henschman
Member
Howdy. I am the owner of a Winchester 94 National Cowboy Hall of Fame Tribute Rifle, one of 300 made, which is gold plated and engraved with some very nice detail. It is this rifle here: http://www.americaremembers.com/Products/NCHFTRI/NCHFTRI.asp
This rifle was given to me by my grandpa when I was a teenager, somewhere around the year 2000. He also gave one to my cousin. So far, the rifle has been stored for all of its life and has never been fired. I still have the original plastic case, cloth sleeve, manual, and even the set of white gloves it came with. Now here's the deal: I am a shooter, not a collector. I consider all of my other firearms to be tools, and I do not like the idea of having a perfectly good serviceable rifle that just hangs on a wall or stays in storage, and is never shot.
I am considering getting this rifle out and shooting it, maybe mounting a Lyman aperture sight (it came with mounting holes from the factory) and a sling. I just wanted to see whether you guys think it would be too much of a sacrilege to shoot something like this. I'm sure it has a higher theoretical value if it is in new, unfired condition, but how much of a market is there for these tribute rifles anyway? Is there anybody who actually collects these? Honestly, its monetary value is kind of a moot point, since I don't think I will ever be getting rid of it -- if for no other reason than that my family would kill me. I also would like to keep it to remember my grandpa -- he is still with us, but is pretty old and probably won't be around too much longer. He is partly responsible for me getting into shooting when I was younger, so it would be a nice way to remember him, and it would make a nice heirloom to pass down to my offspring.
However, I don't see how it would be any less valuable as a memento and an heirloom if it was shot. In fact, I'm thinking it might be better to have some good memories and stories connected with it, like killing some deer and hogs, and having some good times on the range with my future children. That is how I am currently leaning. Convince me I am wrong.
This rifle was given to me by my grandpa when I was a teenager, somewhere around the year 2000. He also gave one to my cousin. So far, the rifle has been stored for all of its life and has never been fired. I still have the original plastic case, cloth sleeve, manual, and even the set of white gloves it came with. Now here's the deal: I am a shooter, not a collector. I consider all of my other firearms to be tools, and I do not like the idea of having a perfectly good serviceable rifle that just hangs on a wall or stays in storage, and is never shot.
I am considering getting this rifle out and shooting it, maybe mounting a Lyman aperture sight (it came with mounting holes from the factory) and a sling. I just wanted to see whether you guys think it would be too much of a sacrilege to shoot something like this. I'm sure it has a higher theoretical value if it is in new, unfired condition, but how much of a market is there for these tribute rifles anyway? Is there anybody who actually collects these? Honestly, its monetary value is kind of a moot point, since I don't think I will ever be getting rid of it -- if for no other reason than that my family would kill me. I also would like to keep it to remember my grandpa -- he is still with us, but is pretty old and probably won't be around too much longer. He is partly responsible for me getting into shooting when I was younger, so it would be a nice way to remember him, and it would make a nice heirloom to pass down to my offspring.
However, I don't see how it would be any less valuable as a memento and an heirloom if it was shot. In fact, I'm thinking it might be better to have some good memories and stories connected with it, like killing some deer and hogs, and having some good times on the range with my future children. That is how I am currently leaning. Convince me I am wrong.