Are your guns tools or collectors?

You should edit your poll to add “some of each”. I suspect it would be about 90% of your responses

Mine are either for hunting, target, or SD with one that’s a collectible and never fired

redneck2 said:

You should edit your poll to add “some of each”. I suspect it would be about 90% of your responses

Mine are either for hunting, target, or SD with one that’s a collectible and never fired

Click to expand...

I agree! "Some of each" definitely fits better. I'm not going to carry, or go hunting with, the 1895 S&W in my avatar photo, but I keep it around anyway.

Not much of a collector, they are toys and tools for me.

The full range...

The Ruger Police Service-Six .357 Mag I bought on my 21st B-day = absolute working tool.

The W.J. Jeffery Lee Sporter from ~1908 that had imported out of Switzerland = absolute collectors piece (but I do shoot it).

I’ve only ever known one guy that absolutely a collector. He owned over 300 guns and had never shot a single gun in his lifetime. I offered to take him shooting. I’d have brought the ammo. Not at all interested

Perhaps it was an investment. They belonged to him, to do with as he pleases I guess

It’s too late to change the poll now, but I’d think it would be interesting if you’d ask

Mostly collectible

Mostly tools or working guns

A pretty balanced mix

Someone once said, life is too short to carry an ugly gun. As I've gotten older (and had more disposable income), I find myself buying more and more firearms that appeal to me esthetically, that have some cachet, historical significance or otherwise cool factor. So I'm getting away from the tool factor - the plastic guns are dwindling. I like working guns that look good, too.

My inherited guns are “collectible” and I’ve added a couple more, but the bulk are tools, SD and hunting.

I like guns. I use them if I have them. I carry them, hunt with them, shoot them, regardless of how nice they are or whatever.

My flattop Blackhawk looked nearly new when I got it. It's got some honest wear now from being carried. Sawdust, dirt, bumps and scrapes. Character.

I was given two unfired Ducks Unlimited banquet guns that my Dad bought in the 1980’s. I maaaay shoot them someday, especially the Beretta A303 12 ga, but the other is an 870 20 ga. That one maybe not.

He also gave me an unfired Rem 700 BDL 7mm Rem Mag… but it’s a left hand action. That’ll stay unfired until he passes, then I’ll find it a new home with someone who can use it.

As for genuine “collectors items?” I have none. Every gun that I buy, I buy to shoot.

Stay safe.

Guns are tools for hunting, self defense, target use, etc.

However, through age some become collectors items and acquire substantial value, same for scarcity at times. Since value is enhanced by condition, I try to keep them in as good a condition as possible.

I don't have many firearms, but each one I do have was purchased/built for a specific purpose or scenario.

Firearms are simply tools.

Well, I collect tools of all kinds. They, as a given rule are all working tools.
Some of them are labeled Klein, some Colt, some Stanley; some are labeled Bokker and Henckels. Even Pentax and Netgear.

They get used to their various needs and uses. Nothing is kept in a pristine, unused condition. Tools are tools.

JEBruns said:

I am a tool guy. I rebuild motors, I do all my own vehicle maint (even on our diesel pusher), have a nice welder, tons of nice tools, etc, etc. Our guns are tools. I take very good care of my tools, but I don't worry about reasonable wear and tear.

Click to expand...

While I’ve probably never had or used as many tools as you, as an Electrician, and later on a Controls and Instrumentation Technician, I figure I’ve had and used my share of "tools" over the years. However, I just can’t exactly consider my guns as just tools.
Take my old Ruger 77, 30-06 for example. I’ve used it to put a heck of a lot of meat on the table. But I did that for fun - not because we needed the meat. As an Electrician, I used “tools” to make a decent living. And because of that, I was able to BUY the danged meat (if I would have wanted to) rather than use my 30-06 to go out and hunt it down myself.
On the other hand - call my 30-06 a collector’s item??? Nah, I used it - a lot. And it has the dings and scratches that say it’s been used. But I keep it around for a couple of reasons: first because I’m kind of a sentimental old fool, and second, because it’s a backup to my 308 Norma Mag - which as I’ve said several times, was my retirement gift to myself when I turned 62.

As one of the revolvers I have inherited is over 100 y.o. and no longer locks the cylinder, it is permanently retired. But is has sentimental value as it is the gun my grandfather kept under his cash register in his store and I remember seeing the butt of that gun sticking out of the shadows as a youngster and being warned not to ever touch it.
Another is a Colt 1903 Hammerless in .32 ACP. The rifling in the barrel is not in good condition but it is good enough for 10-15 yds.
The really collectible inheritance is a revolver in .32-20 and was appraised by 3 different dealers at a local gun show. As a result, it became a "safe queen". I can't tell you the mfg. or model as I'm on a different computer and don't have that info.
All my other guns are for "use" either for hunting or HD/SD or both.

My guns are definitely not tools.

Some of each but primarily collecting that I also shoot at the range.

Tools to do a job, I hope I never have to do again, but prepared to do if needed!

When Uncle Sam issued them to me, they were tools, the ones I have now for personal use are tools. Collector items are cameras. (I use them to shoot too.)

Well I do buy guns with a specific task in mind, but I have long ago exceeded practicality with respect to that. So I would say I collect "tools". I feel that my bases are pretty well covered with 4 or 5 guns even though im well beyond that now.

A CF bolt action for hunting, semiautomatic CF rifle for defense, Glock 9mm for portable/concealed defense, a 10/22 .22lr for plinking/small game and a shotgun for HD/Trap. Those right there fulfill my basic requirements and are treated as tools for those specific tasks, but I have multiples of each and a few others that can also fulfill those purposes.

But all my guns are tools and I don't worry about holster rash, getting a lil wet or dirty, scratched, worn faded finish, etc. I don't go out of my way to foul them up and scratch them but it's inevitable with frequent use, maintenance and cleaning that your gun "tool" will get worn with time and I certainly don't fret that.