How many firearms is too many?

[Cosmoline]

I start getting annoyed if I have too many firearms around. For one thing, I don't have the money for a big safe. Moreover, I'm not really a collector. I like to have perhaps five firearms at any given time. I constantly buy, sell and trade so I can try out various firearms. I've probably owned about fifty firearms in the last five years. There's NO WAY I could have afforded that if I'd tried to keep them all.

One good thing about firearms, they retain their value pretty well.

 

[redhead]

This is a hobby. You've still got to take care of your wife, children, house, cars...all that other stuff. I once knew a guy who got kinda "hooked" on a model train hobby. He spent WAYYYY too much money on "his" hobby.

You, of course, are right. I voted no, but it's kind of tongue in cheek for me. I was wanting another .45 auto, had one all picked out, but decided against it. We have a house that needs maintenance, and my husband's old car needs to be replaced. I already have more than I can shoot in an afternoon at the range, plus I have to clean them all when I get home.

When my mom was visiting me last fall, I had gone to pick up a S&W 5906 that I'd purchased. She said, "Don't you have enough guns?". Of course, I said no, you can have too many. Then she said, "Well, they'd better not try to take our guns away from us!" Go figure.

 

[Bob Locke]

I went the same path as sturmruger. I sat down a handful of years ago and made a list of calibers and the actions in which I want them. I've added a couple of selections to that list as my needs/wants have changed, but it still numbers less than 20.

So, for me (not you), it would definitely be possible to own too many. And I have a slightly compulsive personality so I have to watch myself in general, but especially in areas where I have a lot of "want to" (such as firearms and golf).

 

[riverdog]

I have a slightly compulsive personality

Does that ever sound like me. It was way to easy to fill the safe. I am going to be very discriminating with regard to any further purchases.

 

[DAL]

One good thing about firearms, they retain their value pretty well.

You must be a better salesman than I, becuase I can't believe the cheap suckers I've run into when trying to sell guns in the past. Even though I take good care of my guns, and they've been fired very little, people seem to expect you to give them away. 10-15% off the new price, plus the fact of no paperwork, should be PLENTY of incentive. Oh well, let the fools pay full retail.
DAL

 

[MountainPeak]

Kentucky Rifle, kids grow up, wives can be divorced and houses sold. So, the REAL answer is you can't have to many. I don't have time to actually shoot my guns anymore. All my free time is spent going to gun shows!

 

[chaim]

One gun is too many, no one should own guns.

Ok, ok, all kidding aside- I guess what is too many depends upon the individual.

For some too many means when the wife says enough. For others, too many is when they can't afford more. Some people only really want one or two guns and too many is more than that. For some, they want guns for very specific purposes (a hunting rifle, a .22lr rifle, a .22lr pistol, a carry gun, a HD gun) and too many is more than they feel they need.

Someone said they thought the ATF probably thinks one can own too many. So true. During the DC sniper stuff I got my call from the FBI. They were concerned because I bought "an awful lot of guns recently"- I had bought less than 10 in the past year and I had only bought 17 total in my life (starting a year and a half to two years before).

For me too many is when I no longer have room for them all. Wait, I'm wrong- that only means it is time to move.

 

[4thHorseman]

I thought about this question for a while too. I'm near 50 years old now and have near that many sidearms.
In reflecting, I can recall I did not own a single firearm before Bill Clinton took office. Then I can no longer have my fill. When ever I think that is it, no more firearms, another style or great buy pops up.
I live in Virginia and the state has helped to curb my addiction. It is a one gun a month state. So I guess that slows the prosess down some what. GRRRR! Does make me a little irritated though.
I have purchased guns before just because they where a great by. Fired them once and put them away and never took them out again except to oil them occationally.
I guess when the last shovel of dirt is thrown onto my grave that will be enough guns.