RSM's Thoughts on Becoming a Cruffler
RSM on Getting Started as a Cruffler
Cruffler?
This is about the C&R Federal Firearms Licence. Try prononcing "CRFFL" and you get something like "Cruffle." "A Cruffle" is then, by some torurtured logic, a firearm that can be purchaed with the C&R FFL. "To Cruffle" then is to purchase (and otherwise work with) Cruffles. A "Cruffler" is, therefore, one who Cruffles.
On a fairly regular basis, we get something along these lines on the C&R list:
> Hello everybody. I am new to the list and just received my
> C&R yesterday and now for my first question. Now what?
Since everyone was a new C&R FFL holder at some point, I think almost all of us empathize with the question.
To begin with, there is lots of helpful advice about the mechanics of what to do at
http://www.cruffler.com/becomingcruffler.html
I live in California and as a result my C&R FFL can't be used to buy pistols except out of state and face-to-face. Based on that and my experience over the last three years as a Cruffler and fairly extensive experience as an "old gun" buyer before that, here is what I would suggest doing:
First, consider guns that you already have or have had. For example, at the time I received my license in November 2000 I had a nice Finn 39 Mosin-Nagant and a couple of other M-Ns. At one time, I also had a bunch of “long Mausers” that got sold when I ran out of storage room and decided that these were my "least fun" guns. As a result of this review, I decided that while I might want more M-Ns and long M98s eventually, these weren't really as "urgent" as some of the other things I could buy.
Second, consider your "domestic arrangements." How much room do you have to store guns? If married, how will your wife respond to A) the money being spent and B) the arrival of a whole bunch of guns (and loading equipment, cleaning supplies, etc., etc.) into the household? Storage space was a significant problem for me, my wife was OK with about a $100 to $200 a month "habit" but my feeling was that she wouldn't be all that enthusiastic about a whole bunch of guns arriving at about the same time. (The old "why do you need so many" issue.) This suggested that I would probably be best off with a few reasonably good guns in the $200 or less category than a whole bunch of interesting but cheap rifles. Your situation and needs probably will be different, but you need to think these issues through.
Another factor is time. Business was slow at the time I got started, so I went on sort of a "buying binge" while I had time to work on new acquisitions. If you have a steadier job, I would suggest a "go slow" approach after giving in to your natural urge to "buy something now." (A $50 - $75 Mauser or M-N will cost you less in the long run than letting frustration build up until you can't stand it any more and discover you have bought $1,000 of guns in a single afternoon's work.) The more you can learn and look before you leap, the better off you are going to be.
To actually get started, pretend you are going to Las Vegas. Pick an amount of money that you feel free to gamble with. I used $700 as my limit and that seems to be a good working number. (Note: initially it was $500 but then I was tempted by an SKS and a Swiss K31 and needed to add a bit more to the pot to make the "plan" work. Beware, this is the slippery slope of Crufflerdom!)
Divide the money into two more or less equal "pots."
The first "pot" is for one or two "quality" rifles. In my case, it was an excellent Swede 96 Mauser and a Swiss K31, but there are any number of other possible choices. These are the start of your real collection (as distinct from your accumulation) and definitely should be "pride of ownership" guns for you. I would also throw out the idea of using this money to buy guns that you know you want but where there a sense from the list of guns that are about reaching the end of their supply. (For example, at the time this was written the Swede Mausers and Finn 39s seemed to be about reaching the end of their "run.") Even on a very limited budget you should be able to find at least one "pride of ownership" gun for about $100, such as a “VG” condition Finn 39. These should turn out in the long run to be guns you are happy you bought, but if you make a mistake, well hey, its gambling money anyway.
The second "pot" is your "what the hell" money. Shotgun News and things like the Centerfire / Century / AIM catalogs and websites are a great temptation to "kid in a candy shop" behavior. Use this money to "scratch the itch" to buy a couple of cheap M-Ns, a Yugo Mauser or SKS and/or a $70 beat-up Enfield or whatever. $200 will buy an assortment of maybe 3 or 4 guns and if one wanted there are times that $300 would buy 10 to 12 rifles on the Century “3-fer” and “4-fer” plan. (Tell yourself the truth; is “now where could I put...” running around in your head?). Think of this as an opportunity for a variety of "C&R Learning Experiences." Some of the stuff may be good and most of it interesting. At the same time, don't be surprised if something gives you a grand introduction to the concept of "junk gun." And dealing with dealers can be, well, interesting. (For example, I bought a "Czech VZ/24" that was really a Yugo M24/47 marked as a VZ/24 by the importer and the dealer didn't know the difference.)
One of the advantages of your "what the hell" guns is that they provide an inexpensive environment for learning some of the skills of being a Cruffler. You'll be a lot less upset discovering the "Oh S**t!" factor in disassembling and cleaning of these old guns with a $40 M-N than a $250 Swede. It is also far less intimidating to contemplate cleaning and refinishing the stock of a $60 Mauser than it is a $1200 all-correct M1 Garand.
On top of the "pot" money, don't forget ammo, books, accessories (Slings and bayonets! It seems that one can't do without slings and bayonets.) and the mundane necessities like cleaning equipment and supplies. In all likelihood if you are going to shoot your C&R guns much you also need to take up reloading unless you plan to limit yourself to things with common and inexpensive ammo like 8mm Mauser and 7.62x54R. (At $1.00 a round, ammo for some “exotics” makes them painful to shoot even if the recoil isn't too bad.)
In general, it seems to make sense to learn the ropes about buying with your "what the hell" money then moving on to your "pride of ownership" guns with a little experience under your belt. On the other hand, the gods will not strike you dead if you “go about things backwards,” particularly if there is something you want that may not be available later
Again, this is my approach, not revealed wisdom of the gods. It seemed to work for me, although I have to confess that I went over my $500 limit rather quickly. Call it another case of "do as I say, not as I do."
Good luck and have fun.
RSM
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