Interesting question, why you buy them. Back in the 1900s, I think it would never have been asked, since the answer would have been obvious: to shoot. Ironic that in the golden age of gunmaking collecting was not a priority.
The Eric Clapton collection sale is indicative of today's market for the top names. Bought to be sold to fols who buy them to sell them on to folks who will.... you get the picture.
Is that a real market for any utilitarian object? I can't really tell. That kind of "market" can deflate pretty fast.
