Collecting.....blowing hot and cold

[micky2]

I think collectors like you, where the fun of the chase is the main thing, are a fantastic asset to collectors like me. You seek out the rarities with a real vigour, yet at some future date you are happy to let them go. I know I have obtained many choice items for my collection thanks to such collectors, and always at prices well below what dealers ask.

Sad to say, my sort of collecting tends to be one way traffic, and I only let things go if I have more than one example, and then usually only as part of a deal for something else.

Although it is mainly the thrill of of the chase, l still have quite a few that have stayed with me. l did have at one time 13 Webley services down to 4 now. and 6 Haenel model 28s which have all gone. l have also sold some rare guns to fellow collectors over the last few years to help fund my interest in antique firearms which are very hard to find at the right price.

[Garvin]

Well it's sad to hear from long-time enthusiasts that you have lost your passion, but I suppose the time comes to us all eventually and as John G says, it release new waves of collectables onto the market.

I must say, my interest in airguns is as strong or stronger now as it was 40 years ago, but as my collection has grown, there's fewer items that I want to own. The good thing from my perspective is that my interests morph into new areas all the time, in part guided by what is financially possible as my fortunes have waxed and waned over time.

Starting the gallery has definitely proved to be a bit of a shot in the arm (to coin a pertinent phrase!) in that it has opened my eyes to airguns I didn't know existed before.

But strangely at the same time, seeing other people's collections has to some extent scratched the itch: As if knowing where they are and that they are safely stored with other collectors who share their pics willingly means I can tick them off my personal list in a weird way!

I never would have predicted the envy that I might have felt as a rival accumulator once upon a time, would nowadays give way to a sense that all of us are part of a giant worldwide collective of airgun collectors, if that doesn't sound too cosy... But it's true, up to a point.

[Josie & John]

On a positive note, my passion is as strong today as it has always been.

Despite virtually completing my Webley and BSA collections, I was still able to find two Webley Mark 1 rifles and a pristine etched BSA Standard with 1929 'transitional' stockxthis year, not to mention the BSA Improved Model D in .25!

The above were very much exceptions though as I have very nice examples of most of the BSA and Webley variants I have always aspired to own. I have to have focus to feed my passion and that is currently being fed through my renewed born again interest in the Baikal Makarov; a pistol made from firearms grade materials, just like the Webleys and BSAs of old. My goal is to find a model from every year of production plus any specials such as factory suppressed versions, so that will keep me occupied for some time

John M

[edbear2]

Although it is mainly the thrill of of the chase, l still have quite a few that have stayed with me. l did have at one time 13 Webley services down to 4 now. and 6 Haenel model 28s which have all gone. l have also sold some rare guns to fellow collectors over the last few years to help fund my interest in antique firearms which are very hard to find at the right price.

Thought I would resurrect this after seeing Trevor's post. I still enjoy the ones I have, and can't walk past anything I see for sale without a look and a chat, but as Micky says the proceeds from all I sold were put to use funding other interests, I was very strict on this, to the extent of opening an account just for the stuff I sold. I spent some of it on operations on my hand, and because in the last 3 years I have been out and about a lot more musically, invested in a vintage guitar of a diffrent type (wider neck) to suit my hand issues and some amplification stuff.

The rest I wasted on a classic motorbike which is a wonderful window back to my youth when out on it.

I still have a gun for each day of the week, and do have slight pangs over some of the really nice ones I let go (engraved Lights / Milpat / Mod B / Boxed Juvenile) but know they are beng enjoyed by some other people now, so all is not lost.

I think the things I have gained on balance have given me more and more varied fun than having stored guns I hardly shot, although I tried my hardest to give them all outings, having so many meant months between each time for each gun, and soon you settle down to the old favorites ...which are the ones I still have.

