I've been a working gunsmith for well over 20 years. I've been collecting U.S. Military guns for near as long. For about the last five years I have found the cost of collectable grade guns has gotten very expensive, so has shooting U.S. mil. ammo. Around May of last year I got to know a guy up at the range where I shoot at and he asked me why I bothered collecting something that has such little room to actually increase in value, hum, point taken. Since then I have re-defined the boundries of my collection to include anything that has been military issued or used by the military of any country in there persuit of marksmanship. So far to date I have purchaced 8 assorted versions of the 91/30, including Finnishicon guns as well as a real nice WW II period Izzy PU sniper (not import). A real nice shooting Hakem 8 mm. A Lithgowicon Mk1 #III, a Savage Mk4 No1, 4 assorted versions of the 98 Mausers, A Swissicon K31 (I'm looking into a K11), Swedishicon M96, M96/38, CG 80, Norma target gun and a real nice FSR, two Jap 99's and last but not least 3 AR-15's (previously off the map because of the caliber). I've done all this for what I would have spent on 2 or 3 of WW II M1icon Garands and as far as the cost to shoot them, there is no comparision.

I am going at this collecting with conviction. I'm finding it a load of fun to both own and shoot. To say the least I am very happy for making the switch. Now as far as the investment side of it, I suppose having seen what happen to the price of the Siamese Mausers I may be actually making a sound investment, But, I guess time will tell. I only buy guns with above average bore coindition and sound from a structual sense. I only repair what is broken and keep them in original condition. I guess I got the milsurp bug. I'm not sure what will be the next in the safe, but, I'm pretty sure it will be milsurp, Can anybody out there relate?-SDH
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