Buy the rifle not the story!!!!!

[Seaspriter]

as for the pic, is this collecting or hoarding ???

BigDuke, you are NOT a hoarder, so rest easy. You certainly qualify as an "ardent collector" who has been more than generous in your +1,000 posts. These many contributions attest to your generosity and willingness to contribute as well as learn. Thanks for all your insights.

Reading another thread from Roger Payne, he makes another collector distinction:

It may sound a little self serving to my wife, but I always argue that in buying collectable rifles, scopes etc., I am not really spending the money in the sense of it being gone forever (like in spending it on an exotic holiday - very nice but nothing left afterwards other than a rapidly fading tan & some snap shots), but just converting it into another form. Some people do it by turning money into gold, jewellery, or Chippendale furniture; we do it by converting our money into Lee Enfields. If you buy wisely you can always get your money back, if not make a profit, as & when you need to. And of course you have the pleasure of owning them in the meantime.

So he thus defines another category: the "Investor-Collector" who, although passionate about the collection's historical significance, also realizes that the collection is not squandering but a long-term investment, just like antiques, or stocks, etc. I confess my collection of antique paintings, furniture, and now just one old car (which are in daily use) are both a love of art and craftsmanship and history, while also and a good investment of money -- each appreciates every year. (Just try buying a new piece of furniture or a car today and see what it's worth 10 years from now!)

While this thread may have wandered a bit from Buccaneer's first thoughts, for me at least, it has been a very worthwhile evolution and refinement of my thinking about what's the best way to have high standards in our avocations and, for some, our professions. Good job mates -- keep the thoughts coming.