believes his fifteen .22 cal weapons are a reasonable use of capital with the enjoyment he gets from owning them. My Dad has over fifty bolt action rifles, he believes the satisfaction of ownership is worth the use of capital. My grandfather kept his mules with the associated expenses involved with their keep, he believed they were worth the cost. That belief is the only justification, need has nothing to do with the idea.

 

[Justin Holder]

How do you justify a large stamp collection?

Having more than one vehicle?

Owning more than one style of shirt?

A large coin collection?

A large set of tools?

I could go on and on.

 

[Gouranga]

LOL, I could not "justify" a large collection. Not because I don't want one (There are 3 or 4 guns I would LOVE to get) but because I have too many expensive hobbies competing for the cash along with a wife and 4 kids who like shelter, clothing, and food.

The I saw a sweet 1911 a the store the other day...I would LOVE, absolutely LOVE to have it. However, for that same price, I can get a sweet SI graph for my boat to help with my fishing habit. The graph I would get more use out of. Now I have been thinking about taking up hunting again, if I can find a good spot to hunt in NC and a bud to go with and that will of course require a new firearm.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I was of the mindset that I wanted as many guns as possible. Then, about 2 years ago, I decided that I needed to slim down my collection. Basically, I hate anything bulky that I can't carry on my person. So, with the exception of one AK-47 (because I want one decent SHTF gun), all my guns are pistols. I'm also doing caliber consolidation. All new handguns will be 9mm or .22, with the exception of my carry gun (Kel-Tec P32). Brand consolidation helps too, especially where magazines are interchangeable (my 9mms are all Glocks). I should also add that I'm of the "it's a tool" mindset; if I can't carry it on my person for CCW, I figure, "why bother?"

 

[MinnMooney]

If your gun ownership goes beyond those guns that you use on a regular basis then it could rightfully be called a collection. Collections are simply a bunch of anything (stamps, rocks, dolls, knives, military items) that you fancy and just like having around to look at.
You don't have to "justify" the collection.

 

[huntsman]

Temperance in all things. With alcohol, some drink more, some less ... some not at all, and some think others shouldn't drink. Although sometimes the word temperance is used to refer to the total abstinence from alcohol, it really means habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion. But like some can drink more than others without becoming intoxicated, some can afford and appreciate more firearms than others without becoming prodigal (i.e., wastefully or recklessly extravagant). As long as one hasn't crossed that line, no justification needed.

+1 Temperance in all things.

 

[Guillermo]

Temperance in all things

I will drink to temperance

(for you)