Henry Rifle Forums

Yeah, yeah, I know that most of us collect guns, knives, and possibly swords....
But... what else do we collect?
Personally, I collect a few other things that might be of interest. I'll share a few if ya'll will.
One... patches. Started during my military career and just kept going, I have a few really cool ones from attending LE conventions.
I'll add pics when I'm back at the desktop.

Well, I used to dive the local rivers here to collect artifacts. Yes, it is legal here with a license and reporting requirements. I also used to do volunteer work with the archaeological institute and would use my collected artifacts for displays and as educational material for talks at schools and events.

I collected all sorts of things from 12,000+ year old native American artifacts to all manner of bottles, ceramics, metal and other artifacts that were used up until the turn of the 20th century. I have since moved on from diving, but it had to be the most passionate hobby in my life. I'm getting a little long in the tooth to be crawling along the bottom of the river pushing gators out of my way and catching water moccasins in my teeth.

When I caught the woodworking bug I started collecting old woodworking hand tools. I would pick them up at fleas mostly, and then rehab them and often use them in projects. I currently have more hand planes than I could ever use.

I don't think I ever collected anything, trying to remember.......

I certainly don't collect anything now.

Even when I had 10 guitars, they all had their purpose. If you look at my gun list at the bottom, they're all unique and have their porpose.

So whatever chromosone or whatever regulates the desire to collect, I don't have it.............

I remember a story about a guy that collected golf balls; thousands of them. When he died his family was trying to figure out what best to do with all of them. Makes me wonder if maybe the desire to collect is partially based in the desire to leave something as a legacy? I don't know..........

All of my collections are involuntary. But I seem to be able to collect a lot of attitude comments from my wife. I think its all out love but I'm not real sure.

I collect memories but only good ones.

Beer bottles but only until they are empty. Then they go into the recycle bin.
I do have more flashlights than I need. And Knives, mostly pocket models.

I also collect, or did, coffee cups. But the special logo'd ones, and ball caps. Special ones.
I have cut WAY back on adding anything...
We are decluttering, and I have given away 3/4 of the ball caps and 1/2 the coffee mugs, keeping the cream of the crop.

Yep, forgot about ball caps.

clovishound wrote:Well, I used to dive the local rivers here to collect artifacts. Yes, it is legal here with a license and reporting requirements. I also used to do volunteer work with the archaeological institute and would use my collected artifacts for displays and as educational material for talks at schools and events.

I collected all sorts of things from 12,000+ year old native American artifacts to all manner of bottles, ceramics, metal and other artifacts that were used up until the turn of the 20th century. I have since moved on from diving, but it had to be the most passionate hobby in my life. I'm getting a little long in the tooth to be crawling along the bottom of the river pushing gators out of my way and catching water moccasins in my teeth.

When I caught the woodworking bug I started collecting old woodworking hand tools. I would pick them up at fleas mostly, and then rehab them and often use them in projects. I currently have more hand planes than I could ever use.

I love planes, I just started to use molding planes rather than routers. Quieter, lots less dust. Maybe my trim isn't perfect... but I made it by hand, and I can breathe when I go in the house at night. Plus... I love the whisk, whisk sound the planes make when they are sharpened correctly and you are "in the groove."

You know to be fair, I've never had enough money to buy things for the sake of collecting them. I think I may be jealous of the guys that had money and a house big enough to collect excess stuff.

Another thing is, I don't enjoy seeing things just sit. I mean decoration is one thing, and many collections are just that; a form of decoration.

But take airguns, for instance. I have 4 (five if you include the Red Ryder ) and with the seals and all that I feel obliged to use them. I basically rotate their use.

I shot my brother in laws Glenfield the other day because, you guessed it, it had been in the safe for a number of months.

So i guess I wasn't cut out financially or emotionally to be a collector

But to you guys that do, I think I'm jealous................

As I look around the man cave, I see all that I collect. Knives are the most numerous items. Diecast cars are a close second. Guns and airguns are third. Cross brand pens and Norma brand pencils. CB radios and some cameras. Star Trek (TOS) items. I have used almost all the pens at one time. Very few knives get used. All the guns have been fired except one. A brand new Smith and Wesson nickel plated model 29 4" bbl. That one has just never been out of the safe. I have meant to shoot it, but haven't had time.

I once determined I like finely made metallic objects.

In non-metallic items, I like to collect hats. Anything that isn't a baseball cap, lol. I like fedoras and many other styles. I like to wear them when I can.

I like to use almost everything that comes in. However, all collecting is on hold.

My father collected and I have to figure out what to do with his collections I have inherited. Farm equipment, R/C planes, HO trains and model kits mostly. We both collected garden tractors and accessories.

I'm going into a saving mode to prepare to move north to the Adirondacks.

I was very pleased and proud to have donated a very large collection of Boy Scout memorabilia to the local council. I found out they have a museum too. I got a standard thank you from the council and a week later, a more personal thank you from the curator of the museum. I had some really good stuff.

