Man Jewelry

[doorman]

Got into a discussion the other evening with my brother in law about purchasing another gun. He is not into guns but he is not anti-gun.

He does not understand that if you have one that works why you would want another. I simplified my answer to why his wife and my wife always feel the need for another piece of jewelry even though they have several already. It's like any other collector passion, it's not strictly utilitarian.

 

[edrice]

Just curious if there's anything that he has more than one of that he could get by with a single one.

Ed

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Every one of my guns fills a role the others do not. I have a .22lr pistol, an LCP, a Taurus Millennium Pro, a full size P99, my duty G19, an AR-15, a tactical shotgun, and a precision rifle. None of those guns can do the same job equally as well as the rest. The .22 pistol is cheaper to shoot, the LCP can go in a pocket, the MilPro for IWB, and the P99 for OWB. The G19 for work, and the three different long guns for different types and ranges of fire. None are jewelry to me. They are machines fulfilling tasks, and I picked them specifically for those tasks.

I'm not the kind of guy who can just buy a bunch of guns that sit in the safe. For instance, now that I have a Mossberg 500, I would never buy an 870. Not because they are bad guns, but because to me there are better things to spend the money on than a tool for a job that is already filled. I know some guys get their kicks out of owning sixteen 1911s. That's cool for them, but if I was a 1911 guy, I would rather own one, and use those other thousands of dollars on something else.

 

[doorman]

Interestingly, my brother inlaw collects antique watches. He is always on line looking for a good buy. He views firearms as more of a tool for use in hunting or self defense. I understand that different types of pistols or rifles are specific to the task at hand. He refers to a guy at work who has several rifles or pistols some even in the same caliber. My Dad has an old browning .32 pistol from the 1940's that he considers to be adequate for protection and has no desire for another.

 

[jon86]

I'm with Ragnar. Each of my guns is a tool for a particular job. For example, a smith airweight does a different job than an AR15. I wouldn't go grocery shopping with my AR, nor would I want to meet a bump in the night with 5 rounds of 38 special. Currently there are some niche's I don't have filled. I am still working on my collection. I will not buy two or more guns for the same job. I am not made of money and for me, guns are pretty much strictly utilitarian. Of course, they are still very enjoyable!

 

[edrice]

Interestingly, my brother inlaw collects antique watches. He is always on line looking for a good buy. He views firearms as more of a tool for use in hunting or self defense. I understand that different types of pistols or rifles are specific to the task at hand. He refers to a guy at work who has several rifles or pistols some even in the same caliber. My Dad has an old browning .32 pistol from the 1940's that he considers to be adequate for protection and has no desire for another.

See, I have only one watch, a decent one (Swiss Army) but rather utilitarian at that. To me it's time tool. If you have more than one watch, you never really know what time it is.

Ed

 

[Ky Larry]

My wife couldn't understand why I collect guns. Iasked her why she had so many shoes and pocketbooks. It seems the shoes and purses are for different outfits. I told her my guns serve different purposes just like her shoes. She said her shoes didn't cost as much as my guns. I said Yes, but my guns don't get sold in her annual yard sale or wind up at the Good Will store.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[David E]

I like the tool analogy:

What's better, a hammer, screwdriver, wrench or a saw?

 

[mustang_steve]

It is a tool, but some of us collect tools as well.

I collect antique barber razors (straight razors, or cut-throat razors depending what side of the pond you're on). I have one that I actually decided to destroy the value on, and restored it so I could use it as a daily shaver (a 1930s Henckels, I will likely never see a finer blade in my life, and it is one of the most underrated makers of all time IMO). Back to firearms

I feel much that way with antique firearms as well. I like the old steel for it's beauty, elegance and how every aspect of the gun screams quality. Even a 1950s "saturday night special" has a fit and finish that's outright impressive compared to the guns of today. Provided today's guns often perform better, but I'm hooked on the character the older pieces offered.

From an M1895 Nagant revolver's no-nonsense design (ugly as sin, but functions flawlessly), to the Colt Pocket pistol making the Deringer obsolete while still being aesthetically gorgeous, to the S&W K-frame masterpieces and their bright blue finish (with the flutes of the cylinder often aging to a nice warm brown tone to contrast the rest of the cylinder), to the early blackpowder top-break revolvers and their nostalgic charm. I haven't even touched rifles yet....

There's just so much to behold in the world of firearms. Some of us find beauty in function, some of us in form, others in history...but we all appreciate it in some form, thus it's our hobby.

Hobbies are hard to explain to those that have no interest in it. For example, one of my past hobbies (no time anymore) is making period and materials correct exact scale model sailing ships....now try to explain the details for that to someone.

 

[Big Bill]

Just curious if there's anything that he has more than one of that he could get by with a single one.

Ed

doorman - how many pairs of shoes does he have? Or, if he has one shoe that works well, why does he need another one?

 

[Pete D.]

tools

Hobbies are hard to explain to those that have no interest in it.

+1. Ain't that the truth. In addition to firearms, I collect old plumber's blowlamps/torches; I buy'em broken and fix them so that they work. They end up on a shelf in the garage. Try explaining that to someone. I construct jet engines (pulse jets) from plumbing fittings - how do you think that goes over?
Pete

 

[Sevenfaces]

Just curious if there's anything that he has more than one of that he could get by with a single one.

Ed

Testicles.

 

[DickM]

Now THAT's the damn funniest thing I've heard in a long time.

 

[SuperNaut]

He does not understand that if you have one that works why you would want another.

IMHO the pop psychology version of being "understood" is quite overrated. His understanding is not required on a 4473 form.

 

[Route666]

Darn Sevenfaces I was going to say that!