[GI Jane]

I have decided to collect at least 1 con from each country. I am calling it my country collection. :D

How do you collect?

[dakotasin]

i collect by make/model. specifically, remington 700's.

[dfaugh]

Whatevers cheap, and strikes my fancy at the time :D

[Missashot]

I think my "collection" goes by what I want and can afford at the time.
I started with a .410 shotgun given to me by my dad. (Not sure of maker)
A Ruger 10/22
A Mosin Nagant M1938 Carbine
A Yugo. SKS
A S&W 5903 9mm
A S&W 629 PP Classic .44 Mag
A S&W 22A .22 LR
A Bersa Thunder .380
I don't know if that is enough firearms to qualify as a collection, but I am trying to get more as time and money will allow me to. I do like the S&W products. :what:

[cortez kid]

I try to steer my collection by make and model, what would be on my "hot" list. I always run into that one piece that calls out to me from the case or tv screen. So often it takes a while to get what I "need". My "needs" are many. My only salvation is that I try to meet the needs of others in the process, as pitiful as I do.
kid

[GI Jane]

My only salvation is that I try to meet the needs of others in the process, as pitiful as I do.

I feel your pain.

I have just decided last night that I would love to own a gun unique to each country, it won't happen over night but I belive it will be a fun endevor. I am not going to count the guns dh paid for only the one I did, so it might be a long road. I figure 1 gun a month...hmm is there a gun of the month club.... :D

[MarineTech]

My current passion is pre-1981 S&W magnum revolvers.

I have 2 Model 19s so far (2.5" and 4") and a 4" Model 28. I've also located a beautiful 5" Model 27 in the area still in its velvet lined wood case that will soon be mine. I intend to add a Model 29 (.44Mag) and a Model 57 (.41Mag) before I call that particular run complete.

Then I plan on working on a US Service rifles of the 20th Century collection by adding a 1903 Springfield, an M1917, and an M1 Garand to my existing M1 Carbine, M1A, and AR15.

After that, who knows. Might flesh out a rifles of WW2 collection by adding an Arisaka, Mauser, Enfield, and Carcano to the mix.

The possibilities are endless.

[loose cannon]

my colection is based on percived or real needs lol.the next is a s&w prelock
629 mtn revolver 44m.i want this for sev reasons prime being shtf and field defense.

the 2nd reason is my wife inherited her fathers super black and i like the 300 php rainier load i worked up for it so much i want my own gun to shoot it outta.its a light load for her gun so itll be cool for a n smith.

im not the kinda collector who wants anything he cant shoot.

[GI Jane]

im not the kinda collector who wants anything he cant shoot.

Yea, why spend the money on something you can't shoot. I agree. I would love full auto but the paper work and $$$ is crazy. I like some of the guns that were
pretty much display only type things but I can't see spending the dough on them. I am for practicallity. ;)

[Stickjockey]

Milsurp bolters with a semi or two thrown in.

[Dr.Rob]

Mostly I try to keep it 'limited' to Colts, though I have rifles, shotguns and pistols and revolvers from all over the world.

Some pieces might take a long time to find, others might be hard to find at the 'right' price.

My next 'likely purchases' aren't Colts, but there are a few niches in my long gun collection a Colt won't fill.

[middy]

Practicality, reliability, and value.

Glock 26
Ruger Single Six
Marlin 336
Marlin 60
Mossberg 590

[Gunpacker]

Well, I originally collected handguns that I used in shooting competitively. Had a couple of .22s and shotguns for hunting. THEN I discovered milsurp rifles and the cheap ammo. Now being a lefty, you should add straight handled bolt action rifles to your list. I believe that the lefty can often operate the straight bolts better than a righty. I am not sure if that was the one reason for straight bolts or not, but they don't really favor right hand operation as do the bent bolts. With bolts sometimes being a bit sticky, a lefty even has an advantage over us rightys. I have even tried it myself, and thought of shooting left handed for some milsurp events with them.

[Stauble]

now since i am on a limited budget i tend to buy military surplus weapons, which turn out to be old commie guns.
i would like to get a nice S&W in the future tho

but i really ill buy pretty much anythin that goes BOOM

[Dionysusigma]

Quality at a good price. :)

Seriously. I've made "to buy" lists and the like, and have tried to collect certain types. Turns out that most, if not all, of the guns I own were impulse buys. I don't regret any of them, but my "collection" has no direction (which rhymes, btw :) ).

Bought Marlin 60. Put SAR-1 on layaway. Bought M44. Traded M44 for a Winchester 1911SL. Bought Mossberg 590. Sold Winchester for dignity. Bought Swede mauser. Bought Vektor SP-2. Traded Mossberg for a Bersa .380. Sold Marlin and Swede to make rent. Bought Heritage Arms Rough Rider .22.

Can you see the pattern? ;)

[Standing Wolf]

High Standards and Pythons: nobody's idea of an extensive or varied collection, but enough to keep me from squandering money on mere necessities.

[Kramer Krazy]

I just buy what I like. No rhyme nor reason, but I do have preferences for brands, usually.

[CB900F]

GIJane;

Like you, I'm a lefty. My collection is therefore geared to equipment having the proper ergonomics.

However, someone has to counter Dakotasin, :neener: , so LHB Remington 700's are not included.

900F

[Sewerman]

SMLEs :D Greatest bolt action rifle ever made.

[RTFM]

I started out collecting WWII battle rifles, then go hooked by the SKS bug, bought 2 of them.

After talking with my dad, an American Rifle man in WWII I have decided to collect most of the weapons he carried or used in WWII.
I say most because he use to carry Panzerfaust from time to time until he said they had a nasty habit of self exploding if not handled properly.

