What word would describe a collector of firearms

[sandyRoe]

?

[factor-fiction]

Also, if you are happy to accept pedantic comments:
- no apostrophe needed in 1970s
- "collectors piece" needs an apostrophe
- after 'mixed bag' should it be a colon rather than a comma?
- should the comma be removed before the 'and' in that list of guns?

[boxtops]

I'll agree with those, factor :-)

[sandyRoe]

That was just a first draft I rattled off this morning. I know it needs tidying up. I'll heed your comments, factor30

[DrFilth]

sorry i read this you have got me looking up guns
my dad brought a couple back from the war one was a nice collectors item

never seen one like this before, it was a lepage .22 with no hammer taken off an italian officer when they were chasing the germans out of italy
very similar to this one in the link , scroll down

http://www.littlegun....anuf%20armes%20gb.htm

[Quizmonster]

Having mentioned the OED in a previous response here, I thought I should actually have a look there. There's nothing relevant as regards 'oplo', but lots re 'hoplo'...hoplology = the science of weapons...hoplomachist = one who fights in heavy armour etc. Hoplophile is not listed, but there's no reason why one cannot invent words, is there?
Nevertheless, there's a coinage dream dashed for me!

[The Builder]

Sandy, referencing American slang, perhaps a "piece-lover".
Considering the subject of your article, I couldn't resist the pun.

(Fetches coat)

[sandyRoe]

Didn't the Americans have a Colt revolver called 'The Peacemaker'? And I thought they didn't understand irony.

[starone]

Who or what is the actual subject of your article sandy? What is the title?

[albaqwerty]

Personally I'd like to read the finished article. I like Sandy's posts and think what he is working on could be quite a subject for discussion.

[sandyRoe]

It's going to be a while before this is finished, if ever. I had a thought this morning that I should start an autobiography.
I'm fairly sure that the gun in question was bought by my father, along with a couple of Leica cameras, from a soldier who had returned from Germany in 1946. He told me later that he had brought it back from London and sold it here in Belfast. I can't believe that there were ever two Walther PP automatics with Nazi Party insignia in Northern Ireland.

[tommy-h]

nutter

[sandyRoe]

Me, my dad, or the collector?^^^

[joko]

we call the weapons experts we hire on films the armourer

but i suppose thats more than collecting them as a hobby, and they do more than just hire them out, they control and operate too

[seadogg]

Quizmonster, you have explained the meaning of " Hoplites", the greek heavy infantry. Thanks

[Quizmonster]

Yes, I know I have, Seadogg, so thanks to you, too. I have been familiar with that word for decades, but - having got 'oplo' from an online Greek dictionary - I did not see the (now obvious) connection.

[JonnyBoy12]

Survivalist, perhaps?

[ClareA]

'And what would a wino be doing with a gun?'

Er, waving it about, mumbling incoherently, alternately pointing it at people and telling them that they're 'my best mate, you are', crying, passing out (if we're lucky).

[ankhsunamun]

A MORON ???