Rarities at Antique Arms Show

[Jc5]

jc5 at No 22 The DVD was sent to me by the guy put in charge of selling the collection, he was not called Ian, I do not know who put it all together but it was a fair bit of work.

Sorry, I should have explained. I was referring to the professionally produced DVD that "Lee-Enfield" author Ian Skennerton put together (for sale on his web site, and recommended)---that DVD details the Bob Faris collection (many unique Lee Enfields from that collection were featured in Skennerton's books). It sounds like you received a different DVD. I didn't understand what you meant by "seller"....do you mean the James Julia auction house? The reason I'm asking is simply that I would love to see the pics on the disc---I'll send you a PM.

Regarding the comments by others about selling the house to buy rare firearms that will never be shot... yes, I can sympathize with that. If I had a best-grade $100k English side-lock SxS, I WOULD shoot it, despite its value, because that is its purpose. But a collectible historical firearm that was famous because of its owner or its part in a famous historical event (but not otherwise unique)...I can appreciate that too, but I would never spend the money on it, not on "collecting" in that way. That's just me.

But if the gun was historical because of some feature that is part of its design... such as a transitional model (an "1897" Mauser, for example), a trials or prototype model (a Lee Metford Trials carbine, or very early MkI)... now that is very interesting to me. The firearms from the Faris collection being auctioned by Julia's are not the kind of thing I would own and keep in a safe...I don't need to own them... but I would love to study them. That's why it was so much fun to see them at the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show... the auctioneers were kind enough to let me handle and inspect them, down to the smallest features...and take photos for future reference, more than is possible to get from a published book with limited space. It was a rare opportunity to check out these rare and important pieces during the brief window of time that they are on public view...unless some museum buys them, they will probably go back into the darkness of someone's safe for years, like the toys in "Toy Story." Who knows when they will emerge again? Hint to the buyer... consider putting up a "virtual museum" (e.g., a web site, or a detailed article here on this forum) where others can study and enjoy them. Owning rare stuff is more fun when you can share!