Classic pot metal gun collection?
- Thread starter w_houle
- Start date
Citizen Carrier
New member
Just a mass accumulation of pistols? Or specific niches filled by specific guns?
If you are looking for guns to fulfill specific roles, and to do so cheaply, what are the roles?
If you are looking for guns to fulfill specific roles, and to do so cheaply, what are the roles?
Are you talking a collection of cheap "Saturday Night Special" type guns or are you talking about building a collection of good reliable guns that have historically low prices? Two totally separate things.
For the former, Skans gave you a good list.
For the latter, I'd start with many of the 9x18 caliber pistols. FEG PA-63's can be had for about $150. Polish P-64's run a little less than 200. Good used Makarovs can be had for $250 to $300. All of them are very accurate, very reliable, very simple, and quite affordable.
For the former, Skans gave you a good list.
For the latter, I'd start with many of the 9x18 caliber pistols. FEG PA-63's can be had for about $150. Polish P-64's run a little less than 200. Good used Makarovs can be had for $250 to $300. All of them are very accurate, very reliable, very simple, and quite affordable.
Citizen Carrier
New member
Let's not forget Tokarevs and CZ-52s (although I am not fond of these CZ models in the least, from personal experience).
Also look for Star Model A or Model B pistols.
Also look for Star Model A or Model B pistols.
chucksolo69
Moderator
Ummmmm sorry, my Star Model B is NOT made out of pot metal......shheeesh what have you been smokin'.
Let's assume we are talking about collectible handguns. The same thinking applies to long arms, but IMHO handguns provide a more diverse field. So, think about the older .32 and .38 RF and CF revolvers of the circa 1870-1910 era. There is an amazing variety, most are still reasonably priced and many are well enough made to be acceptable for self defense if necessary. In some cases, one make and type of gun is high priced, while other guns by the same maker using the same system are relatively inexpensive.
Examples: H&R, Iver Johnson, small Merwin & Hulbert guns (the large guns are expensive), Shattuck, .32 Deringer revolver, Hopkins & Allen, Forehand & Wadsworth, etc, etc. Many of these are "name" brand, and not at all in the cheap "suicide special" category.
Another example: an S&W DA .32, First Model is listed at $3250 for VG, $8500 for Excellent. But the Second Model can be had for around $200 in VG.
In brief, get a copy of Flayderman and look at the "Cartridge Handguns" section. Almost anything in there has some collector interest, some obviously more than others. Also look at the Colt, S&W and Marlin sections where some models are quite low priced, especially if in less that top condition. Many collectors will advise owning only high quality guns in new or near new condition; that is good advice, but can impose a severe limit on a beginner's collection unless the beginner has reserves of cash and the goal is pure investment.
A whole area of collecting that is, IMHO, a sleeper, is the vast number of DA Colt revolvers from c. 1900 to c. 1945. Beautifully made, rugged and reliable, nice ones will not long be in the $250 range where they are today.
Jim
Examples: H&R, Iver Johnson, small Merwin & Hulbert guns (the large guns are expensive), Shattuck, .32 Deringer revolver, Hopkins & Allen, Forehand & Wadsworth, etc, etc. Many of these are "name" brand, and not at all in the cheap "suicide special" category.
Another example: an S&W DA .32, First Model is listed at $3250 for VG, $8500 for Excellent. But the Second Model can be had for around $200 in VG.
In brief, get a copy of Flayderman and look at the "Cartridge Handguns" section. Almost anything in there has some collector interest, some obviously more than others. Also look at the Colt, S&W and Marlin sections where some models are quite low priced, especially if in less that top condition. Many collectors will advise owning only high quality guns in new or near new condition; that is good advice, but can impose a severe limit on a beginner's collection unless the beginner has reserves of cash and the goal is pure investment.
A whole area of collecting that is, IMHO, a sleeper, is the vast number of DA Colt revolvers from c. 1900 to c. 1945. Beautifully made, rugged and reliable, nice ones will not long be in the $250 range where they are today.
Jim
chris in va
New member
HiPoint?
PhoenixConflagration
New member
Hi-Point, Phoenix Arms, Jimenez.
How's the Walther P22 a potmetal gun?
How's the Walther P22 a potmetal gun?
Hi=point uses Zamak3 for the ease of casting, the barrels are 4140 chrome-moly, and wear surfaces are made of steel, where necessary. On my 995 the boltface is stainless steel, although the receiver is Zamak3. Receiver cover is steel too.The firing pin is heat treated steel too.Whereas my Jennings J-22 is made almost entirely of zinc[chrome plated] except for the firing pin.
Citizen Carrier
New member
If you'll look at his post, not the title of the thread, you'll note that he was asking about inexpensive handguns with which to build a collection.
Star Model Bs and As are inexpensive handguns. You'll note that other posters recommended steel handguns as well.
Unless you believe somebody would actually prefer guns made out of cheap alloys rather than steel ones.
Bill DeShivs
New member
Zamak is a zinc alloy. Cheap stuff.
P22 slides are Zamak. Jennings barrels are steel.
P22 slides are Zamak. Jennings barrels are steel.
BerettaBuckeye
New member
Pot metal
Superhouse 15
New member
On your mark....
Get set.....
Wait, that's not a starter pistol! It really fires!
In some states, the waiting period on a handgun purchase does not apply if you trade in a handgun. I know of people who accumulate these kinds of pistols just to trade them in to avoid the wait. This lovely example actually fires ok, cylinders line up and everything.
Get set.....
Wait, that's not a starter pistol! It really fires!
In some states, the waiting period on a handgun purchase does not apply if you trade in a handgun. I know of people who accumulate these kinds of pistols just to trade them in to avoid the wait. This lovely example actually fires ok, cylinders line up and everything.