I seem to like collecting coins. I remember starting in my childhood. I remember getting about $10 for less than $1 worth of change I had in the 70's. I am thinking I will pass them on to my grandchildren.

daytime dave wrote: I was very pleased and proud to have donated a very large collection of Boy Scout memorabilia to the local council. I found out they have a museum too. I got a standard thank you from the council and a week later, a more personal thank you from the curator of the museum. I had some really good stuff.

When I was a kid, my mom had "happy feet." So we moved often. I was never in one place long enough to really invest time in the scouts. I tried several times, and enjoyed the experience, but as I really began to work at it, we'd pack up and move. I remember the adventurous feeling I'd get when I put on that uniform, and the "brotherhood" of scouting, but ... I didn't get the chance... one thing I do regret from my childhood.

The same Stepfather who was a Marine in Korea, was also into scouting as a kid, and when he passed in '81; while arranging his funeral and the Marine Corps honor guard, I found a few items among his keepsakes in his "top drawer" of his chest of drawers. One was his Marine Corps Guidebook. Another was his boy scout compass, stored in the box all those years. I didn't get much that belonged to this fine man, but along with his pocket knife, I took those things.

Years later, one of our young Volunteers for our Veteran's Charities made Eagle Scout. I made a custom presentation box and in the box... I passed along that antique Boxed Scout Compass. I felt my Stepfather would have been proud.

Well, After reading this thread, I find myself in the midst of collected memories and the time in life to begin the downsizing we all must go through. Looking back, I have been very blessed. My wife and I are coming up on 34 years as Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers. we have collected a house full of antiques, from furniture to smalls. Some of these were inherited and a lot purchased over the years. So there is a lot of sentimental attachment to some and others become space takers . I personally collected old carpenter tools, coins and for a while, my rifles and pistols.

As I look at the next generation, of which I have three. They do want some things, but there will still be a lot to move out. This next generation has been saddled up with college loans to the point that they may not be able, in their lives to afford a house until much later in life and therefore not able to furnish their apartments with the larger antique furniture. So I will pass on these blessings to those who will appreciate the workmanship and value of the bygone era.

I have told a few of you that we rarely do craig's list. What we normally do is pass on things to family and friends or thru friends and family to organizations who we trust to distribute things appropriately. When I retired unexpectedly, I had just bought new clothes for use for my professional job. Working for the organization I did, we had a certain standard to meet, even though I was now a "civilian" employee. I had brand new wool dress slacks for winter, new high end dress shirts, and a couple new sports coats. Plus the coats, slacks and shirts from the previous seasons. I went thru the closet, and pulled out all but one or two pairs of slacks, one nice coat, and my overcoat, and donated thru a friend of mine to HIS church AND his job. Thru his job at the local college, they would screen upcoming graduates in need and set them up with a nice pair of slacks, shirt, tie and coat for job interviews. With the suit, their new degree, and a good attitude, their chances in securing a job greatly increased. Thru his church, they did the same thing. I didn't plan on wearing any of the dress clothes again unless I absolutely had too, and couldn't see them sitting in the closet, especially the brand new items.

I have said on more than one occasion that I believe Karma is real. Good and Bad. It might take awhile, but it comes around and pays you back in full.

Guess over the decades I've collected some real nice cowboy gear, and use most of it still.

North Star wrote: As I look at the next generation, of which I have three. They do want some things, but there will still be a lot to move out. This next generation has been saddled up with college loans to the point that they may not be able, in their lives to afford a house until much later in life and therefore not able to furnish their apartments with the larger antique furniture. So I will pass on these blessings to those who will appreciate the workmanship and value of the bygone era.

Yes, education seems to be a must in our current society. I planned to help mine with a two-year degree to see if college was for them. I figured English is English and History is History no matter where one takes them. After that, they were on their own. One decided to go, and one did not. She did complete a certification program though. I planning to make a similar offer to my grandchildren. I opened an education account for each of them a couple years after they were born. A feature I like, I can keep or transfer the contributions if something changes in the future. If I pass prior to their 18th birthday, the fund should remain for them until then. So, it could be an education fund or a retirement fund depending on how things unfold.

BrokenolMarine wrote:

daytime dave wrote: I made a custom presentation box and in the box... I passed along that antique Boxed Scout Compass. I felt my Stepfather would have been proud.

I have no doubt that he would have been very proud.

A few of the Special Cups I kept...

My NRA Firearms Instructor Cup, had to be earned... Colt 150th Anniversary Cup... I've had this for years... it was a Gift from a friend. The Glock Shooting Sports Cup.. I love the hole thru the center of the cup.
Another that I have had for years. A Marine Corps Stein, of course... I was in this squadron twice. The back side of this coffee cup has my Aircrew Wings on it. A stoneware Marine Corps Mug, another gift from my guys when I left a unit.

I have a lot more mugs in the china closet, and more scattered around the house. Mugs from units, mugs from departments, and mugs that I swapped for when I attended classes. Most of the ones I gave away were promotional mugs from Trade shows and the like. Some never come out of the trophy case.