A larger mediocre collection or a small superior collection?

[Foregon]

Which would you rather have, a nice large collection of mediocre firearms that gives you the chance to shoot several calibers and types of guns, or a very small collection of finer guns that while limited, are very nice guns? I'm thinking of trading in several guns, but I'm sure I could only buy a couple of fine guns for the money. Don't have the money to invest in finer guns at the moment. And what would you trade in and trade for if it was you?

[Cruiser RN]

I have a small collection of all shooters.Never understood the concept of having fine guns that you never shoot.My limited colection consists of 2 Detective Specials,a 2 inch Cobra,a 4 inch Peacekeeper 357 Magnun,A Chief's Special 9mm,a S+W 640 2 inch 357 mag,a 1977 West German Walther PPKS,and a 1991 45 cal.They all get plenty of range time and that is what makes me happy......God Bless......Mike

[blackdog001]

Hopefully this makes sense: I have what I consider a decent collection of Colts. I've turned them into safe queens, although one or two have been shot some. I also have what I call my "working guns" no Colts, but all are used to either hunt, plink, target shoot or for carry. There are a couple of real nice rifles in that group, including a factory custom Weatherby and a Model 700 that I set up to hunt in any kind of weather in an almost any kind of caliber (338 Win Mag). But they all get used and if they get dinged up or scratched or whatever, it is ok, because I consider those guns to be used. The Colts, they sit in the safe.

[Old-Colts]

During 35+ years of collecting prewar Winchester Lever Actions and Colt Single Actions I’ve built 3 collections over the years. At 66 and retired my third and final collection is undoubtedly the smallest, but the most gratifying to me personally. My first collection was essentially built by buying every high condition Winchester or Colt I could afford when I encountered them. That collection was sold to purchase our first home. My second was built in a similar fashion and was sold to help fund our daughter’s college education. My third and final collection is small, but contains Winchesters and Colts that truly appealed to me; I didn’t buy any of them simply because they were high condition guns and I could afford them; there had to be something special about them; shipping location, provenance, or aesthetic appeal.

I know I got it right with this third and final collection because when I open the safe I want to examine all of them; not one is a reject and none of them were purchased simply because I could afford to add them to my collection!

[22_Matt]

I think it depends what your purpose in collecting is. If you are collecting strictly for value or rarity, then a small collection of the best condition, such as new in box, or high end factory engraved guns is the way to go. If you want the enjoyment of variety and shootability, then lesser condition, more afordable, shootable is the way to go. My collection consists of a wide variety of shootable guns I can enjoy. Python, Luger, High Power, etc. I have all the popular collectables, but they can all be enjoyed at the range also. There's no right or wrong answer to your question, just what's your goal in collecting, profit or enjoyment.

[Kid Sopris]

They are not ours really..We have them on loan until the next person. Just collect, buy, purvey or trade whatever trips your trigger.
There are merits to all sides of firearm ownership. Just remember the more money you spend on a finer/collectable firearm, the big the drool bib.

[broknaxl]

Myself, I couldn't afford the ammo, much less the guns not that long ago. But I have since bought up more than I probably should have. I have a mix. Some are as referred to above "working guns" These I use to carry, shoot, and hunt. Then I have what I call collectable shooters. And just recently have started looking into some that will be safe queens. Am I right or am I wrong?? Who knows? I have an eclectic mix from old Colts, to Newer Colts, Some S&Ws and a Kimber. Rugers, Remingtons, - Mossbergs and Mausers - ARs and an HK 91 - Side by Sides and pumps. So get what floats your boat and enjoy them. My problem is that once i buy them, it's hard for me to part with them. This might stem from my inability to afford them in the past and figure if i get rid of it I'll regret it later.

Oh! and a Nagant and a Schmidt-Rueben

[cfllwsgn]

They are not ours really..We have them on loan until the next person.

well said

[Oyeboten]

A larger mediocre collection or a small superior collection?

I have a small superior collection, within a larger mediocre collection.

For me, that is the ideal, and, the two are entirely compatible and complimentary...so, no need for it to be an 'either-or' sort of thing.

[rhmc24]

I'm into pre-1911 .38 & .45ACPs, New Services and S&W TLs, nothing spectacular but as few pretty nice. I'd rather have a 90% piece for $1000 than a 98% piece for $2000. I have quite a collection of lesser pieces of various makes and model mainly pre WW One back to Colt Dragoons, mostly avoiding little pistols. I buy what looks good at a price, something someone else would want, with my estate in mind. With few exceptions I would shoot any of them.

I also buy 'beaters' and restore them to respectability. Several now in my collection.