Does every gun you own have a reason to justify its purchase?

if some one says I should buy it I do

runrob1 said:

if some one says I should buy it I do

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I think you should buy it.

The reason that I have to justify the purchases is that I have the fever.

Black Rifle Fever.

I bought it. love to send lead downrange

NO .

Does every gun you own have a reason to justify its purchase?

I would say yes, in the sense that it fills a hole in my collection. I've always believed that a collection must have a theme (otherwise it's just an accumulation), and so early on I decided that my theme would be U.S. military weapons (with forays into adjacent items such as "U.S. Property" marked British Lend-Lease). I have a few that don't meet this description, but not many. None of my guns are "tools." I appreciate them for themselves.

Reason? Yeah - either my wife or I want it. She's bought more at auctions than I have. If it's a good deal - buy it. Haven't seen too many guns depreciate in value. My problem is that the manufacturers keep coming out with new guns that are cooler than the old ones....LOL

I always ask myself
1. do I really want it. -----if yes buy it.
If no go to #2
2. do I have one like it -----if yes------exactly like it-------if no buy it.
If I have one just like it go to #3
3. do I own that gun-------if no buy it. LOL

Sure, because I thought it was a good idea at the time.

There is always a justification for everything. Some reasons may be more “flimsy” than others.

some are utilitarian in nature and are there for a specific purpose.

the AR and shotgun were purchased for specific use cases. Those being home defense and potential need to defend self and family against armed rioters/civil unrest. If the SHTF, the AR can take down deer in my neck of the woods if need be.

my pistols play a role in concealed carry, but some are there just because I wanted one. The “I wanted it” is my flimsy reasoning.

if I can afford it, it is not taking food/clothing/shelter/health away from my family, then I’m good.

always run major purchases by the wife before plunking down the money, but she has yet to say no. Could be that she is awesome, reasonable, and trusting of my judgement?

My knee jerk reaction would be “absolutely not”.

However, if I were being audited most all would be viewed as an asset that has gone up in value since purchase. Not why I bought them though.

My wife and I agreed a long time ago that I wouldn’t question shoes and purses she buys and she wouldn’t question firearms I do. We were lucky enough to see that neither of us wanted to need a good reason to obtain a product we really don’t need but want despite that fact.

A good reason? No.

Reason being, I wanted them, Yes.

Blows my mind the valuable discussions that get locked on this forum and a useless question and thread like this continues to go for seven pages.

SDGlock23 said:

"I've already wasted a LOT of money on guns that were good but guns in hindsight I really shouldn't have bought. The worst ones are guns you buy, then sell only to buy them again and sell them again...and again or the ones you buy and never even shoot before you sell it. Geeeesh.

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Been there will more than likely be there a couple times again. The problem is I still have the magazines or a holster left over from when I owned that particular firearm. That's my justification for repeat buys. Any other I just wanted a new one. As for those that say "got one past or got away with or wife let me buy." I used to have a three day rule that is I would leave whatever new firearm out on my bench for three days and if she didn't notice it she couldn't get mad about it.

One justification.... I want it.

My next project is to find a sporterized Smith-Corona 03A3 that I can restore to its original configuration. That alone is enough justification. I have no intention of using it thereafter, other than filling a hole in the collection.

As stated by most, I wanted it is my reason. Putting the I wanted it reason to the side, most of my guns have no purpose as a “tool” of any kind. I am a guy that doesn’t hunt, isn’t trekking into Grizzly country so other than my desire for them, there is no reason I can think of to own any of my big bore stuff.
If I were only buying guns for tools I would only have a 9mm and a 12 gauge.

Those who say that guns are "tools" overlook the iconic nature of guns. Guns represent many things -- personal autonomy being one of the most important -- beyond mere utilitarianism. The very presence of guns has a tremendous impact, on both a personal and a societal level, without them being actually used.

If guns were only "tools," we wouldn't be having the passionate pro- versus anti-gun debate. A lot of very basic things are wrapped up in the discussion that's ostensibly about guns.

No. Lots of guns I buy are for a specific use, some for collector value. Some are just really neat, like my P7.

My short answer is NO. I like revolvers & I like variety. For that reason I've purchased S&W, Ruger and Dan Wessons in a variety of barrel lengths. The enjoyment I get from target shooting and reloading in my retirement is priceless. My semi auto Shield 9 is strictly a tool.

Yes, in a sense each purchase has to have a reason. I'm not an impulsive child who's spending my way to the poor house just because "I want it!" Sometimes there is a practical need for a particular gun but other times it may be nothing more than enjoying historical significance or the fun it brings at the range. I try to think it through though, and plan ahead.

Yes every gun I purchase must be able to be shot on days of the week that end with "Y"

tarosean said:

Yes every gun I purchase must be able to be shot on days of the week that end with "Y"

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I like every gun that I own to be shootable. That includes the collectibles that I have no intention of actually shooting (which, at this point, are most of them). That creates a problem for some really older ones (muzzleloaders), that might not be safe to shoot. So, beyond a certain point going into the past, I prefer reproductions rather than originals. (Reproductions, in many cases, have themselves become collectible.)