A WWI, WII & Cold War Milsurp collection headed to a local museum

As suggested by one of the most helpful member of this site I submit pics of my entire collection as it was in 2019. It has grown a little bit (mostly WWI and a few Cold War) and I am constantly making corrections, repairs, long overdue cleaning, and completing the correct sling, bay and frogs. The display was reorganized a few times, but I now have more long arms than rack space provides, so time for additional racks! I cant yet post in the forum for sharing collection pics so I offer them here.

The pic order was intended to be WWI - WWII - Cold War, then display room and Flags of Our Fathers, etc. but Im not sure it posted that way.

This is my WWI, WWII & Cold War Milsurp collection as of 2019. It is larger now and as of early next year it is headed to a local museum to be on indefinite loan for display. However, even though my WWI & WWII handgun collection is small it will not be included in the loan to the museum due. We have enough issues of safety and security to address without the added temptation of easily purloined handguns! Such is the nature of our times! We are currently working out the necessary modification of the floor space in the museum and design of the display itself while I sort out acquisition of the last slings, bayos and frogs needed to complete each rifle.

The collection is on loan, not a donation. I will retain ownership and the agreement is that I can work on them and take a few out to shoot when ever I want, but the key here is that I can finally share my collection with others as it grows closer and closer to being complete for those three main conflicts.

When the display is ready and we have the grand opening of the exhibit I will post the Museum information. The museum is located in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area just 30 minutes directly north of the DFW Airport. Exhibit opening date is targeted for February 2022, but it is just an attraction to increase visitors as the museum has a much nobler goal than the history of 'modern' (20th century) warfare firearms.

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Nice, nice, nice...the kind of room a gun guy would gravitate to and stay long periods. You wouldn't need TV with a hideout like that. I had most of those over time, now all past. I never had much in Jap though, just a couple of swords.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Nice, nice, nice...the kind of room a gun guy would gravitate to and stay long periods. You wouldn't need TV with a hideout like that. I had most of those over time, now all past. I never had much in Jap though, just a couple of swords.

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Jim, I envy you those swords! I have not been able to identify mine yet, but surely there is a Japanese Sword forum somewhere!?!?

I stopped collecting when I had to move out of the house where I created that display room/library. I didnt complete the display room in the current house, though they are all in the loft where such a display could have been created very similar to the previous display room. It started to occur to me that I could not keep this collection forever. My four daughters will not want them nor know what to do with them and my 2 grandsons, so far, will likely NOT get to be influenced by Grandfather in this way, nor much in anyway as it seems...such is the nature of respect for family traditions these days.

I had been lamenting the thought of a future, a future not so far away as Id like, when Id have to liquidate the collection. So I can understand that many have had such a collection in the past. I dont really want this collection to go away, but the reality is that I will someday go away from it! I wish I'd had to funds to start collecting earlier and enjoy the collection longer, but Id still be confronted with the same ultimate reality. So the loan to the museum seems a best of all worlds option, at least until Im gone!

Even better, it got me collecting again (though in truth, I really cant afford it and I may be causing some near term financial difficulties with my current spending (6 rifles, missing or replacement parts, scores of slings, bayos, scabbards and frogs, display flags I was missing, etc....almost $12000 this year!) Will not SOMEBODY STOP ME! But I am truly enjoying it and the forum resources that I neglected to utilize over the years! :-)

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Originally Posted by 1903Collector

I have not been able to identify mine yet, but surely there is a Japanese Sword forum somewhere!?

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Just do a picture heavy thread and the answers will come...

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Originally Posted by 1903Collector

It started to occur to me that I could not keep this collection forever. My four daughters will not want them nor know what to do with them and my 2 grandsons, so far, will likely NOT get to be influenced by Grandfather in this way, nor much in anyway as it seems...

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I too have reached that stage and realization. Not to mention out laws are moving the wrong way to bother trying to hand down. Time to liquidate and use the money instead.

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Originally Posted by 1903Collector

I really cant afford it

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I too try to stay cheap now. Good buys only.

Well, I only need 299 more guns to catch up to you! Beautiful collection and all of them are obviously very well maintained.

Wonderful collection, and I applaud you for sharing with the museum.

Starting to face a similar quandary, but with a much less impressive collection. Well done sharing your beauties to those that might not ever get the chance to otherwise see such things in person.

I look at life differently now after Sept 13th last year where there was a chance I'd be horizontal instead of vertical so I cherish each day but like most here have accumulated "Stuff" over the last 50 odd years as I started collecting when about 14 y/a.
I look around like we all have and wonder how the heck I am going to read all of the books I have amassed as it takes real commitment to sit down and open up to read a 900 page Volume 1 of C E W Beans the AIF in WWI with another 11 volumes of equal length following that one.
I'd love people to look at my books but a book on a shelf is not really soul stirring unless you know what your actually looking at with regards to the author/subject/H.C/1st Ed as some books out there can really sting the wallet my WWI A.I.F 1st Ed's in H/C's drained allot of $'s.

Its good that you have shared your passion its a very smart looking collection I am sure the viewing pubic will enjoy it.