Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/10/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Joe writes: An old man goes into a gun shop to buy a shotgun. "The store owner, convinced that his time was being wasted, said that the best shotgun he had in the store cost $8,000. "What makes it so expensive"? The customer asked. The store owner laid the Italian Caesar Guerini shotgun on a velvet mat on the counter and pointed to the beautiful silver engravings, the meticulous attention to details, how the metal met the beautifully sculpted walnut stock perfectly. To the astonishment of the store owner, without hesitation our customer said: "I'll buy it". The store owner was speechless but obviously delighted for the handsome profit realized with only minor annoyance. A week later the customer returns to the store. The store owner panics thinking the worst: The old man is over his head after an impulsive purchase and wants his money back. Instead the customer declares that he is a collector and lover of quality. He appreciates beauty as well as function. "I own several modern and collectable Leica cameras as well as old fine violins", he continues. The shotgun you sold me is as precise and beautiful as my Leica M9; it hangs next to the Stradivarius in my den." The story concludes with the customer buying a cheap shotgun to protect the good stuff. - - - - A great story. Collectors are a peculiar bunch. Utility and rationality doesn't enter into the urge to acquire. My wife collects bone china tea cups. The more decorative the better. Of course they are too fragile to actually use. We drink out of ceramic mugs instead. This is a picture of the rifle I lusted after. A true work of art. <http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/family.asp?webflag_=022B> The only Leica I consider a true work of art is: <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Leica+IIIc+with+3M+Safty+Walk+N onskid+tape_.png.html> The later ones are just functional machines. Larry Z