The short answer is yes.  Then you might ask, what kind, at what cost and how many? 

     Not too long ago a friend asked if I thought be could still put together a nice collection of Winchester rifles similar to my own.  Could they still be found at a reasonable price?  My short answer to him was, “Perhaps.”  And I further stated, “don’t simply look at my collection as an example for you.  Build your own with what you like and want to spend.”

     Let me state the obvious and then continue.  If you have the money you can build a knock out collection of the best there is.  Your purpose may be just to do it and have it or to create an investment or to preserve something for posterity.  All good enough reasons, I guess.  But probably none my friend had in mind, nor did he have money to burn, a position most close to reality for the majority of collectors.  Then I wondered, how did I start mine and why?

     Pictured above are some of the lever actions in my own Winchester collection.  The top is a Model 71, a newer version of the 1886 Winchester.  The rest being 1892 models, including a takedown rifle and a carbine. If you added a model 1873, 1886, 1894 rifle and saddle ring carbine, you have a pretty good lever action rifle collection, with less than ten guns.  Where to go from there?  Your choices are almost endless, one of the beauties of a beginning collector and especially of Winchesters.  Or you can simply stop and enjoy them, or possibly “upgrade” what you started with.  Back to my comment, “build your own, with what you want!”

     I think my meager collection began because of my love for the outdoors, my interest in history, a mechanical ability and being in the right place at a particular time and some luck.  These are some of the attributes that are part of my make up.  Your make up may be similar or different but something in your past experiences gives the desire to pursue or do something today.  You first have to have the preponderance to collect then a desire and an inner quality in pursuit of building what you want.  Having some disposable income goes a long way to fulfilling any of those traits.  So, what about money?    ....

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