I think a "collection" implies that there is some relationship between all the pieces therein. Additionally, it suggests I have a plan, or at least know something. Hence, I prefer to think of myself as an "accumulator".

My wife tells me to dust in my library because the "stuff" in there has collected dust. I now know that I can correct her and tell her that the so-called stuff only "accumulated" the dust. :whistle:

My guess is that I'll still have to dust in the library. :banghead:

Josh brings up some valid points. I've learned this over time. I have an admitted soft spot for attempting to find great shooting guns for $500 and under. If you really look, there are plenty of them. It's become a minor obsession. The problem is, as Josh points out, you wind up with a whole lot of rather average guns. I enjoy them very much, but it's a lot of wood and metal to house and I can only shoot so often, or as often as my wife will tolerate. I've since consolidated my collection, resisted the urge to buy what I think are bargains, and focus on obtaining higher end guns.

Well I am a collector, accumulator, hoarder, what ever you want to call it. I like Parker shot guns! love to hear the metal clink when taking them apart and putting them back together, I guess I'm a collector of sorts, I have recently parted with some high grade 10 gauges, to concentrate on small bore hammer guns 20 ga to be exact. with around 15 lifters and only 35 top lever guns made in every grade I find this adds excitement to the hunt. I have had some nice collections in the past that I have sold in order to start new ones, Some interesting ones were a 12 gauge collection of high condition guns that included the Pratt A1-special two barrel set, and a P grade steel barrel collection from the 410 to the 8 gauge, these are gone now to other people to enjoy, I had a great time finding them which took several years, so I am a collector at heart I guess, now where is that next 20 hiding? Gary

lets see rule of thumb: more than one gun safe of Parkers and your a collector, more than three gunsafes of Parkers and you're a hoarder.

And if you had to build a secured room?

This is an interesting topic. To me the operative words are “Great Collection”. When I think of the great collections I have seen they are always populated with guns that are extraordinary in their condition and rarity. Attending the Parker Gun Foundation’s Hall of Fame banquet has educated me about truly great collections. Our Hall of Famers have many of the greatest guns Parker Brothers ever made. The men who have put these collections together have a burning passion to acquire the finest examples they can find. Whether their passion is hammer guns, high condition high grades or famous guns of provenance they will always be examples that are extraordinary. The collection doesn’t have to be big to qualify either. One HOF’er displayed a collection of every gauge in VH grade. A great collection consisting of six guns! I have a “collection” of Parker's I hunt with and occasionally shoot targets with. No savvy Parker man would ever label it a great Collectors collection. However, a hunter would think it is pretty good.

That made me smile, well done Edgar!

PML

I have a little over one safe of Parker’s , but the other two saves are filled with a menagerie of handguns , rifles , shotguns and muzzle loaders :rolleyes:

Collecting Parkers and setting very narrow boundaries that may result in never accomplishing my goal is too restrictive for me. I know myself and I am not that disciplined. That's why I have set waterfowl guns as my focus. I do discipline myself by setting an upper limit on the collection. That forces me to sell a lesser gun for a better example.
I really enjoy the hunt and can't imagine ever saying I'm done.