Why own multiple examples of the same gun?

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stevekl

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I was reading another gun forum (glocktalk) in which someone mentioned that they own three Glock G19 pistols.

I am not criticizing this practice; I am only asking, why? I can understand the need for one model XYZ firearm, but what does more than one model XYZ do for you? With the Glock example, as far as I can tell, all G19s are exactly alike. Is it just for the sake of collecting?

Again, I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with it. The more guns, the better, I always say. However, it just seems like a strange practice to own multiple examples of what is in this case the exact same model.
 
The only thing I could think of is this: if you use one gun for holster practice and shooting, the parts get worn down and silver metal starts to show through. So you buy one gun to practice with, and one gun to look pretty. The third gun... I dont know.
 
The thinking is this.

1 to carry daily.
1 as a back up piece for when the first one is in the shop.
1 as to pack in grease and bury for when the SHTF.


:D
 
Steve,
In my case I own four S&W M629 Classics because to me it is the optimum .44 Mag revolver. Sure enough, they managed to "improve" it later by adding a lock/key, so it is good that I have several. One is 5" bbl, one is 6.5" bbl, and two are 6.5" bbl with 2X Leupold EER scopes. One scoped gun is zeroed at 50 yds with field load. The other scoped gun is zeroed at 75 yds with full power load. I also own one Kimber 1911 and two Wilson Classic 1911's. The Kimber is my house gun. One Classic is two toned and the other is all stainless. I have two Win M70 rifles (different calibers) and two Citori O/U's (different gauges).
When I find a gun that REALLY pleases me I like to get more than one version. Just my thing. YMMV.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
If guns are different caliber or have different barrel lengths they are not the same guns.

I know people who have multiple copies of the exact same gun. I don't really get it, but I've never given it much thought. The only way I could see doing this would be to have a gun in each vehicle. I might end up with two Kel-Tec PLRs for this reason.
 
One Hi-Power for the ...

bedroom,
one for the hollowed-out dictionary,
and one for the waist.
Oh yeah, another to send off for hard chroming.
That should about do it.
North"wet"
 
There are lots of reasons for owning gun copies.

I've got 4 HK p7s (technically I've got 2 each of the psp and the p7m8, so I guess that is only 1 copy of each model). They aren't made anymore, and if one of them breaks I want to be able to keep shooting. Also, it is always easier to turn p7s into cash than the other way around.

I've got a matching pair of my favorite dove gun. I don't want to reach retirement age and have my dove gun break, thus leaving me to choose among some other gun that I don't like as much. So I have 2, just in case.

I've have several matching 870s, all police trade in Wingmasters with 20" barrels. I've got one in each car and a couple more stashed around the house.

It doesn't just apply to guns. I use a certain brand of wallet. I have found that the wallets last me about 4 years before they start falling apart. I probably own 15 new ones, just sitting in a box waiting for me to wear my current one out.

I hope to never reach a point in my life where I look back and say "wow, they made [insert object] better back then, I wish I had bought more while I could."
 
I can understand owning more than one 1911, BHP, or Luger.....but multiple Glocks? Only Sigmund Frued can explain that one......
 
I think it was El Tejon who came up with the list that's been mentioned so far:

One to carry, one to replace that one if it breaks or is otherwise out of service, one at the gun smith, and one off site.
 
I was starting to worry about myself until I read this sentence:
If guns are different caliber or have different barrel lengths they are not the same guns.
Click to expand...
*phew* I recently aquired my first 1911 (3" officers'), but I still want a full size.

So, would it be wrong if I got a full size Colt 1911...then a full size Springfield 1911...then a full size Kimber 1911...then a full size Wilson Combat...then..... :D :rolleyes:
 
Well, let's see what I want to do with my M48s...

1. Refinish and recondition - a nice, pretty military-spec rifle
2. Refinish and recondition, replace rear sight with a scope mount and stick a Leupold 2.5x28 on it (FX II, I believe) - scout rifle
3. Convert for .376 Steyr, and scout-scope it - when it needs to go down, RIGHT NOW!...

And I might get a fourth or fifth, just for fun.
 
Who knows?- Probably for similar reasons that I have three 12 guage coach guns- one has 45/70 inserts in it to make a poor man's double rifle- one has typical exposed working hammers with a saftey while another is the same without a safety- sometimes we just get infatuated with a particular make or model and it makes us happy to have them- one of the neat things about our collecting hobby
 
My guns work....I mean really work for a living. I wear them 24/7...in unlined holsters, they get sweat on them, occasionally rain, and shot and put up for a couple of weeks without cleaning.

So I back them up. When the one is waiting to be cleaned, I use the other, because I am busy and lazy....my guns are tools, not heirlooms.

