rob63
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2012
- Location
- PA, but still a Hoosier
It may be a tad bit presumptuous of me to attempt this, I certainly risk saying something stupid and there are certainly many others that post on these boards that are likely more qualified, but I was really struck by a recent thread where someone proudly posted the rifle-musket they had recently purchased only to be disappointed to learn that it had been cut-down and turned into a shotgun post-war. I hope that I can pass along something useful that may prevent someone out there from making a similar mistake. Ideally, others will join in and add things to the thread that I can learn from and I can also avoid making a future mistake. At the very least I hope the photos are useful.
Information
You can never own too many books or do too much research. The only books that I have regrets about are the ones that I have failed to purchase. At a bare minimum you should purchase and read Flayderman's guide. It is the bible of antique gun collecting and is loaded with sound advice from a legend in gun collecting. If you are serious about collecting Civil War arms then you also need to purchase specialized books that give detailed information about the weapons.
As an example; look at the barrel bands on these two rifle-muskets. It is important to know what is correct on the particular type of gun you are buying. One of these is known as the Model 1861, the other is known as the Model 1861 Special. You would not want to purchase a Model 1861 that has Model 1861 Special barrel bands on it or vice-verse! Likewise; sights, locks, stocks, etc. are normally different on various models. This is where the books come in handy. You won't possibly remember everything there is to know, but even things you have forgotten will lurk in there somewhere and will make you think twice before making a mistake.
I have been trying to think of what are the best pieces of advice that I could give a beginner. These are my opinions, others may disagree with some of them. This leads me to the first piece of advice; you will need to give some thought to what is important to you. Some people don't mind if a gun has a lot of wear and tear, others only want pristine new looking weapons. As you become a more advanced collector your taste will probably change but the more you can figure it out up-front then the quicker you will begin to amass a collection that you enjoy. In my case; I have realized that I don't mind at all if a gun has a bunch of dents and dings and shows evidence of having actually been used, but I really dislike guns that have been cleaned too much. Others will feel differently. You should also decide what type of collection you want to have. Some people specialize in all of the various versions of a single weapon, others generalize a little more and collect within a certain category, I am one of the many people that just want one of everything.
The second big step is that you should attend as many shows, museums, auctions, etc. that you can and just simply look at original weapons. If you are at a show ask questions, most of the people at them are friendly and helpful.
Once you are ready to buy something, have patience. The best deals come to those that wait and that still have funds available when the opportunity presents itself. Never pay retail prices for items that are commonly available. Conversely, never pass on a rare item because you think it is over-priced. Knowing the difference between rare and common items comes from research.
Information
You can never own too many books or do too much research. The only books that I have regrets about are the ones that I have failed to purchase. At a bare minimum you should purchase and read Flayderman's guide. It is the bible of antique gun collecting and is loaded with sound advice from a legend in gun collecting. If you are serious about collecting Civil War arms then you also need to purchase specialized books that give detailed information about the weapons.
As an example; look at the barrel bands on these two rifle-muskets. It is important to know what is correct on the particular type of gun you are buying. One of these is known as the Model 1861, the other is known as the Model 1861 Special. You would not want to purchase a Model 1861 that has Model 1861 Special barrel bands on it or vice-verse! Likewise; sights, locks, stocks, etc. are normally different on various models. This is where the books come in handy. You won't possibly remember everything there is to know, but even things you have forgotten will lurk in there somewhere and will make you think twice before making a mistake.
I have been trying to think of what are the best pieces of advice that I could give a beginner. These are my opinions, others may disagree with some of them. This leads me to the first piece of advice; you will need to give some thought to what is important to you. Some people don't mind if a gun has a lot of wear and tear, others only want pristine new looking weapons. As you become a more advanced collector your taste will probably change but the more you can figure it out up-front then the quicker you will begin to amass a collection that you enjoy. In my case; I have realized that I don't mind at all if a gun has a bunch of dents and dings and shows evidence of having actually been used, but I really dislike guns that have been cleaned too much. Others will feel differently. You should also decide what type of collection you want to have. Some people specialize in all of the various versions of a single weapon, others generalize a little more and collect within a certain category, I am one of the many people that just want one of everything.
The second big step is that you should attend as many shows, museums, auctions, etc. that you can and just simply look at original weapons. If you are at a show ask questions, most of the people at them are friendly and helpful.
Once you are ready to buy something, have patience. The best deals come to those that wait and that still have funds available when the opportunity presents itself. Never pay retail prices for items that are commonly available. Conversely, never pass on a rare item because you think it is over-priced. Knowing the difference between rare and common items comes from research.