What word would describe a collector of firearms

[sandyRoe]

?

[rsvp]

armourer?

[boxtops]

I can't find anything better than Gun Collector

[jno]

as boxtops says

http://www.washington...ectors.org/bylaws.htm

[Quizmonster]

Oplophile would be the name of - rather than a descriptor for - such a person, if that is what you are asking.
Such names are invariably concocted from the Greek word 'phile', meaning 'lover/collector of' and the appropriate Greek root-word for whatever the collected item is. 'Oplo' is Greek for firearm/gun, so I just stuck the two together in the standard fashion.

[boxtops]

I found a list on-line of "what ought to be collector names", QM - I think you should add yours to that!

[sandyRoe]

Thank you all. 'Gun collector', it is then. How does this read?


During the early 1970’s, when the Irish Troubles were just reaching their highest annual death rate, The Sunday Times Magazine published an article on the weapons of the IRA.
They showed a mixed bag, Thompson sub-machine guns, Webley service pistols, and hunting rifles smuggled in from the USA. Glittering amongst this dross was something of a gem that would have graced the cabinet of any gun collector. It was a Walther PP which had a swastika moulded into the handle. It had probably been issued to some Nazi Party functionary
The article stated that it was something of a collectors piece and would be quite valuable.

[Quizmonster]

You mean you don't like oplophile? Sheesh!

[starone]

Reads well sandy. My husband liked guns. When he died I had about twenty to get rid of. Never heard any other name but gun collector. He had some lovely guns, even I could appreciate them. Fortunately he left instructions on their disposal so it was easy for me.

[sandyRoe]

It's a bit too close to oenophile. And what would a wino be doing with a gun?

[Quizmonster]

You'll regret it, Sandy, if my coinage catches on. Just imagine, your very own piece of writing might have found its way into a future edition of The Oxford English Dictionary as the earliest recorded appearance of the word!

[albaqwerty]

That reads well Sandy.

'that would have graced the cabinet of any oplophile' however much I like QM's word, using it in that sentence would cause a few head-scratchings to happen :)

[sandyRoe]

Thank you. But it wouldn't seem right passing your neologism of as my own.

[Quizmonster]

Thanks, Alba!

[boxtops]

If I were going to be a pedant, sandy, I would say "..a gem which.." rather than "that", but "that" is in more regular usage these days.

I like your writing - the glittering/gem grabs the attention.

[sandyRoe]

Thank you all for your favourable comments. 100+ words down and only another 49,900 to go to complete the biography.

[boxtops]

The first bit's always the worst, sandy - well done, you're over that hurdle!