Auction guns on EE

[bisonviril]

The same could be said about the housing market... but eh, who am I to decide how people spend their $$

Very accurate analogy. I finally managed to buy a small house in a not too sketchy neighborhood. I also have no idea what avocado toast tastes like.

Market's ####ed.

 

[Stephen Nash]

Firearms are deeply personal to me and hold a significance beyond a purely function item.

- but then I discovered the beauty and 'real' feel of a quality vintage gun.

Navigating this market means having experienced the full spectrum of value, from great bargains to steep overpayments.
"is this just an accepted part of the firearms scene I was previously unaware of?"

Blacklittledog, I hear you. I also understand your discomfort when encountering others who don't share your connection with guns.

The way I see it, the gun scene in Canada is like encountering a jumble of languages and cultures. Some I share, some I kind of understand, and some I really don't get. For some, guns are just a commodity, and flipping for profit is a nice extra. For those doing it as a business, there is little room for sentimental attachment, and hard calculations have to be made. For others who consider their guns as field and sporting companions, one cannot consider selling on a whim or for quick profit, no more than doing the same with a treasured hunting dog.

My focus is historical. I have zero interest in new guns, and even less in plastic-stocked abominations. I also share no attraction to guns designed to kill people. I am a small-game hunter and not interested in larger game. While I enjoy some target shooting, I do it for fun, not competition. These are personal preferences, and those interested in such guns and activities speak a different language and come from different cultures. To each their own, and have a nice day! The gun community has a wide spectrum of interests and motivations, and I wouldn't dream of imposing my choices on anyone, and I ignore any attempts to belittle my own interests.

When our languages/cultures collide, it is hard to ignore the flashes of frustration one feels when values and perspectives clash. So, I have to keep reminding myself the sport is vast, and I occupy only a very small part of it, in a narrow window of time. The guns that are so important to me will one day pass through the auction block once I'm gone, maybe several times, and the stories and relationships developed with them over a lifetime will have no relevance to anyone. My treasured possessions will one day be someone else's commodity. Or trash.

Yes, guns sold at auction and flipped here and elsewhere are a part of the firearms scene. There are bargains to be had, and no serious collector has not overpaid for something they wanted! It all evens out after a while. Everyone should just enjoy their interests in their own way, and not be bothered too much by those who see the pastime very differently.