The "it should be in a museum" comment...

[SoldierLife7]

On a regular basis, I see posts about really nice old guns (WWI and WWII 1911s for example). Almost always, someone comes on the thread and posts something about it being a "piece of history" and that it "belongs to a museum"...

While I appreciate and understand the sentiment, I don't think that the majority of people understand how museums work or how much "stuff" museums keep in storage.

I also don't think they understand how common these old guns really are (yes there are really rare exceptions, but they are the exception, not the norm).

Am I the only one that thinks this way?

[Jimmy's]

Nope. I have a couple guns that people say should be in a museum, YES mine! Museums have more than they can handle and they get or have received more donations than they ever expected. Some are on temporary loan while others are donated and some were bought outright The last 1911 post here was no where near Museum quality. IMO

[IVC]

Old guns are more like vintage cars - if you just want to get from point A to point B, there are many better options. The value is in having a piece of history, not in having a casual plinker.

To that extent, keeping a safe queen here and there is not unreasonable, even if the gun doesn't belong in the museum. Heck, I'm even more careful with the off-roster guns and take into account their "hard to replace" status when deciding how to use them. For example, I am acutely aware that some of my HD guns that I keep loaded cannot be replaced easily if I end up using them. I had to make a conscious decision that I'll keep them as HD guns anyway...

[Cokebottle]

Ditto.
MAYBE 1% of what is actually owned by museums is actually on display for people to enjoy. A good percentage of what is on display is actually on loan and not owned by the museum.
For the most part, putting something in a museum is a guarantee that it will not likely ever be seen and enjoyed by anyone.

Yet one of the big museums in Mexico was recently embroiled in a scandal surrounding the bulk of their collection being either "not museum quality" or outright fakes. Much of this came from gifts from Rockefeller, who may or may not have been aware that they were not authentic. Many were commercial products that had been purchased in Europe,

Firearms?
Anything after the civil war, the numbers are just so huge that they serve better as props providing reality in telling the stories of human history... that is their value, not their rarity for the most part.

They were and are tools, not one of a kind pieces of art or music, and they were treated as such.

[cannon]

A lot of folks do not realize that museums buy, sell and trade the things they buy or are given to them.

[fal_762x51]

[steve91104]

was expecting a Nancy Pelosi thread

[Cokebottle]

was expecting a Nancy Pelosi thread

Museum, not zoo.

[Bainter1212]

I fired my 1884 Trapdoor rifle last weekend. That thing is a real thumper.

Did I trigger anyone here? Or is this one big echo chamber?

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[SonofWWIIDI]

Very few things are rare enough or worthy enough to be in a museum. And no, I don't have any museum quality stuff. But if I did, it would stay in my private museum.

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinions. I just don't have to listen to them.

[mosinnagantm9130]

A lot of folks do not realize that museums buy, sell and trade the things they buy or are given to them.

^^This

Sure, museums need some C&Rs. The vast majority are better off in private collections though.

[sealocan]

But what if it's a really nice collection of rare Hi-Points?





Although was just joking, I actually liked that Hi-Point collection that was posted here.

[Bainter1212]

But what if it's a really nice collection of rare Hi-Points?





Although was just joking, I actually liked that Hi-Point collection that was posted here.

Yeah whatever you think of Hi Points.....as a collector, I have to respect that guy for his commitment.

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[HibikiR]

Museum, not zoo.

Cemetery, since she already looks like the Crypt Keeper

[SoldierLife7]

Very few things are rare enough or worthy enough to be in a museum. And no, I don't have any museum quality stuff. But if I did, it would stay in my private museum.

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinions. I just don't have to listen to them.

I have 2 or 3 items that some would consider "museum quality"...they sit in the "museum corner" of my safe (unless I am shooting them).