Too many, no. More than I need, yes. More than I use any more, yes. I need to start thinning the herd a bit.

Yes I have reached that point for myself. In the process of acquiring a long gun that is a backup, and something I have wanted for a few years now. It’s the last piece for the safe. I’ve always been pretty thorough or diligent about not owning too much stuff. My safe was bought to fit what I need, with room for backups. It wasn’t bought to be ever expanding. For 25 years I’ve bought stuff, and I either keep it and I sell something to offset or if I don’t like it I resell immediately. Someone will have to invent a new platform in terms of pistols for me to do anything and even then I’d sell one of my two existing platforms to offset. Now magazines and ammunition I can never have enough of. I hoarde those.

There is no way to know, this is always an individual decision. For me, I treat my collection as an IRA...so adding here and there doesn't bother me as long as I acquire something that will continue to grow. I have friends who manage to keep one pistol and a shotgun. Other friends have gun rugs piled literally to the ceiling in multiple rooms. I see wisdom in both choices.

I'm thinking it's time to thin the herd down to 3-4 handguns, 2 rifles and 2 shotguns from God knows how many now.

My problem is that I don't have anyone to leave them to and being in my 70's the time is ripe for selling off some of the one's that I haven't shot in a long time. It'll be like cutting off fingers and toes but it needs to be done.

Maybe next year or the year after that. Shit, maybe it won't get done at all.

Jim

too many guns? impossible

...said the non-dead guy with no blunt force trauma injuries...

Yes. I'm finally at the point of saying that I have "just enough."

I always try to ask myself the following questions before making another gun purchase:

1. Is this gun going to enhance the quality of my life in some way? Stated differently, will this next gun purchase unnecessarily DETRACT from my ability to make reasonable progress over time toward living a financially independnet life, or at least reaching my monthly and yearly financial goals. ***This is the steepest question to satisfy if answered honestly.

2. Does this gun fill a void or gap in my current inventory? I.e., will having this new aquisition allow me to do something THAT I ACTUALLY WANT TO DO, which I can't currently do more or less interchangably with my current firearms?

3. Does this gun fit into the scheme of spare parts, magazine, and ammunition compatibility with my current items?

I think it is a good idea to get at least 2 and more like 3 (or more) guns of each type that you really like and shoot well. You never know, you might lose, destroy, or wear out one of your favorite guns, and then you will have wished that you had some redundancy. Then, get spare parts and tools to work on these guns (the 2-3+ of each type), just more than enough magazines, and more ammo than you think you "need," plus more on top of that. Once you've done this, you MIGHT have enough.

My philosophy for most guns is that if one is good enough to own and keep, and if it might be banned or shot to the point of being worn out over the next 1-3 decades, then you have no business owning only one of that type of gun.

Have made several sincere commitments not to buy another gun but couldn't stick to it. May try making the commitment with one hand on a Bible to see if that steels my resolve.

Arm yourself; arm your family. They will strive hard to disarm us, keep many extras. Hoard ammo too.

When I think I have too many, I buy one more, to test the veracity of my delusion.

^^^^
I like the way you think, Sigmonkey!

I consider the 2nd amendment to be one of the most critical we have.

Owning more firearms is patriotic. It's upholding the constitution by celebrating its institutions.

When I think I have too many, I can count on the members of Sigforum to keep things in perspective. I don’t even have 100 handguns yet. I don’t believe so..... Maybe I need to count.

You don't have too many.

That’s a great question and I answer it the same way I answer my wife when she asks how many guns do I own...

I assume my most philosophical pose and I tell her, “Some things can never be known.”

I don't understand this phrase "too many" of which you speak.

As far as "enough" is concerned ... my definition of "enough" = "just one more" !!

I had a friend who was a collector of one makers pistols. I have no idea how many he had in total, but it must have been an impressive number. He did tell me he had 56 copies of just one specific model variation. That's when I decided I didn't have too many.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
I had a friend who was a collector of one makers pistols. I have no idea how many he had in total, but it must have been an impressive number. He did tell me he had 56 copies of just one specific model variation. That's when I decided I didn't have too many.

You're friends with 12131?

This thread makes me feel better about my recent gunbroker addiction. Thank you....

Seriously thinking of cutting back. I am never going to shoot them all. Getting to the point of thinking you can't take them with you. Two kids and one nephew are not very interested.