To what criteria do collectors collect?

[andrewM]

Here is a question that will, doubtless, stimulate some interesting responses: what criteria do collectors, here, use when developing their collection?

My collection is modest, compared with many. I tend to look for - in no particular order - accuracy, reliability, reputation of the manufacturer and the model itself, balance of the rifle, the availability of open sights, power over 10ft/lb, British manufacture (albeit not in all cases), rarity value, trigger function, antiquity, condition. Not all of these factors are available in each instance. A BSA Standard, for example, has considerable antiquity value while an FWB 127 has less and is not British but I now have one in my collection.

I am wondering what factors other collectors consider when they purchase a new second hand rifle and do they expect to use them, either in the field or on targets?

[Geezer]

I collect:

1. Things I like.

2. Things I find interesting.

I also appear occasionally to acquire:

3. Random things that are cheap or seem good value.

And:

4. Classic 80s scopes. And random period bits (mounts, suppressors, etc) if cheap/good value.

In practice, this means a focus on classic era (1960s-80s) springers, in particular Webleys, Dianas and some HWs, but also others (BSF, Jackal, Sterling). Essentially, stuff I thought was cool when I was 14 (1982).

I also appear to have an affinity for classic pumpers and Crosman CO2 rifles, and a minor thing for full-power SSPs.

And I like pistols a lot. I dislike rubbish inaccurate pistols, especially Gats (though I still appear to own two of the latter).

I have a feeling that things collect me more than I collect them.

[Mr. Gen]

Anything that will propel a projectile and is not overpriced

[Mobiasstrip]

1) Any pre war pistols. When quality came first and cost cutting was not yet on agenda. Typically steel in UK/EU. Brass in USA.
2) Quirky clever mechanisms. Acvoke, Abas, Tell, Haenel, Hubertus, etc.
3) Recoiless springers. The high point of AP design imo :-)
I could probably keep adding..

[Garvin]

I've found my collecting criteria has changed radically over the years, with no apparent logic to it at all!

At one time I found prewar underlever BSAs deeply unattractive, mainly because they lacked a forend (although I never had this issue with the Webley Mk2 Service). Fast forward a year and I was an avid early BSA collector.

At another time I collected almost every postwar German match spring rifle ever made because (a) I found the precision, clock-type manufacture attractive and the mechanisms - especially if recoilless - ingenious (b) I could buy them relatively cheaply on eGun.de back in the days when the pound was strong against the euro (c) I couldn't afford them when I was young but lusted after them and (d) because for the most part they used blued steel and walnut, a combination I still find irresistible.

These days I collect spring air pistols because they are easy to shoot indoors and to store, but I still have quite a few rifles too which are 'keepers'.

I dread waking up one day and finding plastic-stocked, painted air rifles strangely attractive.

[Rotherham Owl]

I am trying to keep my criteria to Air Arms PCP's that are no longer in production - mint/near mint examples that still shoot as they should.

I look for original spec although I have some give leeway - for example, there's no point having an early FT version of an RN10 with an original reg as it will likely be no good to shoot.

All with quality period scopes.

[Airsporterman]

'Airsporteritis' - nuff said!

ASM