[Vashon]

I wasn't sure where else to post this question, so pardon me if it is the wrong place. I've been out of the milsurp collecting scene for many, many years and remember visiting Gunboards (I was unable to access my old account) and Parallax's Curio & Relics Firearm Forums. What ever happened to the latter? I did a search and found a reference to Parallax Bill's injury, but I see the forum site is down.

 

[Richard in NY*]

Twenty years ago, give or take, Bill’s Parallax Forum, along with Tuco’s and the Gun and Knife site, were booming. Seemingly endless numbers of active members and posts. It was a great time to be a military C&R collector.

Whether due to the end, or the virtual end, of military imports, or the generational divide between older collectors (like myself) who hated the Facebook style of forums and the younger collectors who hated the old fashioned sites like Gun Boards, the “traditional” sites died a slow death.

Unlike many other C&R sites Gun Boards survived, limping along, barely recognizable to those of us who were here from the beginning.

 

[Vashon]

Thanks, Richand. I appreciate your response. It was indeed a great time. I started milsurp collecting in the late 90s while in college. Milsurp prices were great even for a college student! The forums provided a wealth of information and I spent most of my time on Parallax's. Unfortunately, I stupidly sold most of my collection years ago and am now rebuilding. I still haven't adjusted to the crazy prices. $400 for a Turk? Really? I remember buying Turks and Mosins for $79. I have a lot more funds now but am having a hard time adjusting to the "new" milsurp scene.

 

[Bear43]

A lot of us that have been collecting for a while are finding it difficult to adjust to today's prices. My first all-matching Enfield cost me $70. So last year when I shelled out north of $1,000 for a Mk I***, a Mk V Trials Rifle and a No 4 Mk 1/2, it was tough until I realized it was actually a bargain in today's market. Times have changed a lot in the collecting world.

 

[DK PHILLIPS]

A lot of us that have been collecting for a while are finding it difficult to adjust to today's prices. My first all-matching Enfield cost me $70. So last year when I shelled out north of $1,000 for a Mk I***, a Mk V Trials Rifle and a No 4 Mk 1/2, it was tough until I realized it was actually a bargain in today's market. Times have changed a lot in the collecting world.

Mk I***.$75 98% and made in two payments! poor then.
was....my first high power hunting rifle..
very / surprisingly, consistent, accurate 100 yards bench

 

[Richard in NY*]

So last year when I shelled out north of $1,000 for a Mk I***, a Mk V Trials Rifle and a No 4 Mk 1/2, it was tough until I realized it was actually a bargain in today's market. Times have changed a lot in the collecting world.

That would have been a good deal back in the ‘80s. The three rifles mentioned for $1K, whether last year or ten years ago, is a fantastic deal.

 

[keithreid]

Last time I looked at parallax bills site, it was hosted by a new platform. That's been a few years now, though

EDIT. Vbulletin, I think it was.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[Tombstone]

I tried to log on to the vbulletin site a few days ago, but could not get to the old forums. It had been a few years since I was last logged onto it though. Someone down on the .22 Caliber forum was discussing their Springfield 87M rifle, and Parallax Bill's site had a huge thread on the rifles -- hopefully it's not lost forever.......

Anyone here use any of the Facebook sites??? Are they really better??? I don't even have a Facebook account, but I have been curious about how the gun Groups are organized there.

As for this board slowly 'dying', I too feel like members and informative/interesting post have waned over the past few years. But. as I type this post there are over 500 users online, which is still on par to what it was 15 years ago (I think we had over 10,000 online once). I think a big part of the 'dead' feeling is the fact that new imports have disappeared - along with all the buzz about finding odd and unique models and variations not discussed before. Add to that the fact that we have lost a lot of very dedicated and knowledgeable members to death, illness, and changing life priorities over the last three years or so. We can at least try and keep this great database accessible for our new and future collectors. Hopefully it wont end up like SurplusRifle, ParallaxBills, and the Dodo Bird.
TOM

 

[Edward Tinker]

I used to visit the paralllex (sp) boards also, was a nice start. I started my collecting after I retired from the army (still working) and made friends with a couple of mentors.

Older boards, they lack security, and other niceties that younger people like, which makes it hard for older folks who don't like change (I'm in IT and I get tired of change).
With some upgrades, they could not institute a complete integration and all the user names and passwords went out the window. We've had, what two drastic changes on this board since I've been a member? Drastic in that a lot of info was lost or we had to 'start over'.

 

[plonker]

I was on several of the F/B pages.
I think mainly just one now.
It "Gamer Wannabee", or "Keyboard Kommando" time over there.

 

[Mike In memoriam]

I got on most of these boards about 96 or so.
I had been around a while and thought I knew a thing or two.
Found out pretty quick There was a lot I didn't know. A lot.
At one point they re organized this board and you had to re-up.
They also came up with a reputation rating that was going to be included in one's profile pic.
Based on some lame ass cheese eater reporting.
That never really got off the ground.
This board stays pretty civil, which is a good thing.
Minimal beatings and crank measuring contests.
Tolerance, especially for new guys with seemingly inane or simplistic questions is good.
Everyone starts somewhere.

 

[Skratch]

Twenty years ago, give or take, Bill’s Parallax Forum, along with Tuco’s and the Gun and Knife site, were booming. Seemingly endless numbers of active members and posts. It was a great time to be a military C&R collector.

Whether due to the end, or the virtual end, of military imports, or the generational divide between older collectors (like myself) who hated the Facebook style of forums and the younger collectors who hated the old fashioned sites like Gun Boards, the “traditional” sites died a slow death.

Unlike many other C&R sites Gun Boards survived, limping along, barely recognizable to those of us who were here from the beginning.

Richard, we haven't had that spirit here since 1969!

 

[Richard in NY*]

Richard, we haven't had that spirit here since 1969! (The Eagles "Hotel California")

Craig:

Love that song! 👍

 

[Patton12]

I was on a couple of the Facebook groups at one time. I left though because of all the misinformation and everyone trying to one up each other.
I enjoy gunboards for the wealth of info you can find on it especially with searching older threads.

 

[skorper]

I was on a couple of the Facebook groups at one time. I left though because of all the misinformation and everyone trying to one up each other.
I enjoy gunboards for the wealth of info you can find on it especially with searching older threads.

"All the misinformation and everyone trying to one up each other" is a nice way of putting it. I was on a few Facebook groups as well. They have some good people but a heck of a lot more who I would describe in more derisive terms.

 

[Caribou]

Social media is no place to socialize.

Long Live Gunboards.

 

[MBY]

I posted on there back around Christmas of last year it was tapatalk then...looks like it's gone for good now though...I'll PM one of the long time member/mods there and see whats up...

 

[Vashon]

It's a shame that years and years of information is lost for good.

 

[Richard in NY*]

It's a shame that years and years of information is lost for good.

Big +1

 

[nassaulakes]

A lot of us that have been collecting for a while are finding it difficult to adjust to today's prices. My first all-matching Enfield cost me $70. So last year when I shelled out north of $1,000 for a Mk I***, a Mk V Trials Rifle and a No 4 Mk 1/2, it was tough until I realized it was actually a bargain in today's market. Times have changed a lot in the collecting world.

I call that "The Tyranny of Memory." I was a stock boy in a mom and pop hardware store when I was in high school, 1961-65. Everything on the shelf I had to hand mark with a felt tipped pen. I still remember some of those prices. I also started milsurp collecting in the 90s. $69 OTD for a M44 still in the wrapper. M91 $40-take your pick. And, so on. But, where my car keys are at any given moment is up for grabs. HAHAHAHA