I like the question, just not sure I will like my answer. In my 20s I decided I would collect Winchester lever actions, specifically rifles with the goal being one of each model from the 1873 on; hey I knew that by the time I could afford a Henry or 66, I still wouldnt be able to afford one. LOL. Somehow, I managed to put together a nice representation of most models (no 76).
In my 30s I was bitten with the caliber bug. I wanted something in every caliber I could get so I could play with each one. I tried to fill the major calibers, (.22, .25, 6.5. 7mm, 30 etc) from small to magnum. That has been an interesting ride even through to today.
Along the way, I won a Secretary of the Navy Trophy Rifle, a Remington 720, then I managed to find one of the first ones that made it to the civilian market and added a couple of nice Remington 30s to go with them. I recently had the opportunity to buy Remington M30 #10, but the condition was only fair and I just couldnt see what purpose owning another M30 would serve.
Now in my later 60s I find that I have been bitten by the custom rifle bug. At first, I just admired the works of many of the 50s today's artists. I just could never figure out who or what I wanted from that bunch. Then I realized I was very happy with my Remingtons and some Savage 1920s I had and started looking at the earlier, pre WW II stuff. There I began to see craftsmanship for what it was. Work, mostly by hand, by talented individuals that had a sense of balance and purpose to it. So now I am getting my feet wet in the early sporter field. I started with a pair of early 1900s Mausers, by O.G. Scherell and Sempert & Krieghoff. I like the way they feel and point, but they arent American. So the quest is to find a US made rifle or two. I think I may have succeeded with a custom stock Newton I picked up in Denver last month, but will need the help of you experienced folks to tell me winner or dud. I have it apart right now for cleaning and will take pictures as I put it together and post them for comment later.
This has been a long winded narrative to explain how I have gotten to this point and why my desired goals are the following. A nice NRA sporter, a Sedgley, and then something along the lines of a Hoffman, early G&H, Neidner or my Holy Grail, a Linden rifle. If along the way I should happen to come across the work of other talented smiths, I would be delighted, but the one desire I harbor is to be able to root these out by looking for them around the country, vice just buying them from a major dealer. Some will be by auctions, but others hopefully will be gun show and other sale finds. To me that is where the thrill is. BTW, I wouldnt turn down the work of Tom Burgess or some of the other smiths of that era.
Thaine
