Unfired rifles

Coming from the guy who’s had and collected too much #### in many pursuits, I came to find for me it was all about the chase. No different than hunting, it was the chase not the kill I was after. Once I had it in my hands I could feel the excitement fading, even if that fade out took a year or decade. Many guns come to mind in that sentiment, Gold Label… Satterlee.. H&H Royal… Pre-war M70…

I had an unrecognized hobby hidden in my search for rare or particular combinations of features, in everything from factory Rugers, Oberndorf sporting Mausers, Winchesters, to Holland & Hollands, to Valmets, to vintage motorcycles, to animal skulls. Once I had them, I often bored of them and forgot them in a corner of the safe or office or hangar, being noticed once every few months. A select few of the things in the gun category became well used, always those most functional and ready to go, ie. simple to feed chamberings I stocked readily, with the setup I preferred; short and handy, with iron sights.

The rest inevitably languished in a pattern I didn’t recognize for a couple decades, search long and hard, import and acquire or build at great expense and wait, ultimately bore of it when I have to realize it doesn’t do anything my factory rifles don’t. Examples of this are a full titanium Satterlee Mauser I waited more than five years for. I envisioned every combination of features I desired, an deep Rigby mag to hold 6+ rounds down, titanium action and a light contour barrel to keep it all at six pounds range, a composite weather proof stock, and a classy walnut dress up stock to switch to… NECG irons… a .375 chambering that was easy on the shoulder…

I finally received in it the height of my guiding days, realized I didn’t have time for all the little completions it needed, it didn’t do anything my stainless winchester didn’t, and I sold it. I didn’t even feel bad. The five plus year wait was very exciting however.

These days I’m simplifying hard as I can, and plan to do more, collect less again. It’s always brought me the most pleasure, but I don’t feel this has to be the same for all of us. This is my personal experience. I would caution we can’t take it to the grave, and it is just stuff at the end of the day, unless it’s an investment plan it really is just a pile of material. Making piles of material stuff has sort of become the hallmark of our generations.
 
Well typed Angus.
I'm playing with my BLR 358win seriously contemplating it as inventory for our April gun show in LewplyLand.
Haven't pulled the 2x7 Leupold scope awffer yet jest in case I change me mind.
Neuturr'd awl me reloads for it and there were many.
No luv for this gal anymo.

Major clean up in this house hold coming up.
Chit'n feathers everywherest.

Sold my KLR650 that wuzz parked in the geeragg.
The footprint it took is barely visible.

Yep, the chase is ware it's at.
I think I jest bawt a car today.
Tomorrow I'll know ............. hopefully.

Frick'in fewl is plum lowko fur $$ and I'm sure we t'ain't seen nutt'in yet.

So, do tell, whom be Ardent?
 
I have lots of guns I've never fired, most will likely stay that way. I have some that I shoot a fair bit. I don't crow about either way of thinking. If I don't want to shoot certain guns, I don't. Simple as that. I paid for them with my money. I've given a few guns to people who appreciate them.
 
HuskyDude said:
Oh and I'd love to see some pics of your brothers' Ducati !
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He won his class with that 750cc Ducati factory racer at The Quail (Pebble Beach Motor Show, Carmel, California) in 2022. He sent me this picture at the time. I'll try to get a better one that actually shows the bike. (He's a semi-retired Silicon Valley engineer (PHD Mech. Eng.) who collects, restores and builds caf-racer type bikes, when he's not fly fishing. He lives on Vancouver Island right now. (This Ducati racer of his was in New York's Guggenheim Museum "Art of the Motorcycle" exhibition back in 1998. There should be photos of it in the catalogue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_the_Motorcycle)

https://motoborgotaro.com/motorcycles/rare-1972-ducati-imola-750-racer

By the way, he's my little brother, and I'm the guy who taught him how to ride a motorcycle, on an old Honda. Now his daily ride is an Aprilia triple.

HdePNUx.jpg
 
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I have a few I have not shot in a while and one that was my grandpas that I shoot on occasion but is not the work horse as I do not want to wear it out.

At the same time, I just acquired a few antiques with the whole goal of being able to shoot them and hunt with them.

