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.
Even though the late Stevie Ray Vaughn will always be my top rock/blues guitarist, I have read and followed Clapton's life and music career-he was not "to the manor born" and invites to high society Limey shooting parties are not given to the lower class folk-no matter their cheque book balance. Why did Eric Clapton order these expensive shotguns anyway? I like some of his stuff, but have zero respect for him as a man who follows the "Guy Code"--he stole Patty Boyd away from her beatles guitarist husband-George Harrison- then wrote the hit song Layla after the fact. He's a "Fuddy-Bucker" and a wanker-no matter his musical great talents..
