are you a trader or a keeper?

[xpertgreg]

I just got to thinking. I have never sold or traded a gun with the exception of one that I sold to The Chairman because he needed an action screw (long story). other than that, I keep all the guns I buy. that makes me a keeper I'd say. anyway, I was wondering, are you more of a gun buyer, or more of a gun trader?

gw

[Herr Mario]

...........Buyer.....when I have $$$$$$$$$$...:icon_cheers:

[CoorsLightGuy]

I'm a keeper. I've got a smaller collection than many, but it's quality and I can only remember selling one pistol. I don't think I've ever sold a rifle.

[fordruid]

I'm a buyer. I want to own them all. Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine!

[SAC22PPC]

well i used to buy and then end up selling when times got hard...now i have bought back 2 of the four guns i sold, waiting on one and the last i will never see again except online. that ones a long story...
oh also had a 1903springfield that i wish i had held onto. it was just a barreled action with most of the reciever parts except for the triggerguard. that one had been reblued and was in almost perfect shape, sold it back to the shop since i was likly to never get the parts...it was not there the whole day before some younger fellow bought it and had it promptly bubbafied by the "smith", made me sick...oh well.


0] SAC22PPC 0]

[WmRoy]

Much more of a keeper............. the only things I have sold were made after WWII............. somewhere along the line I decided that was the line I would draw and sold a couple of things that were too new......... course I still have a few 'new' guns that I wouldn't sell...........:blob1:

[Mosko]

I'm definitely an accumulator. I have found good deals on something better than what I have, and purchased with the intent of disposing of the old one. We all call that an "up-grade". After cleaning up the new piece and testing it, I find I like them both. Then, because there is always some slight difference, I convince myself that I have to keep them both.

On rare occasions, I have disposed of a rifle, usually to good friends, so that I can see it once in a while!

[Stan in SC]

I guess I could be classed as a "culler".I go thru examples of a model until I find the one that I like best and that one I keep and move on to the next model that strikes my fancy.The base criteria for me is that it is a good shooter.

[Mosko]

You know Stan, that might actually be the best way! The reason I say that is, that from time to time I must have a "serious" gun cleaning scession. The last time, back in the summer, I set up a table outside near where the "accumulation" is, and started about daylight on Saturday morning. I worked about 13 hours or so, and then a few more on Sunday to finish up.

All of the weapons needed cleaning, not from firing, but from dust, and low humidity conditions. The bores and stocks were completely dry.

The acumulation method will cause you to have too many, and get into the maintenance problem. The other problem is where to put them all. It's a good thing I have an understanding wife. When they're in the way, she'll unload a rack, move it and reassemble exactly as it was without saying a word.

I guess I'm really a lucky guy!

[BnSC]

I don't really know what to classify my collecting as..

I want my guns so that I can shoot them. There are a few that have not lived up to my expectations and I have traded or sold them..

If it is a good shooter, I'll hold on to it.

[swede556]

I want one of everything.

That is an unobtainable goal so I just settle for as many of most as I can afford.

I have a lot.......but not nearly as many as I need.

Terry

[oklahomaman]

Have never sold a gun because times were hard. Never made since to me, if times are that hard then you'll be in the same hard-spot you were in no time and you won't have your guns to keep you company.

I do sell guns that are either bought for resale or the ones that don't appeal to me after I have had them a while. Also, like Stan, I cull through and get rid of the dregs. I also sometimes buy 6-12 of something and then go through and figuire out which one I want to keep and then sell the rest usually at a higher price than I paid for all to start with giving me what comes out to a --free-gun!

I can't remember ever having felt bad about getting rid of a gun, when they go it is fully thought out with no misgivings.

[HoosierDaddy]

I never sell one. I am afraid that it will turn out to be some rare item that is worth bazillions of bucks.

[DOGolden]

expertgreg,

I *edited* your post (kind of, but not really). Hopefully I enhanced the thread by putting a poll up top of your original post! Is that okay with you? If not say the word and I will make the poll go bye bye.

By the way, I am a trader (culler like Stan said). I go through milsurps pretty quick like. I am now down to only a few of my precious horde. Pretty much they are all staying with me (except for a m48 I will probably trade or sell at the next gunshow). I have bought some pretty decent milsurps in my time. And I have unloaded some really, really cool ones in my time too.

Some of them I miss:

1) Finn m28 I sold to The Chairman {told tell him I said this but that title really goes to his head!
2) Norwegian k98 that another friend on this board got from me last year (hard to find conversion to 30-06) {I saw this rifle at a shooting competition today.
3) 1898 CG Mauser, traded to a friend on another forum.
4) m28/30 I sold to Stan two years ago {what a tack driver and beautiful rifle.
5) Norwegian Krag Jorgensen (6.5x55) I sold at a gunshow last year (the most beautiful sporterized rifle I have ever, ever seen).

You have to start somewhere in your collection. Starting out with inexpensive rifles and trading up is always good!

[xpertgreg]

I actually looked for a way to do that when I made this post originally, but couldn't find it, did I miss it or is there a way to do it now?

gw

[No4Mk1]

I have from time to time traded something that I had grown tired of or had "too many of" because I wanted something else more and didn't have funds for it. I have also once sold a similar item to fund a project.

Generally I'm a keeper, but if I want a new "toy" and can't afford it I'll trade to get the new item.

[CoorsLightGuy]

I've never traded a single gun and I've only sold one gun. It was a cheap Charles Daly 1911 that I got rid of so that I could purchase my Springfield Armory, Custom Loaded 1911-A1 that I used for IDPA.

I haven't participated in any matches for quite awhile now because of various health problems, but I'm thinking about getting back into it, as I really enjoyed it there for quite awhile.

[CoorsLightGuy]

I was hoping that this would show up as the most recent poll on the portal/homepage, but it won't because the original post made back in January and the poll module determines the most recent poll via the date that the thread was started.

[sc-closer]

Interesting. I went through about a 15 year period where I bought alot. Every year or so I'd cull through and sell off the ones that I didn't feel so close to anymore. Sometimes I'd be collecting one thing, later another. I went through a m1 period a few years back. Now just have one. Lastest phase was mausers...I accumulated quite a few. But alas, I sold off most but my favorites. So, I guess I keep some, and trade or sell the rest when I tire of them.

I still have the 2nd handgun I ever bought...a Colt Government Enhanced 45 acp, and I still have the very first milsurp I bought...a Finn 91/30 Mosin that I bought back in 1990. I have a S&W 686 that I've owned for at least 13 years now, and a Ruger single six that I've had for about 12 years. Oh, and the SKS my dad bought back in '88...I held on to that one. The rest kinda flowlike the tide. ;)

sc-closer

[jkingrph]

Still have the Marlin 39 Dad bought for me in'52. Been accumulating ever since I could afford to. Now I'm running out of room. My wife convinced me to get a safe a few years and I got a big one, but not big enough. I now need space for at least 12 more long guns( the doubles except for Darne& Charlin are broken down in bags on upper shelf in safe. What's a guy to do, the older I get, the more things interest me.
Jeff

[Rockman]

I've "horse traded" with my late best friend to get what I have now which most of them are milsurps and I will keep those. I have a few "commercial" guns, but at one time or another the military modified them to suit their needs, I'll keep those too. I have a Russian SxS 12 gauge, keeper. I only ever sold one firearm, and it was a commercial handgun, I needed the money. I'll get more milsurps as time and money allow. I have two milsurps, one is sported which someone will have to eradicate me to get away my from grip. :grinning-thumbsup: