Hoarding an issue in Milsurp?

[Snowdingo]

I wish I could buy a mint 1970 Roadrunner. They are only worth $5000......except all those ####### "collector hoarders" keep on driving the price up.

Its not like anyone needs a Lithgow enfield to put food on the table. If you want one, you have to pay the $$$. If you think its too much, you don't want it that bad anyway.

 

[Claven2]

I was talking to someone today who told me they have 3 identical Enfields ‘same model obviously not the same serial number’. He also knows multiple other people that have a bunch of the same rifles stored away, and this got me thinking is there a hoarding issue in the milsurp community? I can understand having a bunch of different models/variants of a rifle but it almost seems greedy to have 3 or 4 of the same gun. It makes it harder for other people interested in milsurp to find something and drives up prices. Now I’m not looking to cast judgement or anything like that but I’d be interested in your opinions, what do you guys think?

I knew a guy who literally had over 200 enfields in his basement, and not a "collect every variant" kind of collection - this was just accumulation. He had like 50 australian cadet rifles with yellow or green noses all randomly stacked. Some people do hoard.

 

[Coyote Ugly]

Born to Hoard is the Tatoo on my Chest! LOL

I was talking to someone today who told me they have 3 identical Enfields ‘same model obviously not the same serial number’. He also knows multiple other people that have a bunch of the same rifles stored away, and this got me thinking is there a hoarding issue in the milsurp community? I can understand having a bunch of different models/variants of a rifle but it almost seems greedy to have 3 or 4 of the same gun. It makes it harder for other people interested in milsurp to find something and drives up prices. Now I’m not looking to cast judgement or anything like that but I’d be interested in your opinions, what do you guys think?

 

[dak47]

Got quite the chuckle out of this thread. Everyone had to pay the price of admission to play, when some of these models were plentiful our wages were low also making them still a real bite out of the paycheque to acquire.....

 

[Coyote Ugly]

I knew one guy that had 1500+ rifles and he started back in the 40's and 50's collecting.

 

[JP]

There was a big Winchester lever action rifle collector here in town, he started off by collecting every model and variation, after his was done he collected every caliber made for these rifles and finally he tried to get rifles with consecutive serial numbers. When he died a big dealer from Texas bought out his collection.

 

[Coyote Ugly]

As collectors, we are only caretakers for a short time. We kick the bucket and someone else carries the torch for a short time...

 

[Desert_Fox]

LoL

Nice try FBI!

 

[bearhunter]

I knew a guy who literally had over 200 enfields in his basement, and not a "collect every variant" kind of collection - this was just accumulation. He had like 50 australian cadet rifles with yellow or green noses all randomly stacked. Some people do hoard.

200??? That's a nice start for a collection. I had close to 800 at one time. Almost all gone now. I never worried much about variants, just quality. I started collecting while working in Alan Lever's basement in the mid sixties. There must have been variants in the middle of runs, because even new rifles with consecutive serial numbers could have slight variations, especially mid war specimens. Usually the variations were cosmetic only.

 

[Coyote Ugly]

Ice Cube,
Maybe you should work 5 or 6 jobs to support your expensive milsurp hobby and you will get a feeling of ROI (Return on Investment), Appreciation, and Inflation!
You will have a fat wallet in no time and can blow your wad on the milsurp of your choice!
Don't feel sorry for yourself or a new collector that prices are going up over time! That's just a real bad case Entitlement!

Once again I was just looking for some opinions not attacking anyone or saying its wrong to own many of the same rifle, not sure where the hostility is coming from. I know a guy who has 5 K31's and he recently said that it was a faze he was going threw years ago and now he's not as obsessed with them so hes selling some off, which seems reasonable. My point with it being harder for new Milsurp enthusiast to find guns still stands though and before you jump on me I was able to grab some decent Milsurp back in 2012 when it was a lot cheaper, but I still feel bad for people just getting into it now 'paying $800 plus for an SVT etc'.

 

[EL34/6L6]

It's only an issue if you're one of the "have nots"...

Me...? I have a safe dedicated to and full of milsurps. No guilty feelings here, maybe check back in with me 10 years from now...

 

[Iceman18]

Thanks for the people who actually answered. For all the people who attacked me it seems like your sticking to the "I got mine, screw you!" philosophy, which is sad. I don't know why this question that was just looking for opinions turned into personally attacking me, but rest assured that I do have a good job in the skilled trades and am not struggling, nor am I some sort of communist. I feel like these attitudes will make new Milsurp enthusiasts turn away from being involved in this community.

 

[polaris]

 

[chasseur]

I really don t see a problem it's what collectors dosome guys focus on a particular era or gun and buy all they can afford or find ,myself I have a broad interest in firearms so my collection varies instead of concentrating in one area.The same thing happens in antiques most people specialize in one thing or another it s not hoarding it's called collecting.The good thing is that collectors either die or lose interest so the collections gets sold and broken up eventually,just think about a gun made around 1800 and how many owners that gun has had afterall it is the gun that really collects us owners instead of us collecting them as they are still around when we are long gone.
The one thing a true collector has to have is patience trying to find that next piece because any true collector will tell you in collecting the thrill is in the hunt not the buying

 

[Eaglelord17]

I have some of the concerns you yourself have in terms of the prices. My opinion is as the prices get higher and higher, eventually they will plateau then drop.

The reality is they are not a necessity, they are a hobby. The more expensive the hobby is the less people that get involved and the less people that get involved the cheaper things will get. I can understand the most desirable things being more expensive (i.e. the major nations main armaments for WWI or WWII, or highest condition firearms) but the generic stuff constantly going up in price will seize at some point. This Covid 19 will likely cause a bit of a price correction if it goes on long enough as people sell their firearms to get cash.

If I had to start collecting today I likely wouldn't be collecting firearms. I developed my personal interests by buying and selling a bunch of milsurps until I got the ones I liked and learned what ones I am interested in. People where a lot more willing to sell as they knew they could replace it easily if they wanted to. That mentality changed some point in the last 5 years where people just decided to hold on to everything. Not saying its right or wrong, as a example before M39s which had been brought into the country 20+ years before were bought and sold at 300$ regularly and constantly coming up for sale on the EE. Then more came in the country at a higher price and you don't see them too much anymore.

Last year I only bought 2 firearms just due to the prices involved and the fact that its hard to justify spending 1k+ for a firearm when that 1k can buy so much else. 300$-500$ I was more than willing to spend in a month or two, plus with the way I was buying and selling, usually I would sell the one rifle then buy another with the same money, usually only being out shipping. Not nearly as easy to do that today, plus the variety isn't really there.

Not saying that people shouldn't enjoy what they have, or shouldn't own several of the same variant, hell I have 3 Bulgarian M95s in 8x50r because I like Bulgarian M95s in 8x50r. You pay for it, enjoy it. Just that it is interesting how the market has changed, and honestly I don't play in the market to much anymore because of it.

 

[safety first]

Thanks for the people who actually answered. For all the people who attacked me it seems like your sticking to the "I got mine, screw you!" philosophy, which is sad. I don't know why this question that was just looking for opinions turned into personally attacking me, but rest assured that I do have a good job in the skilled trades and am not struggling, nor am I some sort of communist. I feel like these attitudes will make new Milsurp enthusiasts turn away from being involved in this community.

This confirms the accuracy of my statements

It's not a personal attack, this is the part where OP asked for opinions on a public forum.


It's an assessment of a stated position, whereby outside opinions were solicited publicly by the original poster

Ok OP has a good job, it appears the issue is having a non-winner mentality and lacking the insight to understand that.

OP is unable to "meta-think" about how others are seeing this issue and is now defensive in response

It's a sign of lower level intelligence and inability to understand the world outside of one's own personal experience

Typically, the next move is to disengage with the issue when the reality becomes painfully obvious to the person struggling to understand it---------i.e it's them with the issue

You can often tell when a person is younger without alot of friends for social feedback. They have to come on the internet to get that feedback to understand their place in the world.............

 

[55recce]

I have a substantial collection of Milsurps. It has been built up over 40 years or so by going to every gun show, arriving early with cash in hand. By doing a lot of research, buying sometimes expensive books, magazines, looking at websites, visiting gun stores, museums etc. I carefully buy 2 - 3 Milsurps a year always looking for all matching, good barrels etc

I think this is why some of us bristle at the term hoarder. I am a collector who has taken a lot of time to do it properly. It does seem that this is problematic for some people who seem to want access to what I have and the time and money I have put into my collection without paying there dues.

I am aware of some hoarders. There is reputed to be one guy locally who buys at least 1 rifle every week and is so overwhelmed that they are stacked up against the wall even in the bathroom. I visited one guy in the states who has filled his house so much that he know has parts spread out on his stove top as the only available surface. But he does have some fantastic stuff.

I know its a fine line but just because I have a collection of Milsurps it does not make me a hoarder. Go forth and put the time in and you can still find good items for sale and there are bargains out there.......

 

[cornelunc]

How does taking advantage of purchasing prudently at the time the now collectible firearms become hoarding???

If it weren't for people that were truly interested in the history of those firearms and loved the way they were designed and handled, BUBBA would have had his way with all f them or they would have all found their way to the smelter.

OP, be happy some here had the foresight to preserve the pieces that exist now. That they're out of your price range or becoming difficult to acquire is part of the game.

I'm getting a bit long in the tooth myself and over that past few years, have been allowing new firearms enthusiasts, for a reasonable price, to become the caretakers of most of what was once an extensive collection of firearms dating from the mid 1700s to present day.

In truth, they were one of the best financial investments I've made. The returns have been fabulous. Much better than gold and much more consistent/reliable than the stock market. About the only thing that gave a better return was land/houses.

I guess that is the same with surplus ammo.

 

[Coyote Ugly]

It sounds like you're just Cheap like you want everything for 1/20th the price like Pawn Stars, American Pickers and Canadian Pickers and then can make the Big Flip for Profit! Greed and Entitlement! LOL

Thanks for the people who actually answered. For all the people who attacked me it seems like your sticking to the "I got mine, screw you!" philosophy, which is sad. I don't know why this question that was just looking for opinions turned into personally attacking me, but rest assured that I do have a good job in the skilled trades and am not struggling, nor am I some sort of communist. I feel like these attitudes will make new Milsurp enthusiasts turn away from being involved in this community.

 

[freedomintheskies]

I was talking to someone today who told me they have 3 identical Enfields ‘same model obviously not the same serial number’. He also knows multiple other people that have a bunch of the same rifles stored away, and this got me thinking is there a hoarding issue in the milsurp community? I can understand having a bunch of different models/variants of a rifle but it almost seems greedy to have 3 or 4 of the same gun. It makes it harder for other people interested in milsurp to find something and drives up prices. Now I’m not looking to cast judgement or anything like that but I’d be interested in your opinions, what do you guys think?

Some people have devoted every spare cent they could scape together for many decades to build a collection of firearms. If they deem it a good idea to buy 50 of the exact same thing, It's their decision. We live in a Democracy and under the guise of being a free market capitalist society.
Tell you what- If you want the firearm someone else has, offer to purchase it, or go source your own.
And yeah, it does sound as though you are casting judgement. Read what you wrote.