doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com collecting non shooters

Kinda like collecting empty beer cans to me!

Most know me as a romantic from my writing and posting. My collecting is much the same.
There are many SxSs in the collection that may or not be shot but are here to satisfy my need of wonderful things.
I, long ago, decided that if I were able, I would people my life with what brought me joy and pleasure.
I have cherished old friends and dearly love some young that seem to hold me dear.
Be it paintings, hooked rugs, early American artifacts or my beloved SxS shotguns, I am elevated to a different plane by having them near. The people know where they stand with me.
Many are flawed.People and things. So am I.
Useful things are useful. Helpful people are helpful.
Loved ones are much more, and sometimes it is even manly to hold a flawed old shooter in hand and think what it has meant to some long dead man.
A tool to protect family and stock. A tool to garner food for the table. A friend in case there is a time of need.
These worn and flawed tools can be so much like loved ones. old and young. They bring out the best thoughts if given an opportunity to do so.
It pleases me to think I have room in my heart for all of them.Young, old, lovely, flawed or perfect. I think they somehow know what I feel. Sometimes I tell them that they are good, very good.
Best,
John

Some folks are collectors, other’s are not. I have a fairly good firearms library, the majority of the books are written by collectors who collected, studied and wrote about the guns they liked and shared what they knew with others. Firearms will be found in the hands of folks who look at them as tools to the student that specializes in one make or model. I'm just glad that most folks don’t look for the same type stuff I have an interest in or I might have to change collecting for the umpteen time.

Jack,

Tell me more ;-).

This is my non-shooter:

You mean there exit collections that have FOCUS?

I guess, then, I am technically, an accumulator-but, everything I've accumulated, shoots.

I figure I've got a few decades before I hang onto non-shooting guns out of a mortality based sympathy, and as I get farther along through my individual race to the bitter end, I am more fascinated with extremely simple guns that exist for use only as a tool. A single shot hammer 12, from the brutal years before the war, lovingly cared for by someone who could scarcely afford it, and couldn't afford to be without it, can make me smile. Ditto an American repeater, that was offered with checkering, for a few dollars more, and left the factory without, to save some poor soul a day or two's wages.

I had a farmer show to me once the Winchester 37 he bought during the war, after he had sold some scrap metal that had become valuable. When I asked why he bought a 16 gauge, he told me "I had half a box of old 16 gauge ammunition sitting in the barn." That was ammunition he didn't have to buy, in a time when it was tough to get ammunition.

I think about those folks. I use the guns they left behind, use them just a bit, and wonder if I have the stuff, the courage, tenacity, humility, and gumption, those people were made of, and,am content, I will never have to find out.

The guns always work fine, simple little tools with which to feed ones self, protect a small flock of egglayers, protect the homestead, usually all of the above tasks for one gun.

But, they have to work. They are without point if they don't, then, and now.
Best,
Ted

I also bought non-shooters because if someone kicks in my front door (which enters into my kitchen) the first thing they will see are those wall hangers. If they grab them and run- they won't get too much. (The rest of my guns are protected by my ADT if they think they need more time to search my house.) I'd hate to have that happen to a 21.

Sent you a PM, Michael.

jack

A deadly time!
I wouldn't count on that Ted, most of my friends who fell into disrepair, or their bones were cold in the ground did so in very early mid-life.
Once you get over this hump, seems like you can stave-off the reaper for awhile.
Better find a wall-hanger while to still have the time.
Mid level guys are bitting the dust at the Corp.HQ everyday, so there's plenty to go around.

I would say that my philosophy is somewhat like that of John Mann. If I see even a part of a gun that is well done but obviously headed to the scrape heap I will at least try to $ acquire it. Chances are that I will never use the acquisition but at least for awhile it will still exist and perhaps someone with the $ to refurbish the "gun" will appreciate the time and talent spent on it in the past. I have a few "non" shooters in my "collection" and having them dosen't lessen my appreciation of them.--- John Can.