I do not see the point in not shooting a gun but I also have young kids and a lack of time to shoot them.
 
I buy and sell guns on a regular. Many impulse buys. Some get fired others stay in the box. Sometimes I'm not sure I want to keep the gun thus i keep it unfired for better resale value.
 
My guns are all used for hunting or range tine,I would not own a gun just to collect,that's not my thing.I buy a gun,and it's getting fired shortly afterwards,lol.I used to buy a lot from sir mail order and one time I has a delivery notice for a rifle I was expecting a Marlin JM guide gun,I stopped and got a box of shells,picked the rifle up at the post office and straight to Tyd range to fire a box of shells lol.
 
Rob said:
A collection of guns, fired or not, is still a lot more fun than another savings account.
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That inexactly how I feel about my "CAR-RSP's". Rather than haveing money in an RRSP where all I get is a paper statement to look at from time to time, I have it in vintage/classic/hotrod cars. When chosen correctly, they both with increase, decrease or remain unchanged in value depending on the economy and, in the mean time I get to enjoy using them or even just looking at them unlike an RRSP statement. Guns are the same. The key is (just like an RRSP) making the right choices which individual items to invest in.
 
Out of all the firearms i own all were fired but 2 of them and one of the two is a $300 huglu single shot 28g...lol

However a vast majority of mine are used but could pass for NIB they are so cherry and i like to keep them like that as i see them as a investment to a small degree.
 
Most of the unfired guns I have are back up or back up to the back up guns. :) Some I just haven't got too yet.... Most are still sitting in the cardboard box they came in.
 
Ardent said:
Coming from the guy who’s had and collected too much #### in many pursuits, I came to find for me it was all about the chase. No different than hunting, it was the chase not the kill I was after. Once I had it in my hands I could feel the excitement fading, even if that fade out took a year or decade. Many guns come to mind in that sentiment, Gold Label… Satterlee.. H&H Royal… Pre-war M70…

I had an unrecognized hobby hidden in my search for rare or particular combinations of features, in everything from factory Rugers, Oberndorf sporting Mausers, Winchesters, to Holland & Hollands, to Valmets, to vintage motorcycles, to animal skulls. Once I had them, I often bored of them and forgot them in a corner of the safe or office or hangar, being noticed once every few months. A select few of the things in the gun category became well used, always those most functional and ready to go, ie. simple to feed chamberings I stocked readily, with the setup I preferred; short and handy, with iron sights.

The rest inevitably languished in a pattern I didn’t recognize for a couple decades, search long and hard, import and acquire or build at great expense and wait, ultimately bore of it when I have to realize it doesn’t do anything my factory rifles don’t. Examples of this are a full titanium Satterlee Mauser I waited more than five years for. I envisioned every combination of features I desired, an deep Rigby mag to hold 6+ rounds down, titanium action and a light contour barrel to keep it all at six pounds range, a composite weather proof stock, and a classy walnut dress up stock to switch to… NECG irons… a .375 chambering that was easy on the shoulder…

I finally received in it the height of my guiding days, realized I didn’t have time for all the little completions it needed, it didn’t do anything my stainless winchester didn’t, and I sold it. I didn’t even feel bad. The five plus year wait was very exciting however.

These days I’m simplifying hard as I can, and plan to do more, collect less again. It’s always brought me the most pleasure, but I don’t feel this has to be the same for all of us. This is my personal experience. I would caution we can’t take it to the grave, and it is just stuff at the end of the day, unless it’s an investment plan it really is just a pile of material. Making piles of material stuff has sort of become the hallmark of our generations.
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Dead on about "The Chase"...as my dad says "its the journey" thats the best part.once the gun is in hand and essientially fired or stored away the high is over and we gun guys need to find another new fix.
 
Great thread. I see myself as Joe Average here, a bit of everybody in me. Life, work, and other hobbies all contribute to some coming home with me, but never getting shot. I feel weird when I put something up for sale, after having collected the dies, brass, and bullets, then admit that I never got around to shooting it.

I suppose that's why it's a lifestyle hobby.
 
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