Jack,
literally tens of hundreds of guns have passed through my hands since I turned 21. I am always looking for "the perfect" gun for any given situation. Unfortunately, I have yet to find the perfect gun. I'm getting close in some of my choices. My Steyr Scout in .308 simply can't be any better as I understand its use and function. My WWG is very near perfect as my anywhere, anytime, any big game levergun. My marlin 39 TDS, is a perfect .22, though if I could find the right long barreled take down .22, I would trade it away. I hope the NKJ 92 that is coming is the perfect levergun camp/truck/self defense gun. My sharps is near perfect, though a bit heavy and I'm still not happy with the sights. Ugly duck is ok, nothing special - just ugly
not perfect in my eyes. In pistols, the Rohrbauh 9mm is a darn good CCW. The S&W 3 inch pro model 60 with tritijon night sights is really nice as a carry gun in woods and a companion to the 92. The two s&w I picked up this week are wonderful guns. The .44 is classic and feels well in my hands, but not as well as the 22-4 1917 .45acp. This pistol feels near perfect in my hands in balance and fit. if it shoots well, I will be well pleased. Same with the .44 but it already is lacking in feel. My USFA in .45 is pretty near perfect for the gun it is. But that leaves me with three pistols, single and double acting in the .44/.45 calibers. Eventually I will get down to just one. My colt .22 beat out rugers and freedom arms in fit and function. My custom flintlock is perfect for what I use it for, won't get rid of it until situations change. My shotgun I use now fits me very well.
As I go through life, with moves, changes in lifestyle, changes in values, I have gone through many changes to what I feel is the perfect guns. Where I am at right now, is trying to minimize calibers, minimize #s, yet still cover the situations I will find myself in hunting, self defense, home defense. At one time I had a gun vault in my home, an entire room filled with over 150 guns. I have 10 rifles right now, from .22 to .457wwg to .54bp, one shotgun, 7 pistols (one going out in trade). Three rifles will have to go, and perhaps two more pistols.
The only rifle I am looking for right now would be my perfect lever gun for the northeast: I would like a long barreled, full magtube, crescent butt 30-30. i'm looking for 24-26inch barrel, ladder rear, post and ball front, tang peep in a take down version. I'm keeping ugly duck until I find that one.
I could be talked out of the TDS if I could find a long barreled .22 takedown (i want to load in the am and shoot all day on squirrels) to replace it. I have tried several and so far, can't find the right one.
I don't think I have a need in pistols. And for right now, can't see me getting another shotgun for a while.
Until those rifles show up, I'm going to be using my income to pay off debt, crank up my reloading, increase my shooting at ranges and going on hunts. I am in transition to moving out of a house and onto my sailboat. I have been looking for some property bordering a national forest in Adams county here in Pa. If I find the right place, I will put a rustic cabin on it, and a barn/stable, and sell the sailboat, retire for the second time and live simply growing food, raising animals and doing missions work overseas. I think my gun crank days are nearing an end. I will just enjoy the weapons I have. I know many like the collection aspect but I have spent enough time in those shoes. The second half of my life will be dedicated to doing without rather than working on fulfilling my consumer driven desires with every piece of eye candy that comes along. I certainly don't begrudge any of those that disagree with me. I know I am in the minority. I know if I had held onto everygun I bought, I would not be any happier than I am with this rather modest assortment. I am almost embarrased to say that 17 firearms is what I have whittled my collection down to. Alot of people would love to have that many. I know I could go alot lower and may, but I doubt I will have any more than this number ever in my life. If I found that 30-30, I could go a lot lower. Should situations change, I could be forced even more lower. I could easily get under 10, maybe 7 without too much time thinking. As I said, I'm going to spend more time shooting and hunting and less time buying. This past year I gave away 4 rifles or shotguns to strangers, One to my brother. That was a lot more rewarding than collecting them for me. My focus shift is now on giving back rather than collecting. I'm afraid I will do little in the future to earn the 5 star rating of Gun Crank. I will just have to live vicariously through those on this forum. As I work to clear my debt, I have also declared this year a year of jubilee for those that owe me. Those paying back debt, those who have felt the need to repay, their debt is forgiven and zero balance is recorded. Blessings
Congrats on the new revolvers!
) travel more, (can't do that because I'm always buying guns 
.....kids are raised and doing well. I've been blessed I reckon...things could always be worse that's for sure.