Picked up a new one today, W/ unexpected problem...

[Old Fuff]

Two questions:

Why did you buy it?

How much did you pay?

If it is in the original box, and the finish hasn't been rubbed out, you might be able to sell it for a (substantial?) profit to someone who wants a safe queen and is willing to pay big bucks to get it. In this case you can spend part of the money to get a less-then perfect example to use as a shooter, while putting the difference in your pocket.

On the other hand, if that idea won't work for you, go ahead and shoot it.

I have done both, and in the first instance used the profit to buy additional guns. One thing I never do is listen to those who say, "Shoot it!! Shoot it" when they have none of their money involved. Personally I have never had any trouble making up my own mind, and therefore go in what ever direction my best interests lie.

 

[BigShep85]

I agree...but

I just hate to be the one to do the shooting after years of being kept perfect, but believe it or not there is no way I will be able to pick up a used 629 for what I have in this one especially a pre-lock...I do believe I agree with old fuff and it should go on the market someday when I am ready to let her go (it is awful pretty to look at though), that way my conscience is clean when I shoot a used one and let somebody else continue the tradition of keeping this one original and unfired.

Regardless has anybody else here kept one unfired for that long or intend to?

 

[MMCSRET]

Old Fuff has his finger on it. I stated earlier a few that I have and haven't fired. I forgot the one I've had longest, new and never fired. Interarms Mark X 30-06, the top of the line with the nicest finish and the fully adjustable trigger. Bought it as a barreled action in 1989, in 1995 or so I got a set of Millet base and rings installed, it has a Bell & Carlson stock in the corner, I've just never put it all together, 22 going on 23 years and haven't put it all together yet. Does it bother me, no, if it did it wouldn't be unfired today.

 

[Old Fuff]

Regardless has anybody else here kept one unfired for that long or intend to?

Sure, a couple for over a half century.

Why?

1. Because neither would make particularly good shooters, and I have similar guns that are.

2. The collector value continues to go up (and I love collectors with deep pockets ). Any time I choose they can go onto the market, and the money used for something else. It sure beats putting the cash into a bank saving account at today's interest rates.

The trouble with the "ya' got'ta shoot everything" guys is that never learned how to make, as well as spend money.

 

[BigShep85]

Thats good to hear

I was beginning to think I was the only one who felt that way about the collectors thing. I dont really have any reason to shoot it especially with the price of ammo these days. I have plenty of other guns to carry and plenty to shoot, so why do that to this gun that has been kept for 15 years unused already? It has been stated that the condition is rare but not the gun so why wouldnt somebody want a great reliable popular example of an american classic that has never been touched to add to their collection? Its almost a piece of history being the last models before the lock, that was a turning point in firearm and S&W history. Makes me feel a little better lol.

 

[Fishslayer]

I just hate to be the one to do the shooting after years of being kept perfect.

I volunteer to do the dirty deed.

Regardless has anybody else here kept one unfired for that long or intend to?

Never.

 

[CraigC]

It's been polished after the fact so there is no collector value. It may have even been fired a bunch and then polished to look new. I reckon I fail to see why it should be held sacred.

 

[PONTIACDM]

I have a couple I would never shoot. One of them being the first rifle I ever purchased. It's just a Marlin 30/30, nothing special. It's been 14 years so why shoot it now? To me collecting is just as fun as shooting them. If you enjoy it as is, then don't shoot it. If you would enjoy it more by shooting it, then shoot it.

 

[Old Fuff]

There are "true, blue-blooded S&W collectors," and then there are "plain ol' collectors." The former are often not interested in post-World War Two revolvers, while the latter aren't so fussy. They will likely give the pre-2000 post-war guns some consideration, and are much more likely to take them out and shoot them, unless they are absolutely like brand new.

The Old Fuff often observes that the better hand ejector revolvers, both pre and post war, do not seem to be dropping in value. I also noticed that the .44 Magnum in question has the always-more-popular 4" barrel.

I won't take the liberty of telling BigShep85 what he should or shouldn't do, but I'd bet good money that if or when he decides to part with it he won't have trouble finding a buyer that is willing to give him more then he paid for it.

 

[Drako]

Lord i hope you havent shot that it take a strong willed person not to shoot a perfect gun and a un shot one is rare! so remember as soon as you squeeze that triiger go ahead and take a 100 to 150 offf that value! i would sell it pocket the extra and buy a nice shooter!

