Our Responsibilities as Collectors

[Patrick Chadwick]

One thing I've noticed that catches my eye allot is wasted material.

Well I reckon that the combined efforts of forum members go a long way to making sure that as much is saved as can be. And as you will have noticed, some desperate cases have been restored to original configuration and function. The trouble is rather a naive expectation on the part of many that there must be spares somewhere for guns that were made a century or more ago and a reluctance to face up to the necessity to acquire some serious knowhow to do the job oneself. In which noble aim, we do our best to help. But sometimes scrap is, well, just scrap.

[jmoore]

All too often I see users asking about how to remove rust from an area, or fix wood, followed by the answer of "it's not worth the time" or "it's not worth the effort because you can buy another one for only $???."

Specific examples would help. In the photos above, as mentioned, I swapped good parts for "floor sweepings". Have actually made good use of some of it, but some would inded require more expenditures of time and money than buying a complete parts donor rifle! Old mixmasters with rotten bores have little collector or utility value. But they may yet breathe more life into better condition milsurps. The only alternatives to canniblization are : "repair" (not always feasible), "reproduction" (not often an option), "retirement", or "rendering" (down). For collectors, the canniblization route is preferable if the parts are "correct" (from a monetary viewpoint.) For shooters, the viable options are rather broader.

[villiers]

"I have done all of the above. But I have another issue. None of my heirs give a hoot about my guns, cars and motorcycles. They have no idea of a G41M. So I will live to 140 for spite. Gary "

I bet that when you´re gone, they´ll be quick off the mark! to find out the market value!