Shoot or don’t shoot?

S&W fanboy here: I would sell the Colt and buy three more S&W's That Colt cylinder release goes the wrong way and will get you killed on the streets.


I will show myself out...

Guns that don't get shot.

Cars that don't get driven.

Guitars that don't get played.



Sad.

Oh shoot the thing. It's a pistol, not a museum piece.

I might shoot it, but I doubt I'd carry it - wouldn't want to give it to the cops if I actually ended up using it.
How about a small outlay for a RIA 206 if you want to carry a little six shooter?

JoeHenry said:

I have a question for the forum. A few years back, before a Colt Detective Special was so high priced, I purchased a new unfired Detective Special. A later model with the shrouded ejector. It’s a beauty in every way.
I have three S&W J frames that I use for carry and shooting at the range. I have been toying with the idea of shooting and carrying the little Colt. Would you shoot or keep in the gun safe?
Just can’t decide here.

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I have no safe queens. I have an early Python that's 95% and I take it to the range. I have an early Anaconda that I is my EDC open carry at the pawn shop. (It impresses the idiots who might have evil thoughts. A gun this big will kill you deader, don't you know?)
If your gun has never been fired, has no "cylinder ring", and it's in the original box with all books and papers, it has more value than one that's been fired. We have a 1947 Det. Spec. that's a lot higher in price than the Taurus 606 .357 magnum I just bought, but I'd have to answer no to all those t hings I just mentioned. No box, it's not pristine, it's just over 70 years old is all. That said, it's not up in the price range of those immaculate, never fired safe queens that some folks have squirreled away.
If I spend a chunk on a piece of artwork it can be on display on my wall for my guests and I to see. The key word in "safe queen" is safe. As in it's in one.

Few guns go up to the stratospheric price levels. From my perspective most guns will never get to those levels. My advice would be to shoot it, care for it, don't beat it up, and it'll be worth more than it is today. I truly don't think a used gun is going to lose much of any value if it's taken to the range, shot, taken home, cleaned and put away.

Enjoy it.

I had a Colt Detective Special many years ago and while it was a beautifully made gun I still preferred my S&W J frames for concealed carry. Ended up selling it for a very nice price and never looked back. If it's in mint condition with the box and paperwork, yeah it's going to be worth some big money; but is that what you bought it for or did you get it to use it. Only you can answer that question.

For Carrying I prefer the SW AirLite for lightness.

For Shooting the Colt DS and Cobra Shoot and point much better and handle recoil better - for ME.

Yeah, Yeah, not true apples to apples. The Colt holds 6 rounds, the Smith holds 5. There HAS to be more metal in the Colts. But each individual has to weigh their own options.

Labels on TOP of photos:

SW AirLite. 13 oz loaded



Colt DS (late model) 26 oz loaded


Colt Cobra (late model) 19 oz loaded


As you can see, it’s hard to turn away from an SW AirLite

Just to keep it real, a plain ol’ SW J- frame is lighter than the Colts at 16 oz loaded.

SW J - Frame 16 oz loaded

I don’t own guns I wouldn’t shoot.

If the decision to shoot is based on money or your investment, the difference in that gun being shot and not shot is probably less than $200 in value.

bdickens said:

Guns that don't get shot.

Cars that don't get driven.

Guitars that don't get played.



Sad.

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What he said..shoot it or sell it.

Dunross said:

Oh shoot the thing. It's a pistol, not a museum piece.

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At some point or another, Joe, you have to decide if you are going to be a shooter, or collector. IMHO, if you're going to be a collector,
it helps if you have you own zip code. shooting is fun, but mere collecting is too rich, for my blood.

I found this Colt Detective Special awhile back. It was made in 1968. I paid $485 out the door. There was no box or papers. I never really cared for snub nose revolvers, but this was just too good to pass up. It is a really well made revolver. I have not shot it yet and doubt I will. I am thinking about hanging on to it for a while and selling it down the road to fund something else. A high condition gun like these are going to gain value. Shooting it would degrade the value. You just don’t see them in this condition much anymore.

The true beauty of a firearm is what it does when you pull the trigger. Shoot it. I have no interest in safe queens, outside of historical or other Unobtanium arms, and even then.

Gary W. Strange said:

I found this Colt Detective Special awhile back. It was made in 1968. I paid $485 out the door. There was no box or papers. I never really cared for snub nose revolvers, but this was just too good to pass up. It is a really well made revolver. I have not shot it yet and doubt I will. I am thinking about hanging on to it for a while and selling it down the road to fund something else. A high condition gun like these are going to gain value. Shooting it would degrade the value. You just don’t see them in this condition much anymore.

View attachment 914696 View attachment 914697

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If that gun were unfired and had the box and paperwork, then shooting it would degrade the value. As it is, there is no harm in shooting it. Just don't abuse it.

There are plenty of D frames out there.

I've only owned 2 types of guns I didn't shoot. Those I didn't have interest in that were only acquired for trade material and a few I didn't own long enough (NIB Ruger Red label, proud owner for exactly 22 minutes) I've learned that if it's something I want for me, and it makes it home, it's getting shot.

I say shoot!

NIGHTLORD40K said:

I say shoot!

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I agree. If it was a $3000 gun unfired with box and papers, no way. But it's not so I say fire away.

Buying a beautiful gun and not shooting it is like dating a beautiful woman and you know. Unless you buy one as an investment. I've bought a few things for investment purposes.

A gun you don't shoot is just a paperweight.

Those comments are all valid, but the OP is the one who made the investment in/purchase of the Colt, so only he can know how much he has to lose by shooting his gun on a regular basis.

I personally don't think a whole lot is going to be lost by shooting the gun at least a few times to make sure it works. Some ultra clean vintage guns with very little use are that way because they have some sort of unresolved issue that the past few owners might be unaware of because they never shot the gun. The original owner may not have shot the gun because it had some kind of problem. I actually have a Colt Diamondback that fits into that category. Lack of use (to keep it pretty I guess) and the maintenance that goes along with it resulted in some very minor internal corrosion that was a problem. I addressed that issue and now it works beautifully. I have a S&W model 36 that fit that profile, too. Both are now working right because I was willing to shoot them at least a little bit.

Unlike some people, I have no problem babying a gun to keep it's value on the higher end of the scale, but I can't own any vintage gun - no matter how clean - without making sure that it works.

I shoot everything I own. I have no intention of selling anything unless I buy it and absolutely hate it...after I shoot it....which is rare.

Sell it and buy a shooter grade one.

Remember you dont really own anything. You can't take anything with you to heaven.

Are you a caretaker or a user?

My thoughts: I only keep what I use/need, no collecting. I am not spending my money and time saving something for you!

If it was my gun, I would not shoot it.