[TIMC]

My collection never really had a "direction" until a few years ago. I used to just buy what struck my fancy with no real purpose. I started noticing a trend of WWII to modern day military weapons and decided I wanted to collect more. I now have a pretty decent collection of WWII to present day military weapons from USA, Russia, Germany and UK.

[bearmgc]

I used to have a direction, until the safe got full :banghead:

[cracked butt]

Get a C&R license and buy everything in sight.
I started with a lowly Turk M38 mauser, now I have:
Vz-24
98/22
98/29
91/30MN
M44 MN
M38 MN
swedish M96s -2
Swedish M41B
Yugo M48 and M48A
M1 Garand
Smith Corona 03A3
swiss K-31 -4
Yugo SKS
German K98
No4 enfield
BRNO K98
and probably a few more that I've forgotten about.

Its more of a sickness than a hobby ;)

[goon]

Lately I have been trying to move it toward some direction.
Right now I have most of the necessities covered. Couple CCW, something for up close, something for far away, something cheap to shoot, and something rimfire.
I love variety but I have found that the more I get, the more out of hands things get. I needed to be mobile so I had to slim down my collection a little.
My method right now is "the list".
If I want a gun, it goes on the list.
On the list right now are...
DSA STG58 FAL - I ordered it today and it should be here in a few weeks.
GP-100 - I have one on layaway right now with almost 3 months to pay it off.
Last is either going to be a commander sized 1911, a Glock 19 or 23, or a highly customized SP-101.

Although I don't strictly stick to this, it at least keeps me from buying on impulse. I at least have to think before I buy something.
Like Dionysusigma, I have had alot of guns bought on impulse. Aside from gifts, I started out with a Ruger Single Six. Bought a Kimber 1911. Sold the Single Six and bought a S&W Model 18. Bought a 4" 686. Traded the Kimber to a P-225. Sold the 686. Bought a S&W M-60. I could go on but it is all too much to try and keep straight. I have to behave myself of this will never end. I now mostly look hard before I buy and plan to keep the ones I have now and buy from now on for the most part.
I have also found it best to accessorize a gun with most everything I am going to need before I move on to something else.

[W Turner]

My criteria used to be ....."Hey, that looks cool. What have I got to trade in on it? " I have since seen the error of my ways and have been more selective in my purchases. Up until recently my trend was toward idealized (in my mind at least) carry guns. I.E., Glock 19, alloy-framed Gov't model, j-frame, etc.

Now that I have the important niches filled in, I have started looking for common or semi-rare models that are considered classics. Most recent purchase is a Model 13-3 3" that sat on the dealer's shelf for over a year because the cosmetics weren't the greatest. Next purchase will likely be a 5" S&W 629 that has been on a different dealer's shelf for over a year. Just waiting on them to come off the $525 sticker price.

Still need to add a lever gun back to the fold, and a manually operated .22 of some sort. Don't have any EBR's either...........oh dear this could get expensive....lol :evil:

W

[22-rimfire]

Direction to a Collection..... poetic.

I started out buying stuff that I felt I "needed" to satisfy my sporting pursuits (hunting (various types), hiking, plinking, light target work, self defense, home defense etc.). What I purchased at that time pretty much satisfied all of these niches, but it really was not "collecting". I liked Colts the best, at first because people said they were the best, and later because I just liked them. Started buying what perked my interest and what I found.... that resulted in a wide range of toys. Later decided what I really like is what I always really liked>>> that being 22's. So, I gradually shifted away from buying what caught my eye to Colt 22's. So, the quest started to buy one of each model which evolved into one of each variation that I knew of and getting the best condition I could afford. So, the "collection" changes over time with new finds and upgraded quality. It keeps it interesting.


I still buy other stuff too, but those are not for collecting; they are for shooting! Sometimes these become collecting too. 22's started out that way. I still have the use oriented guns, but also get the stuff that just interests me historically.

Buy what you really like the best. I believe if you are truly collecting, you need to specialize somewhat as most can't afford everything. It is a lifetime pursuit and one that provides pleasure and knowledge.

[fistful]

So far, it's utility, but dependent on my tastes and available cash. I have the bare bones basics.

A riot gun for home defense.

An old BRNO Mauser in .30-06 for, like, rifle stuff.

A 10/22 with fiber-optic peep sight.

And a .357 Magnum, which I am looking to trade in on a 22/45, Mark III. Any takers? The .357 is a S&W 19-3, 4" barrel, good blueing, adjustable sights.

[No_Brakes23]

I try to fill niches, HD shotty, carry pistol, etc.

But I keep finding inexpensive C&Rs that call to me.

Right now, the CZ52 (Or Vz52 if you want to be a snob about it,) won't let me be. I gotta have it.

[The Grand Inquisitor]

My collection revolves around Kalashnikov's and bullpups.

At this point, the crown jewel of my collection is the Norinco 86S (in beatutiful NIB condition) which is a 7.62x39 AK made into a bullpup. It's a great rifle, and the Chinese have even fielded the version with the selector switch, but I am very happy to have it as there are only 1000-2500 in the country because of the benevolent Bush the 1st import ban.

The other rifle that I love is my Romanian mil-spec CUR II AK74 in 5.45x39. It's a beautiful rifle, and because it came into the country before all import rifles required 10 US parts, it is 100% mil-spec. About 8 months ago I bought a Romanian military PSO-1 scope for it which has only made it more beautiful in my eyes.

What I really want is a RPD from Vector Arms and an AUG, but I'm also always on the lookout for rifles that have come out of the middle East - at this point all have is a Hakim that was produced during the Egyptian/Israeli War.

Kalashnikov's
Bullpup's
Middle Eastern made
WWII rifles (getting a FG-42 is the dream, but I would happily settle for a 1941 Johnson)
Also, anything unusual or odd