[Just Jim]

Well I had a pretty good gun show and sold four guns. I got sellers remorse right away and went shopping. I looked at new 4 inch Smith 44s and they wanted $635 for them. I been wanting one so I waundered around looking to see who had the best deal.

Well I came across a guy selling a Elmer Keith Comemerative 44 with all the gold inlay and a badly beat up box. He sold it to me for $700 and it was unfired and one of 2,500.

Well new smiths are going from anywere in the high sixes to high 8s so what do you guys think, shoot it and carry it or just keep it unfired?

jim

[Nomad, 2nd]

For $00?!?!?!?!?!

Does he have any more?

-I say shoot it, just take care of it.

[bill larry]

Shoot the gun! You only live once...enjoy your nice things, and take care of them, but remember.... it's a gun.

[GRIZ22]

I'd find out what the commemerative is worth before I shot it. A $2000 unfired commemerative shot bnecomes a $500 used gun.

[Ala Dan]

Shoot it~! As another poster stated, "just take care of it". I think you will
be safe, and it should be an enjoyable adventure~! ;) :D

[CWL]

Keep it unfired and pass it to your favorite grandchild. By then, no one will have heard of gold-inlay on a gun.

I'm guessing that you can afford to drop 8 'bills' for another gun.

[Richard]

Jim, all you have to do is ask yourself what Elmer would have done? Regards, Richard:D

[tbtrout]

If I can not shoot it I will not buy it.

[deadin]

The new SCSW (the"Bible" of S&W collecting) shows that Elmer Keith Comm. at $850 ANIB. It shows a "standard" 29-3 at $575 ANIB. Once you fire it it is no longer ANIB but Excellent (Exc + if you can keep it from getting a turn line, etc.) An Excellent standard 29-3 lists at $500, so I would say that by firing the Keith would reduce it's value by at least $75 but probably more over time as a bigger part of it's value comes from the fact that it is unfired.

I guess it all depends why you would want to pay an extra couple of hundred dollars for it. If the extra money is worth it to you to have a fancy shooter, go for it. If you are looking at it as an investment, leave it unfired. You can't have it both ways.

[Nomad, 2nd]

Ok, sell it for $150 profit (IF you can get it) and buy a <$600 gun.
Then you'll have ~ $450 in it.

EVERYONE wins.

...Then shoot the gun...

[Chief 101]

If you want a shooter sell it and get a fleet of shooters. JMO

[GunNut]

If it is worth a bunch and you are not a collector, then sell it for a profit and buy something that you will shoot.

If it's worth what you paid, then shoot it and take care of it and you'll always get your money out it and probably more.

[10-Ring]

Shoot it and enjoy it to its maximum!

[jeepmor]

This is why I don't buy things like Bren-Tens. Beautiful, accurate guns, but worth more than I want to pay. A gun is a tool to me, not a trophy. That's just where I sit with my firearms now, I use them, not collect them.

Maybe later in life when I amass more and want to think of them as an investement like a war era 1911, Bren-Ten, old SAA Colts, etc.

[Just Jim]

Man the gun is a beautiful piece but looking at it just in economics I won't lose much in shooting it. Anyway I spend a whole lot more on vehicles and they end up worth alot less after I use them. In a way though since they only made 2500 of them it seems like I will be ruining a treasure so I am still torn a bit.

Will read everyones thoughts till the weekend then make up my mind if I will shoot it.

Some years ago I was in a gunsmith shop and a guy came in with a fully engraved Colt SAA in 38 special. It was his carry gun and it left a distinct impression on me. I would like to make this gun my carry gun and if I spent a great deal of money and had all the gold inlay done I would lose alot more.

jim

[CU74]

Stocks and real estate are for Investers.
Gold bullion coins are for Hoarders, (shtf folks)
Firearms are for Shooters.

I saw a thread on this or some other forum within the past couple of weeks that started with a question about guns as investments. Someone did some research using a stock market index, gold bullion coin prices and an example of a gun that is selling for a ton of money today. He went back several years and looked at what $x,000 investment in each would be in dollars today. The stock market trounced the other two. IIRC, gold was a poor second. Typically, collector guns merely keep up with inflation.

(Anybody remember penny postcards? A new Mustang cost less than $3,000 in 1965. Used to be able to buy a politician for less than $5,000.)

Stocks and real estate are for Investers.
Gold bullion coins are for Hoarders
Firearms are for Shooters.

[Monkeybear]

Never buy a car or gun that is too expensive for you to use. Basically that means if you can't shoot/drive it without nervously thinking about how much wear you are putting on it, its too expensive for you.

[USAFA06STX]

In my opinion, if you have to ask the question then you probably shouldn't shoot it.

[Sylvan-Forge]

A lyre, its rich tones heard.
A fine timepiece wound. Its heart set to beat.
A keen edge o' the master smith's blade, for its wont to cut.

[gezzer]

It is your gun. Do what you want with it. Shooting may make it less valuable to the market but you seem to understand depreciation like cars so again it is your gun no one elses opinion counts. Enjoy your new gun anyway you like!!:D

[Husker1911]

Shoot it without regret, and smile every time you do.