Is it wrong to buy a commemorative model gun...

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Finedges

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And plan to shoot it??
I saw a mint 1968 model Colt 1911 WWI commemorative and couldn't help myself! It didn't have the box and the gun is beautiful, typical Colt blueing. I have every plan to shoot this gun, wouldn't have it any other way. As a side note, '68 has got to be a good year for a Colt 1911 huh? Anyway, am I wrong, or is there just every reason to enjoy and shoot the fine weapon?!?!
Pics will follow upon arrival.
 
A commemorative without an unfired affidavit, inner box, outer box, papers, and a sucker to buy it is just a gun. Many of them have been sold for less than a standard gun of the same vintage. Enjoy.
 
Glad to see others agree! The price was as good or better than a new Colt, and I can't help but think that in '68 the production was as good or better than it is now. It's not the first time, as I have a Ruger MK II NRA edition I've shot the snot out of.
 
Took my first buck with a Wells Fargo commemorative Winchester '94 .30-30. Love that rifle.
 
I personally think that instead, it's wrong to have a car and not drive it for it's intended purpose, likewise, buy a gun and not shoot it, at least once.
 
Do commemorative firearms actually have any additional collector's value?

If it doesn't, I say go for it. I know I can't afford to own a gun I'll never be able to shoot.
 
Do commemorative firearms actually have any additional collector's value?


Some do and some don't. The quantity made has little to do with it. I bought a commemorative S&W Model 19 in 1980 (had to pay for it in advance). It cost $360 then. I saw one for sale a few years ago by a dealer specializing in S&W commemeroratives and he was asking only $500 which was about the as a regular NIB Model 19 at the time.
 
My pop bought a 1 of 50 factory engraved Ruger Vaquero in .45 LC new from Cabelas for $1,600 ! He won't shoot it, the cylinder has never even been turned, now he wants to sell it and can't get $1,200 for it. Useless with a capitol U. If It was mine I'd just shoot it and enjoy it. It's on Gunbroker now if any of you sucke.......Ah, firearms enthusiasts wants it........... :D
 
I wont buy a firearm, that I wont shoot . I don't own safe queens. everything in my collection gets regular visits to the range.
 
I'm glad you guys are talking about this. I've always wanted a commemorative Winchester 94. And I've always wanted it to shoot, not store. I'd love to have a John Wayne model. I looked for a decade, found one, bought it, then gave it to a girlfriend who loved JW. Now I'm looking for another '94 and another girlfriend. Funny thing is, she deserved it. Great girl.
 
It depends.

Unlike the real thing, "manufactured to be collectables" seldom go up in value very much, because serious collectors (who often have very deep pockets) don't have much interest in them. On the other hand, certain regular production guns that collectors are interested in can bring far more dollars then an ordinary shooter would be willing to pay.

The Old Fuff is selective, and never degrades a true collectable by shooting it. In his view there is nothing wrong with making $$$$$$. On the other hand anything that isn't collectable is fair game. I enjoy the "I shoot everything (without exception) I get," guys because some of them help me keep making... $$$.

In case you don't know it, more $$$$$$$ helps buy more toys. ;) :)
 
Do commemorative firearms actually have any additional collector's value?


Some do and some don't. The quantity made has little to do with it. I bought a commemorative S&W Model 19 in 1980 (had to pay for it in advance). It cost $360 then. I saw one for sale a few years ago by a dealer specializing in S&W commemeroratives and he was asking only $500 which was about the as a regular NIB Model 19 at the time.
+1

In fact, I would go so far as to say more commerative, collector runs don't add any significant value. What makes something collectable (thing goes beyond firearms) is rarity and it being available in good to great shape.

One case in point are Hummels (porcline figurines you mom/grandma may have collected). There was an air of collectability around them. About 10 years ago I remember talking to someone at an antique store about them. This person said that once eBay came on the scene, the Hummel figurine values dropped literally in half due to the inventory of them.

For firearms, go look online at Cabela's firearms library. A good example are the Winchester 94 lever actions as there are many commeratives out there. Most have no signifcant premium.
 
I had a Winchester model 94 "Buffalo Bill" commerative year's ago that I
did shoot. Eventually, made a trade with my brother in-law for a regular old 94;
and glad I did. However, I do own a few guns that are not "commerative's";
but, I don't shoot for one reason or the other~! One of these is a relative
new Smith & Wesson 442 in .38 Special. The reason I don't shoot this gun
is because the S/N begins with my name "DAN 9xxx~! I like to tell folks that
S&W made that gun especially for me (Laughing Out Loud)~! :D :D :D
 
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I had an opportunity to buy an Uberti Patton Commemorative .45 Colt Single action for less than I could buy a plain one and have it engraved half as much. There are plenty for the collectors, so I made it my BBQ gun by getting rid of the chincy plastic grips, and having it fitted with Tru Ivory one piece grips with my intitials on. I could not have ordered a custom gun to be nicer than this.
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Commemorative AK-47

There's a gunshop in Bennington, VT. that has one of these. Vietnam war commemorative from Norinco IIRC... It's sealed in a glass and wood case and has gold accents and a $1500 price tag. I don't think I'd shoot it. It's way too pretty:D
But I don't think I'll ever afford it...
Then again, if the gun is mine, I'm shooting it whenever I can:evil:
 
I guess it just depends why you buys firearms (or at least that pistol in particular). I know guys who buy guns, both valuable and cheap, as collectors items they never intend to shoot. Just ask yourself if you'd get more value from it as a firearm or an item.
 
Forgetting investment issues, I can see that sometimes one might get more pleasure from keeping a gun pristine than from firing it and putting wear on it -- for example, if the gun is particularly beautiful, perhaps more a work of art than a tool, in the eye of the owner.
 
Of course not! Lots of cool commemoratives available in fancy finishes, uncommon variations and uncommon chamberings that might tickle your fancy. Shoot the snot out of `em.
 
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