doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Collector Guns for hunting?

I just got back from a hunting trip to Canada and took a pristine and valuable game gun with me. Everytime we stopped for a break I worried about the gun in the truck. When I carried it in the woods I took extra care not to scratch it. When it got a little unexpected rain on it I couldn't get to my gun cleaning kit fast enough. When I got my beater Browning super out to hunt because of fear for the 'collector' I spent a lot of time worrying about it in the locked up truck because someone could break in. Well, after all this fretting about everything turned out ok....but I have decided for the next hunting trip, the pristine collector is going to stay at home in her usual spot as a 'safe queen'!

Use or Rain never hurt a gun....if I was scared to use it I'd sell it.

Sorry to hear that you had such a bad time with great gun. Personally for me collecting is a disease. It makes you crazy and unable to really enjoy a fine gun for what it is intended for. Think about it are you really a collector or do you just own a nice gun. What could happen that can't be repaired properly. I have been fortunate enough over the years to have owned some very valuable guns. I used the hell out of all of them. Some stuff has happened, minor dings and scratches but nothing that could not be touched up perfectly by some talented gunsmith. I have got tremendous pleasure from using them. While I don't advocate using museum quality guns that are one of a kind. There are few of them in the world and I will not be buying them. All of the others I say use and enjoy. If they can't hold up to a scratch or a raindrop then they are not as great as you thought. Just my opinion.

Bill G.

In time, you will get over it. I started out like you.

I now hunt with the "nice ones", and have sold most of the "regular guns."

JERRY

I have never agreed with Joe more and I agree with Jerry too.

That collector piece was made for hunting and started down the path from the gunmaker's bench to the field or moors. I think it would be rather sad, should that journey end in a safe?

Also, don't be surprised when in a couple years the gun you wanted to baby and protect doesn't seem nearly as precious as originally thought.

Have you yourself shot this gun and patterned it? Does it fit you? Are you able to mount it in an instant and be pefectly lined up? If not, then keep it in the safe or sell it.

But if you get a feel for how the gun works for YOU, and it's a winner, then I'm sure you'll get around to using it, and on a farily regular basis. No disrespect meant, but you'd be silly not to.

I couldn't agree more with everyone! I purchased a Dickson this year that is my "nicest" gun, and yes it cost more than my others; and I suppose qualifies as a collectable but I enjoy shooting it more than looking at it. I have shot sharptail grouse, sage grouse and prairie chicken with it so far this season. I enjoy taking it on unique hunts and often wonder whether whoever made it had any idea the travels that gun has made over its lifetime. Basic field care will keep the gun in good shape. Remember someone enjoyed hunting with that gun before you bought it. That's what it was made for.

Caveat: don't use a gun that represents real capital beyond your "using means." If you worry about the potential financial loss, don't use it. Then you have to decide if it is worth the emotional capital to keep it.

I too am facing this situation right now, as I get ready to go on a several day chukar/quail hunting trip next week. I plan on taking my Husqvarna 44 16ga hammer gun, which does have some historical significance in that it is the only one of its kind I know of. Even so, I can't bear to leave it at home in the safe, because it was made to be used. I'll do my best to take care of it, and hope for the best. Short of severely denting the barrels, I figure there's nothing I can do to it that can't be fixed.

Nothing like those chukar hunts to wear a gun through to the other side,
if you don't drop it...