Quirks, idiosyncrasies, and common personality traits of the various subsets of milsurp collectors:
GERMAN
-I am obsessed with font sizes- font sizes based on year, manufacturer, season, temperature according to the almanac, astrological readings, and tarot decks.
-I'm befuddled by the irony that the impeccable, masterful craftsmanship of a nation wasn't good enough to forge a victory in either of the world wars.
-If it's not pictured in Law or Still, it's FAKE!!! HUMPED!!! TURD!!!
-If it's not in my collection, it's FAKE!!! HUMPED!!! TURD!!!
-Everything, I mean everything, is sanded, varnished, or FAKE!!! HUMPED!!! TURD!!!, unless, of course, it's in my collection.
-I feel any piece that is not 100% matching numbers is an abomination of history, unworthy of study or appreciation.
-I make way more money than you ever will. Bless your heart.
-F.uck RCs!!!
AMERICAN
-I'm a patriot. I'm 'murican, dammit! Love it or leave it, commie!
-I'm amazed at the potential of an "original, as issued" m1 or m1 carbine, but confounded when confronted with the notion that they're all cobbled together.
-If I still collect them, I make more money than you. Bless your heart.
-I can quote the exact month any m1 was made just by looking at the serial.
-What matching numbers??
-I will scold anyone who shoots a particular 1903 because the Legends say it's unsafe.
MOSINS, RUSSIAN
-I'm a rookie. Welcome to the club, rook! Now go do my laundry.
-I make minimum wage.
-I must find beauty and interestingness (<-- not a word!) in them because I make minimum wage.
-I can pontificate for days about the awesomeosity (<-- not a word) of Finnish rifles!
- But yet, ironically, I can not comprehend that junk rebuilt well, is still junk.
-I have no idea what a m44 is, I just love the "fireballs".
-I can be seen sitting at the range, pounding on a closed bolt, perplexed, wondering why I didn't just buy a quality rifle instead.
-I can be seen watching "Enemy at the Gates", with no pants on, hugging my 91/30.
-STALINGRAD!!
-I buy my rifles blind, from a big distributor, and am extremely likely to ask advice on how to strip shellac.
SKS
-I spend hours researching the most ergonomic and tactically efficient aftermarket stock so I can be a door-busting commando.
-What's the best scope mount for a SKS?
-I am a SPECOPS door-busting terrorist-killing SEAL, I just can't afford an AR.
-Why the hell should I pay more for a Russian? SKS is SKS, dawg.
-I willingly debate the proper or improper use of 'Norinco'.
-I eagerly await the next e-notification of beat to hell rifles available at...wherever.
-I pay exorbitant German prices for a Russian SKS with an offbeat arsenal logo.
-What's the best way to remove BBQ?
-I willingly proclaim the Yugos to be the finest SKS ever made. Wait...what?...other countries made SKS?
FRENCH
-I can be seen in a cafe eating a gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian arugula salad with hummus and diet bottled spring water.
-I had $300 to waste.
-I find beauty and utility in something the rest of the civilized world would find suitable for a Chinatown sushi house dumpster.
ITALIAN
-I own a Carcano, I enjoy it, and I am the only one in America who does.
-I enjoy paying more for a round of ammo than I do for the rifle itself.
-I own Oswald's rifle!!!
SWEDES
-Most accurate rifle ever borkborkbork!
-My tender shoulder can not handle anything more powerful than a friendly nudge in jest.
-Best rifles ever! Best design ever! Swedes rock out with their sock out! Wait, what, they learned and bought everything from the Germans?!?! F.uck me!
-I can actually correctly pronounce Ljungman and Gevarsfaktori.