Starting a U.S. Military Arms Collection

[MajorUSARet]

I am interested in beginning a collection of military rifles and pistols starting with WWI through Korea. To those of you experienced and having done this, what would be you wish list of rifles and pistols and in what order? Within what purchase price ranges would you expect each to fall? What happens to the value with or without import markings?

I am open to any and all suggestions.
Thanks to all!
Lou
Major, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Import markings tend to drive the value down within the US. Here in Canada it's not so big. If you were starting, then just look at the major issued Martial arms. 1903, Johnson, M1 rifle, M1 Carbine, Colt rifle, Carbine variant. Pistols would be small and large frame revolvers and 1911 and 1911 A1. M9 also. That's just the skeleton. Having been Military since you were probably 17, you may have others in mind. And of course you know you need all the ancillary equipment to go with. Bayonets, slings, holsters... Just start somewhere and finish at the end. It only takes money and availability of gear. Make a list and check it twice. Remember Christmas is only months away!

Jim
Warrant Officer (Ret)
P.P.C.L.I.
74-08

[MajorUSARet]

Thanks for the reply. Too many guns, but not enough money. I did just get a C96 "Broomhandle" given to me by a friend of mine. His father brought it back from WWII. It has the stock/case. In really good condition. So, I started with that one.
Best regards,
Lou

---------- Post added at 11:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:59 AM ----------

Thanks for the reply. Too many guns, but not enough money. I did just get a C96 "Broomhandle" given to me by a friend of mine. His father brought it back from WWII. It has the stock/case. In really good condition. So, I started with that one.
Best regards,
Lou

[browningautorifle]

Good enough. It's a start anyway. Got pics?

[MajorUSARet]

Yes. How do I post them on the forum?
Lou

---------- Post added at 01:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:51 PM ----------

Yes. How do I post them on the forum?
Lou

[browningautorifle]

Go to the stickies at the top of...say, the M1/M14 forum and there's three ways to post pics. I use the third one because it works for me. If you still have difficulties just PM Harlan or Bager for assistance. We'll get it sorted out.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Hello MajorUSARet. Welcome to the forum.

I collect US arms because I have the most interest in them.
For the basics from WWI through The Korean War the most common would be - M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, 1903 Springfield, 1917, and a 1911. Of course there are variants of each type and other types not listed, and all are interesting.

The least expensive and easiest to find would be the weapons that have been through arsenal rebuilds. If an import mark doesn't bother you they're usually a little less than a rebuild or all correct of the same quality. Regardless of which type you buy - from a pristine, all correct type to a rebuild that has an import stamp, they all generally remain in an approximate price range and keep their value, or appreciate. You could start with types of each in the most affordable and common range and fairly easily sell them if you decided to buy an all correct version. An all correct original of any of these might be valued at three times as much a rebuilt, import marked version of the same type rifle. This site is a great place to learn - and also if you find a weapon at an auction on-line, or otherwise find one that can take photos of, you can post it in a specific forum and get good advice from experts who know the rifles and how much their approximate current market value would be.

Jim is correct about adding photos. We put together illustrated tutorials of how to add photos by the two most common means by making screen prints of each step. We hoped by doing it this way without using computer terms and complicated descriptions it would make it easier to learn. It looks involved when you first look at the instructions but once you do it a couple of times each becomes fairly quick and easy.

Below is a link to the the tutorial of how to add a photo directly to your post from a photo you have on your computer -

How do I upload pictures to my posts for storage on milsurps.com?

This link shows how to add a photo you may have on an outside host side such as 'Photobucket'

How do I show pics from Photobucket, Flickr, ImageShack etc. on milsurps.com?

There are also .pdf versions of each of the instructions you can print.
(Give them a little time to open depending on your connection speed)
Once they open you can print them and keep them beside your computer so you can easily refer to each step.

http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...rpswebsite.pdf

http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...te_updated.pdf

Especially when you're first trying to show photos in your posts, keep in mind you can see how your post will look by clicking the 'Preview Post' button on the lower right under the dialogue box. If your photo doesn't show up in the preview it won't show up for others when you clcik the 'Submit Reply' button.

[MajorUSARet]

I've uploaded pictures of my C96 "Broomhandle" to photobucket. Comments welcome.
Thanks,
Lou

Pictures by loumiles - Photobucket

[browningautorifle]

Going out on a limb a bit here. Are these the pics you were trying to link to?

[MajorUSARet]

No sir. Those aren't mine.
Lou

---------- Post added at 09:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:45 PM ----------

Somehow this isn't working. I copied and pasted the link below and it worked. How do I make the link accessible inside the reply?
Thanks,
Lou

Pictures by loumiles - Photobucket

---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:48 PM ----------

Yo! Now the link works. How did I do that?
Lou