Our Collection:
These web pages are nothing more than the cumulative result of one families continued interests in hunting, history and shooting sports, spanning over 100 years of firearms acquisition, operation, and preservation.
Having stated that, it is requisite that I also state my belief that owning arms of any sort, is not a privilege, but a right, as is the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is a right which transcends nifty pieces of paper, such as the Constitution of the United States of America, which preserves such rights within the rule of law, but it is also a right which goes back long before that document. Back to the jungles and caves of Mankind's primal past. The right to defend ones self, family and home is immutable and irrevocable. It is a basic tenet of life, and should be recognized accordingly, especially in lands such as ours who are so quick to proclaim their freedom and liberty.
Free people are armed, slaves are not. It is that simple.
However, free people also must act responsibly, that is the other side of the coin. Freedom demands responsibility, and owning weapons such as those featured here requires a great deal of responsibility. Anyone who owns any weapon from a slingshot to a flame-thrower can be classed as one of two type of person: responsible, or irresponsible. Irresponsible people shouldn't be allowed to own weapons. Period. Neither should they be allowed to drive cars, vote, or sire children. The fact that we in the United States allow them to do all of these things speaks highly of our sense of freedom, that our great love of freedom is worth an occasional mix up. It is unfortunate that these mix ups can be so devastating, regardless of whether the tragedies of irresponsibility involve firearms misuse, automobiles misuse, or messed up or abused children. I wish we lived in a world without poverty, without war, and without crime, but until we do, I will bear arms to make sure those things do not impinge upon my freedoms, and those of my family, friends, and countrymen.
I'd rather have it, and not need it, than need it, and not have it.
One of the collections I have features Military Arms of the United States from the 20th Century. The reason there is such a diverse element to this collection resides in the fact that the 20th century saw Mankind do two things amazingly well:
1) Technologically advance at an incredible rate.
-and-
2) Kill his fellow man with utmost savagery.
It is the second of these two things which should, at this date, less than 70 short years since the Rape of Nanking (300,000 dead), the Closing of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Holocaust (11 million dead), the 12.5 million eliminated under Stalin's "Purges", and the up to 3 million "re-educated" by the Khmer Rouge, cause every educated, moral, and thinking free human being to not only own, but be well trained in the deadly application of modern arms. Freedom isn't free. Never has been. Never will.
"Never Again" should not just be a Jewish mantra.
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Having said all that, and gotten a heavy load off of my chest accordingly, let me add that that heady responsibility isn't the only reason I am a firearms collector. It should be the only reason I need, but they are also very fun to shoot, and to collect. They appreciate in value, and are pretty much money in the bank if taken care of.
I have enjoyed shooting since before I was ten years old, which is when my father finally gave me my first rifle. I was already a good shot, and a responsible, and safe shooter by that time. Even though he gave me my first rifle at that age, it wasn't until I was 16 that he let me take it out and shoot on our farm without his close supervision.
I have already taught my two sons proper firearms handling and safety at ages 5 and 6, even though neither has ever touched on of Dad's real guns. I have been quick to instill in them that all guns may be "real", and that all guns are always loaded. Further more, and as part of this, I have had to teach them about death, which was a hard thing to do to kids of that age, but I felt it was morally responsible in order to teach them that guns kill. And so, to never point ANY gun at ANYTHING they weren't ready to kill. This is the same lecture I remember my father giving me at an early age, and I have always lived by it.
I volunteered for a tour in the United States Marine Corps after graduating from High School, and my admiration and respect for martial weapons grew to encompass Military arms in addition to the sporting arms I had grown up with. Further more, I have a Bachelors degree in History, and have enjoyed collecting historically significant arms from different periods as well, both military and civilian.
I have long belonged to a local firearms collectors association, and have bought, traded and sold many pieces over the years. The rifles and pistols shown here are those which currently occupy my vault, there will be others, and some of these may pass, but as you can see, I take a lot of pride in them.