ATB, Ed

[guitardan]

Vintage to me only goes back to the 60s, I don't yearn for stuff much earlier, Mk 1 meteor being the oldest.
I do love my webley collection, only three, mk2 junior, early tempest and hurricane. I will add to that, but only at a reasonable price, and at the moment, with job insecurity as it is, I m not sure how long work will go on. Hopefully I don't have to sell my toys and start again, but sometimes needs must.
My interest, rather than just collecting, is fettling and using, not competition wise, just garden and sometimes local range shooting.
I've had some magic help along the way, Guy ggggr to name one, has been brill in giving me info and advice.
Ive parted with a couple of guns, but they were ones I wouldn't use. Today I shot about 30 or 40 pellets through all my guns, magic, loved it, so when finances dictate I can buy another, I will.
Untill then, anyone fed up with any gun, p ll ease feel free to send it to me for safe keeping and a bit plinking lol
Stay Safe..
Dan

[Josie & John]

I still have a gun for each day of the week, and do have slight pangs over some of the really nice ones I let go (engraved Lights / Milpat / Mod B / Boxed Juvenile) but know they are beng enjoyed by some other people now, so all is not lost.

ATB, Ed

Hi Ed,

The cased Juvenile found a very good home with me, as I was offered it around a year ago. Lovely example.

Kind Regards,

John

[hyscore100]

I have got my collection[hording] out to photo and catalogue, and find the values as most have not seen the light of day for years. Now that I have I'm getting interested again now, It must be some kind of sickness.

[Adam77K]

I’d never call myself a collector. Currently got 9 rifles and 10 pistols.
For me there’s a few dimensions to it.

I shoot FT, mainly springers. So I have a couple of rigs (LGU and 97K) in full FT stocks with big scopes.
Also have a nice sorted FTP900 for when I want to play with the big boys. But it’s so clinical I get bored with shooting it on the range after a couple of dozen pellets.
Then there’s usually a springer or two with a smaller scope in case I want to dabble in HFT, or just plink.
Then I’ve got a little HW30S with dioptres for bell target.
There’s my old HW77K lazaglide which is never getting sold.
I like historic firearms so have a few BB and pellet replicas.
A Crosman 600 because they’re plinking awesome.
Steyr LP10 for pistol FT or very occasional 10M.

Beyond that it’s stuff I get when and because I fancy it. I picked up an Evanix bullpup because I just love the look of it, and it’s not a bad shooter either.

I have a list of stuff I coveted as a teenager but couldn’t afford back then. Occasionally pick one of those up. I have a long list of stuff that I owned but I moved on either because it wasn’t all that, or I got bored or I’d just scratched the itch and needed cash for something new. Several of those I regretted selling later.

[edbear2]

Hi Ed,

The cased Juvenile found a very good home with me, as I was offered it around a year ago. Lovely example.

Kind Regards,

John

That's good to know mate ........Do you remember the first time you saw it when I brought it to Bisley , I let you have a look at it, and you loaded it,took aim at the furthest spinner, hit it first time and said "what a gun"

ATB, ED

[Josie & John]

That's good to know mate ........Do you remember the first time you saw it when I brought it to Bisley , I oet you have a look at it, and you loaded it,took aim at the furthest spinner, hit it first time and said "what a gun"

ATB, ED

Indeed Ed.

I'd forgotten about that first shot but do recall photographing it whilst turning green with envy!

Whenever I look at that cased rifle, it reminds me of that day at Bisley. The cased set now includes a contemporary edition of Air Rifle Shooting by Harry Berkley Score and I feel very fortunate to be its present custodian.

Kind regards,

John

[Binners]

I missed out on buying two of your rifles now Ed.
The shortest and by the sound of it, the longest.

[edbear2]

I missed out on buying two of your rifles now Ed.
The shortest and by the sound of it, the longest.

The longest was a hard decision mate, but I was feeling very shakey health wise for a couple of years or more and really thought I did not want to leave the missus a pile of stuff to do, got rid of a lot of stuff in my life over that period.

ATB, Ed