To have or to hold ROA (shoot or not). Quandry.

[Tallbald]

OK I've shared with the board that I was fortunate enough to happen on a wonderful deal ($315 OTD) at a recent show. As I've said, he's a beauty, serial number dates him to '85ish, 145-511**. Blued, without a scratch on the bullet ram, an extremely faint turn line and not a scuff on his walnut grip panels. I have three (yes I'm almost ashamed of my pigginess) other ROA's, each stainless and in beautiful condition, each dressed in my idea of finery. All four are 7.5 inch adjustable sight, garden variety Old Army's. With the three stainless versions available to me, is my 98% blued one a fella to shoot or to keep as a Safe King? Auction sites don't seem to show near the interest in blued version as in the stainless variations. I know once I pull the trigger on a charge of Triple 7 the downward spiral will begin. Thoughtful input from board members would be appreciated. Don

 

[arcticap]

Because it's a 1984 model, it probably has the aluminum grip frame which has a finish that tends to get scratched up or flake off rather easily. These scratches would detract from the overall appearance of the gun. Considering the relatively low original price, that doesn't represent much of a loss in value, but it's still a matter of asthetics.
Plus you mentioned about it having a thinner trigger blade which you may not be very fond of.
I would keep the blue one on the side as a hedge against the devaluation of firing the stainless ones that you seem to prefer.
Some folks actually do prefer blue ROA's and it would make any one of them ecstatic to own a blue one in superb condition at some time in the future if it were ever put on the market or passed on to heirs.

 

[junkman_01]

A gun is made to shoot. Shoot it and be done with it! Enjoy.

 

[andrewstorm]

shooter fer sure

unless you strip all the aluminum, and they look very good but not as good as ss.......or you can buy an aftermarket grip frame............................ brass maybe............whatever you do shoot, a goodway to see the accuracy is hornady 255 grain 454 dia.cowboy bullet behind 33 grains 7773f......it will shoot hi so aim low.......

 

[J-Bar]

I have a way to make decisions like this. Flip a coin...heads I shoot it, tails I don't. THEN MONITOR YOUR INSTANTANEOUS REACTION TO THE FLIP! If it comes up heads and your reaction is "good!" with an internal smile, you know you really should shoot it. If it comes up heads and your gut reaction is, "dang" then you know it should be safe queen.

Of course the coin is meaningless...it's just a way to get to what you really want to do in the first place.