How many people out there own JUST ONE firearm?

[JohnBT]

The last time I owned one gun was 1958. That was year I got my .22WMR/.410 to go with my BB rifle. That's two, right?

One, two, many.

My mother only had one, a little .32 IJ break-top. My aunt only had one gun, an H&R .32 S&W Long (I guess she wanted more firepower since she lived in downtown Baltimore and worked nights as an RN at Hopkins.) One grandfather only had the IJ .32 he carried. I think that's it for the one-gunners I knew.

My father, uncles, cousins, etc. all had multiple guns.

John

 

[303tom]

I had ONE, 50 years ago...............

 

[Jim NE]

One shotgun
One snubbie revolver
One Semi-auto
One Plinker rifle
One Novelty/Range toy
One Milsurp
One "Bubba" project
One Heirloom keepsake

But since thats 8 total, I dont think thats what you're talking about.

At one time, I tried to have only one of each type of gun. It seemed like such an organized and efficient way of collecting.

Unfortunately, I couldn't even restrict myself to to one of each type of gun. Now, my policy is no more guns than I can fit in my smallish safe.

But I've already compromised a little bit. I have three bolt action guns that won't fit into my safe, so I take the bolts out of the guns and put them in the safe and call it good.

 

[mgmorden]

Last time I only owned a single gun I was about 13 years old . I only owned 3 up until I was in my early 20's though. Now I'm somewhere around 3 dozen .

 

[22-rimfire]

So far no enthusists here with only one firearm... unless I missed the post.

I started out with a 22 rifle and the focus of my firearm aspirations was strictly for hunting and plinking. That required me to have a 22 rifle, shotgun, and deer/varmint rifle. In reality, I only got the shotgun years later when my small game hunting had trailed off due to moving away from "home". But in my mind, I still needed it "just in case" something changed in my life. I eventually sold that shotgun.

So No, I don't just own one firearm.

The only people I know that are interested in guns and own only one gun are young and starting out. I was younger once and you have to start with ONE.

I would assume that the typical single gun owner is the person who buys a handgun for home defense or as a potential carry gun but aren't particularly interested in guns or shooting them a lot.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I had 1 gun when I was 7, does that count..lol. Heck, I just picked up another one today.

 

[AlexanderA]

Owning just one gun is like owning just one golf club. Kinda puts a crimp in your game.

 

[hAkron]

Gun are like women, the more the merrier, and don't keep any around that you would feel bad shooting.

 

[mortablunt]

I currently "own" just one at a time.

 

[hermannr]

I owned only one gun from when I was 12 (.22 cal Matlin 60) until I was 16 when I purchased a (brand new!) Rem 700.

 

[firesky101]

I only need one...

...more. That is what I keep saying anyways.

 

[doc2rn]

I had only one gun for over 17 yrs. A Ruger Standard bought with my b-day money at the Ace Lawnmower and outdoor shop, back when I turned 11. It wasnt until I got out of the military in 2000 and went back to college that my collection started.

 

[Dmitri Popov]

I know lots of folks who only own one, They don't plink or anything, just leave it in the bedroom with a small box of shells, just in case.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

From 12 to 21 I just had a pre-64 94 that my dad gave me. Turned 21, bought a Smith 686 and a few months later a used 70 series Government.. then we were off to the races..

My grandfather owned just one gun up until his death in 2008; a junky RG .38 special with a 4" barrel. He kept it solely for home protection, and had no interest in any other guns.

He was a second world war vet, and I believe saw enough guns and shooting during his time in Italy to last him a lifetime.

He was a physician, and had plenty of money to afford something better, or multiple guns if he was interested, but that RG worked, and he was happy with it.

That gun was simply a tool to protect his family in case of a home invasion, I don't remember him ever even shooting it.

After his death my grandmother, who hated guns, gave it to my brother. The dumb ass pawned it for drug money. Thankfully we were able to get it back, and now it sits in my parents gun safe, it's not worth much of anything, but it has sentimental value to me.

After reading this I realized that I never asked my dad if my grandfather ever had any guns... It damn near makes me want to cry that the info is lost forever..

 

[zdc1775]

I only had one in the house for two years while I was in the military. I did have two more in the BN armory that where mine. And a few back home.

 

[Salmoneye]

I was born with more than one...

 

[knoxy]

My wife thinks I only have one gun.

 

[303tom]

I was born with more than one...

I bet you are a hit with the women, I only have the one GUN I was born with..............

 

[waterhouse]

I think a huge percentage of gun owners only own one gun. But they aren't likely to join an internet gun forum.

Most of my neighbors are not gun people, but almost all of them own a handgun for protection. Lots of people I run into on the job have only one gun in the house, either something they bought for protection or something that they inherited from a family member.

 

[robb01]

I did for about 2 weeks after I bought my first

 

[larryh1108]

I think a huge percentage of gun owners only own one gun. But they aren't likely to join an internet gun forum.

I'd say you are right on. I don't think we (forum posters) are "the norm". I guess that makes us abnormal?

 

[JoeMal]

One?! I don't have any at all! That boating accident awhile back put me in the hole! You guys are lucky!

 

[Isaac-1]

I have a friend that just owned one, he now owns none (it was a S&W full size frame revolver, either .38 or .357,lost when his house flooded in a hurricane about 6 or 7 years ago). He is gun neutral, but tends to associate with a lot of academic liberal anti gun types (his wife is a college professor). I think he is considering getting one again for home defense, but does not really feel he needs one, not for the typical feeling safe reason, but instead he spent many years when he was in his 20's and 30's fanatically doing martial arts (moving from city to city to study different types). I guess he has a point at close household ranges a sword or a staff (or some exotic nasty looking thing) may have its place if you know how to use them.

 

[Darkbob]

I've had more than one gun since I was seventeen. Although, I did just have those two (shotgun and .22) for about a decade until my collection started expanding. It hasn't stopped expanding yet.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

For a while I only had one gun, but they soon multiplied.

This isn't really a sport or hobby where only one will suffice.