 

[LeonCarr]

Shoot it. Safe Queens are for Sissies.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Krogen]

Awww... Go shoot it and have some fun! It would be like not letting your Lab go for a swim just so he didn't get dirty. Ever see the grin on the face of a dirty wet Lab?

Back in the day, I bought a couple brand-new S&W Model 24-3's. Sure, I knew they were limited production. Sure, I could have kept them pristine for somebody else to shoot when they bought them from my estate. But I didn't wait any longer than it took to handload some ammo. I grinned from ear-to-ear. Those guns have been making me grin for 25+ years, now.

 

[Oxide]

I bought a NIB S&W 29-2 back in March. It was 100%. I have shot it maybe 40 times, with friends and family, and it is now 98% or so, with one little nick and a turn ring on the cylinder, since then.

Shoot the thing. Take it there in a nice foam case, shoot it carefully, then put it back. While no gun can be kept perfect and shot, they can be kept extremely nice and shot. Shooting them isn't the problem, it's the banging around to and from that will get them.

 

[Carbonator]

When you are 100 years old looking back on life, will you have rather shot the gun, or left it unfired for someone else to shoot?

""Life's odyssey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out,shouting,"...holy %*&!...what a ride!" -unknown

 

[sidheshooter]

More experienced people than I have already chimed in. All I can offer is a story: A couple of years ago, this 2" S&W model 12 showed up at my LGS, sans turn ring. I bought it, for a bit more than I would normally think of paying for a K-frame .38. People at the range sometimes comment on the condition, which certainly remains very very good, but unturned it ain't, not any more!

 

[Onward Allusion]

For me, guns are meant to be shot and cars are meant to be driven. No sense in buying either and keeping it in a display case, garage, or safe.

 

[Old Shooter]

Sure, I could have kept them pristine for somebody else to shoot when they bought them from my estate.

^^^ This.

When that trigger is pulled and it's touched off for the first time some years in the future you may find it difficult to turn over in that wooden box six feet underground.

My vote is shoot it and enjoy it.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Put it to work! It isn't such a collectible that a mere turn ring from normal use will destroy its value.

 

[olafhardtB]

I once had a brand new pickup truck. A guy backed into it and dented a fender. I still remember the relief I felt, I could now just have a truck and I did for 16 years and 300,000 miles. I feel that collectors remove so many wonderful things from circulation just for the pride of ownership. If you can't bring your self to shoot it that's your decision.

 

[tallpaul]

With that logic I hope your wife or girl friends were not or are not virgins.... That would be a liven he'll for sure...

Do you buy your underwear used too, ya know not to clean and never used?

 

[texagun]

You know the factory fires these guns before they leave the factory..........right?

And it has obviously been polished (most likely with Flitz) after leaving the factory.

There is no reason not to shoot it and enjoy it.

 

[stevekozak]

Shoot the damn thing!! The only value in an unshot gun to me is knowing what I fire through it is all that it has had fired through it. I would buy such a gun, but shoot it immediately. I agree with Onward Allusion guns are made to be fired and cars are made to be driven!!!

 

[buck460XVR]

The trouble with the "ya' got'ta shoot everything" guys is that never learned how to make, as well as spend money.

That's like saying the trouble with the condescending know it all guys is they never learned how to proofread their posts before they hit the submit button.

I'm sure there's plenty of folks that would shoot that gun, that make more money than all of us combined. The decision to shoot or not to shoot is purely subjective....especially on a gun that has been refinished and is not extremely rare or old. It has nothing to do with one's financial abilities. It has to do with one's priorities. Just because one's priorities differ from yours does not makes his priorities wrong.....it just makes them different. Why the need to belittle?

 

[savit260]

It's been polished after the fact so there is no collector value. It may have even been fired a bunch and then polished to look new. I reckon I fail to see why it should be held sacred.

This ^^^

The gun is no longer a collectors item after the flitz polish job.

There's no way to know if it's been fired or not at this point. Easy enough to polish out carbon rings and turn rings with Flitz.


It's a nice gun... go shoot it.. you won't devalue it any more than the Flitz job already has, provided you don't stuff a double charge in it or something.

 

[MMCSRET]

Another entry: Have been offered a Browning B-92 Centennial, NIB, 6000 produced in 1978. Priced right, 33 years old and never fired, the lever has never been cycled, the saddle ring still has the plastic sheath on it. I could double my money in short order. I like them better than the Rossi or the 1894 Marlin or the '94 Winchester. Shoot it????????