I think Ed Mason, as quoted by Jay Kimmel in his Stevens/Savage book, put it rather well.  When asked why he collected Stevens by a noted Colt/Sharps/Winchester collector, (to paraphrase):  "All the real collectors already possess all the best firearms, so rather than searching for needles in haystacks, I've made a collection of the hay."

uscra112 wrote on Mar 10^th, 2014 at 9:13am:


Hello uscra112,

If I was ever wealthy enough to be able to purchase such fine firearms, the last place they would be is permanently resting in a safe. I'd shoot them. I can't imagine that some of the past owners never shot them, that's too much of a stretch of the imagination. remember the rifle users of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries used powders and primers that were very corrosive. They couldn't afford to leave cleaning their rifles until they got home, or the following day, not unless they wanted a rusted and or pitted barrel chamber and/or rifling. 

I'd definitely use them but at the same time I would take great care of them. Nearly 60 years ago when in the ATC (RAF Cadets) we came off the range having shot the old SMLE rifle in .303 British, and before we left the range the rifle had to be boiled out because the ammo was still corrosive. The Duty Armourer was present and he checked every rifle to see it had been cleaned correctly. If he wasn't happy you did it again and again, that meant he didn't have to do it later himself.   

Harry

During a range discussion and good-natured ribbing on the subject of Winchester over Stevens one of our more sage shooter / collectors stated that he was always amazed at how sloppy Stevens actions were. When asked why Stevens won so many matches he replied, “I never said they didn’t make great barrels” So endth the lesson.

40 Rod

Bent_Ramrod wrote on Mar 12^th, 2014 at 4:55pm:


They didn't, at least, until a juicy enough contract fell into their laps--the Westinghouse deal, I mean.  "They" were Stevens' top management & chief share-holders, so there's no reason to think this deal--which, though it didn't kill the company outright, seriously wounded it--was forced down their throats by the machinations of others.  What happened to the profits from that deal?  Sure didn't do back into the company.

How Mr Greatbatch came to have the resources to be able to amass this amazing collection has no meaning to me. I am in awe that he had the interest, drive, imagination, and good taste to do it. I'd like to say  "well done" to him.

Something that no one has mentioned about Warren is his generosity. There have been many envious mentions about his monetary standing but not one mention of his generosity to the ASSRA and shooters. Yes he has the wealth to indulge his passions but he has also given generously back. A couple of examples:
  I remember one year that he showed up at Etna Green with a beautiful Colt Gatling gun, complete with ground mount and the camel mount it came with. He set it up and let anyone with ten dollars crank off a magazine; all the money went to the ASSRA. 
  I also remember the first year that I joined the Western New York Schuetzen Society I attended their July picnic. Among others Leo Cook was there he always brought a few items from his extensive collection for the rest of us to slobber over. He would teach any one who wanted to learn about what he brought. As Leo told me about a Pope he had and explained the fine points Warren came over. After Leo was finished Warren asked if I had ever shot a Pope rifle. No I said this is the first time I had ever seen a real Pope in person. Warren asked would you like to shoot mine? I jumped at the chance simultaneously terrified that I would somehow screw up a valuable Pope. Warren took me step-by-step how to use the false muzzle, how to use the hickory loading-rod, how to load the shell with the Pope measure and place a card wad on top. When we were done he pointed me at the target and told me to aim and shoot. I still remember how great the triggers were on that rifle. I will always remember Warren’s generosity to a glassy-eyed guy who was just getting started. 

40 Rod

I think Mr. Greatbatch also made his complete collection of Shooting and Fishing available to Tom Rowe to copy and publish.  I never would have been able to read that material if he hadn't allowed its publication and distribution.  For that alone he deserves my gratitude.

A friend and I were talking a few years back about the plethora of copies of the old single shots that were now available.  When we started, we could only afford relic condition originals, and couldn't afford the fees even an incompetent gunsmith charged for fixing them up.  We had to learn to do that ourselves or go without.  We agreed that if the copies were around then, we would never have bothered with the original junkers.  We also agreed we wouldn't have had half the fun or learned a quarter of what we did if they had been available.

A museum grade original is very nice, but I get an extra kick out of shooting something I had to exert myself to get shooting again.  So I don't envy the owners of the fine originals.  Each to his own.