collecting by war/region

[pocketshaver]

A lot of people will hate anyone who collects a "Nazi" or "axis" weapon no matter the reason for it. Its considered generally retarded and dumb as hell by normal people.

But here is a question for everyone, if its "evil" to collect a german rifle or pistol from ww2 because it MIGHT have been used to shoot a jew or gypsy, but NOT because it was used to shoot an American,,,,,

then why is it acceptable to go ga-ga and purchase Vietnam production and Vietnam issued Chinese SKS rifles that WERE used to commit atrocities on American forces?

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[Ovidio]

Yes, completely. Guns are things, they do not kill. They are used to kill. That makes all the difference in the world.

[pocketshaver]

you don't seem to be getting it,,,,

if its evil to collect an old surpluse german rifle that MIGHT have been used to shoot a gypsy or jew in ww2, then how can it be GOOD to buy a Chinese sks that WAS used to kill American troops in vietnam

[vintage hunter]

you don't seem to be getting it,,,,

if its evil to collect an old surpluse german rifle that MIGHT have been used to shoot a gypsy or jew in ww2, then how can it be GOOD to buy a Chinese sks that WAS used to kill American troops in vietnam

Not sure I'm getting it either but this is how I see it...
Contrary to what some might say there is nothing inherently evil about collecting (buying) an old surplus German rifle that MAY have been used to shoot (murder) Jews or Gypsies in WW2.
What would be evil is collecting (buying) that same rifle with the intent of shooting (murder) Jews or Gypsies in the present or future.

By the same token, theres nothing inherently good about buying a Chinese SKS that WAS used to kill Americans in Vietnam. Just like the German rifle, it's all in the intents and purposes of the buyer that would make the purchase of either one good or evil.

[#1oilman]

Seems we have created an entire generation of people just waiting to be offended !

[muffett.2008]

Who says it's evil? As collectors we look at the firearm as a tool, not a weapon....an important link in our evolutionary history.


I lost 2 uncles in Malaya....But that doesn't stop me buying Japanese cars.

[Ovidio]

That’s it. It’s not evil. It is stupid to think that way. When people start with such arguments I politely change topic or cut it off if they insist. No one is intelligent enough to make a stupid understand his stupidity...

[rcathey]

The prices would not indicate that K98s and Lugers are considered more evil than Chinese SKSs.

...unless evilness is worth a premium!
Looking at Party Leader PPKs, maybe it is!!

[Gil Boyd]

Pocketshaver,

Surely Milsurps covers ALL spheres of weaponry of Military Surplus, thats what this sites all about, and thus its name.

Many countries weapons have been responsible for being used to defend ones rights, and some used in some really bad situations, as you will be aware of, living in the States and its history of the 2nd Amendment of a Right to Bear Arms.

I am sure many gun owners on here and other sites hold weapons that have been used in various wars and conflicts around the world, and might not know their individual history.

I will add as an ex Military man and ex Police Officer, a weapon is fine in the hands of a trained user, it is that user that makes the decision to fire it, not the weapon?

So in short not really sure what your point is?

[Aragorn243]

The only people I ever hear or see calling NAZI items evil are idiots that don't know or understand history. They are usually leftists that left to their own ends actually are guilty of a lot of the things the NAZI's did. People are evil, items are not, symbols are not, it's what people use those items for or symbols for which are evil, not the items themselves. The swastika for example is a symbol of good luck around much of the world or at least it was until Hitler decided to adopt it for his purposes.

I own a token from the 1933 Worlds Fair in Chicago that has a swastika prominently displayed on it.

There are a lot of people in the world that have little to do so they look for things to be offended by. It seems to give them purpose to get through the day. Doesn't make their opinions valid. If you allow them to control these things, once the conquer one, they will find another.

I put on presentations and while it is not a common question, it does occasionally come up. Do I know if any of the rifles I have killed anyone. The answer is obviously no but the odds are high that several in my collection have although which ones is impossible to say. Follow up question is usually, does it bother you and again, the obvious answer is no, not something I dwell on. The knowledge that it is possible is there but it doesn't change anything. There are going to be people out there that will say they could never own something that they thought could have killed someone but those people aren't coming to my presentations.

What I see as evil is the attempt to hide or change the historical record or in extremes, outlaw all references to it. I'm disgusted with the attempts to destroy the history and symbols of the Confederacy here in the US and the same efforts Germany has made concerning the NAZIS after the war. We are supposed to learn from past mistakes, not hide from them and simply because an event happened, that doesn't criminalize the entire population involved.