Keep THem In A Gun Safe or Display?

[RobertNashville]

There was a time when I had only a couple of handguns and really nothing all that special about them - one always stayed in my nightstand and anything else would be "hidden" somewhere to make it more difficult for a thief to find. However, I've acquired more than a few at this point and all but a couple are somewhat expensive; even heirloom quality. About a year ago I invested in a good safe (thank you Safe House!) and that's where all my firearms reside except for anything I have out for carry/immediate use.

Among my collection, I have a couple that are truly beautiful pieces of mechanical and woodworking craftsmanship and it kills me to keep them hidden in a safe...part of me really wants to have one or more of them "out" and prominently displayed just so I and the occasional visitor can appreciate their beauty but I'm torn between that desire and my desire to keep them as safe from theft/fire as possible.

Anybody else out there feel that way? If so, what have you done about it if anything?

Just wondering....thanks for any input!

[Jasongar8]

Keep them in your safe. If someone comes in and you want to show them go get it out.

Most of the time it is not your friends and family that you have to worry about. It is the people they tell about your gun collection.

[mikegideon]

I feel that way occaisionally, and then i get over it. I'm with Jason.

[Guest BenderBendingRodriguez]

The above advice is good. If you really want to see them, either take them out to look at/show off, or take some pictures and rotate them as your computer desktop or screen saver or something.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Aww, go ahead and build a safe room that you can walk in and view. Now that should be cheap:D

[dlm37015]

i have a safe room when i got a divorce i built one

[gregintenn]

I keep em out of sight in a safe. I don't have a very good memory, so every so often I go digging through the safe, and I often find something I forgot I had. It's like Christmas!!!

[tnhawk]

If you leave a nice gun displayed in the open, it's probable in the future the only thing left will be a memory.

[Guest friesepferd]

No was I would put a gun on display. My house gun is in a quick access safe next to the bed, the rest are all in my custom gun safe room thingy. - which I will have nicely laid out when I'm done. If someone (including me) wants to see my collection, they will be in there, safe and sound.

[Guest friesepferd]

hey tnhawk- i like the color scheme of your 1911 btw good choice

[Mike.357]

+1 to someone's inadvertant big mouth causing you trouble.

Keep your stuff put away and don't talk about it yourself.

[RobertNashville]

+1 to someone's inadvertant big mouth causing you trouble.

Keep your stuff put away and don't talk about it yourself.

I appreciate all the responses...none of them surprise me either (damn it).

I guess having to keep such things locked away/hidden is just the nature of the world we live it today...it's sad, really.

[mikegideon]

It is sad. I grew up around display cabinets and wall racks.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I did, too.

I know of a house, nearby, that is filled with nothing but guns in every room. I got

to tour it once and it was like walking through a museum. Thousands of every kind kind of

weapon I could imagine. Display cases for handguns. The man had been collecting for years.

If the wrong people knew about them it would be disastrous. It is literally a multimillion

dollar collection. Once he goes, I doubt I will ever get to see something like that again.

[Guest pfries]

I have a few relics I keep on display, flint locks ect. non functional without getting in my safe.

other than what is about "in use" they stay locked up. I will addmit during deer season my 270 stays out a bit more than it should (closet, hard case ,lock). But the collectable ones are specificaly listed on my insurance if "Good Lord forbid" somthing did happen to them. none of them have sentimental value as far as Great Great Grandad's or anything. I do have a bit of personal attachment to them though.

Just my two cents

[Guest clownsdd]

I have a .38 S&W Special that has been gassed in the Argon Forest grandad, ww1, got sand in in from North Africa dad in ww2, rice from Korea uncle in Korea and plain s**t from the nam. It's locked up and shown to a chosen few.

[eapking]

I'd go with the safe. More reasons for that than the other.