Secondly, training. When training it is a lot easier to say "aw crap, I just broke my Glock's ______(fill in the blank) so I just reach in the bag and pull out an identical spare. No changing holsters, grips, mags, ammo, etc.

Thirdly, constant battery of arms. I own 2 identical Glocks for off duty...2 identical Sigs for on duty. I have become fairly proficient with both. Additionally I have an occasional carry Glock 26, but as it does not see much holster time, I have not backed it up....it is not in my daily rotation.

I have 2 Taurus snubbies...these are my BUGS. One has .38 special for the house...the other has .357 magnums for the street....but one will almost always be with me, like a wad of keys in my front pocket.

I back up my daily carry knives as well...I don't like change, I resist it. I want it to work when I need it, I don't want to worry about crap not working, it stresses me...so I get more than one for peace of mind. If something is an occasional carry, I only get one of it, but primarily for unique applications...I don't collect.
 
I see Waterhouse beat me to it. A spare P7 was a natural outcome of spotty availability. I had 3 but one got traded off. Can't see thinning the herd any further though.

One other example is the CZ-52s I bought. Rationale on that was different: AIM surplus only ships handguns next day air. Given an 89.00 pistol, buying 4 at one time amortizes the freight.

I was stunned, stunned I say, at what CZ52 pricing has done recently. If AIM gets another load of the 89.00 packages, I'll likely be all over it again. They make nice "project" guns.
 
El Tejon and Justin pretty well nailed it. :)

Plus of course, if you want to take your wife to the range and she wants to shoot your G19 -- well, you're going to want a second range gun, that's all.

Or say you have three children. Which one inherits which gun? Maybe you want three copies of every gun you own.

pax
 
Some people also use different guns for different dedicated funtions. For example, one onfired to be a display/collectible gun, one used primarily for a carry/duty weapon that handles much hotter than facory loads, one dedicated to match/accuracy shooting at the range (possible with a match barrel and other custom add ons), one to use as a "plinker" gun and test gun for custom reloads. Also, as others have said, some people may have some extra models set aside for spare parts.
 
In the past, I've purchased multiples of the exact same gun, because if I like a particular gun REALLY well, I know for a fact that it will shortly be discontinued (never fails), and I want a backup or two, just in case. Does anyone else notice this phenomenon? I'm here to tell you, a person could predict what guns will be shortly discontinued (and a lot of other stuff too) just by knowing what I like!

In the case of certain rifles, that might be a limited production item, but I really like the model and caliber, I might buy more than one in case the first one doesn't shoot good enough for me, then I have another one to try, because otherwise I probably will never find another later. Usually I keep the extras anyhow, even if the first example shoots fine!
 
His and hers?! :D

In one case, we had accumulated 3 K31s. One was a gorgeous tiger-striped stock, beautiful finish, historically-significant serial number (all parts match), even had the tag under the butt plate. The other 2 were purchased because a) they are EXCELLENT firearms and cheap and b) not as good condition as the tiger-striped so we felt like they would be better candidates to modify (scopes, etc.) In visiting the gun store again, I came across a really beautiful K31 (by this time, most were the less desirable beech stocks with more dings and scratches), but this one was a real beaut. And her serial number indicated WW2 manufacture time frame. I looked at SO and said, "what the hell, wanna make it 4?" My rationale was that we didn't have one with such a great manufacture date (based on serial number). When I get home, I compare serial number to tiger-stripe and found out that tiger-stripe was "better." Go figure. Guess that's how you know you've got too many. :p

Anyhow. Really great firearms are addictive and when you fall in love with milsurps, you tend to snag what you can when you can because eventually the market will dry up.
 
Because one is none, and two is one.

In my/our case, my DW and I share some similar tastes- for example, there are 5 Glock 19's between us. Two different generations, each of us has a '3d generation' with light rails, I have two older '2d generation' guns and she has one. They are bought and paid for, all of them were 'too good to pass up' deals, they don't eat anything, they don't spoil/rust/rot, and they are not subject to inflation like money in the bank. They all use the same magazines, spare parts and all shoot the same ammo. Never can tell when you might need to hand one to someone else, or carry two yourself. Why NOT have more than one?

lpl/nc
 
Good question , you would think one would mix in a diff model
Click to expand...

Personally I agree but their are some people (notibally a friend of mine) that don't shoot as well when they go from the feel of type of gun to another. This type of person is best suited by buying multiple models of the same gun and equipping/customizing each to fit a specific need or desire.
 
There is a guy on my previous board (from which I was unceremoniously booted) who has 51 varmint rifles. He has four, five and six of them in the same caliber-- everything from .17 CFs and RFs to .243Wins and the like. I have "a few" in the same caliber. Why? I really don't know-- but they are like children to me and I love them all equally.
 
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