Would you fire this gun?
- Thread starter cowtown22
- Start date
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Depends...
If NIB means never fired, with box and papers...
and if it was a particularly hard-to-find gun, cost a pretty penny up front, but will likely appreciate in value...
and if I had other guns I shoot a lot (I do)...
and if I don't mind spending money on a gun that I'll never shoot...
...I probably wouldn't. YMMV, though.
This 27-2 sounds like a nice find, and many feel the M27 to be the quintessential .357, but I don't think it's a particularly rare gun. Tough call.
If NIB means never fired, with box and papers...
and if it was a particularly hard-to-find gun, cost a pretty penny up front, but will likely appreciate in value...
and if I had other guns I shoot a lot (I do)...
and if I don't mind spending money on a gun that I'll never shoot...
...I probably wouldn't. YMMV, though.
This 27-2 sounds like a nice find, and many feel the M27 to be the quintessential .357, but I don't think it's a particularly rare gun. Tough call.
FoMoGo
Member
Its a gun... its meant to be shot... I refuse to own a safe queen.
Jim
Jim
Yes. I shoot my guns. I have purchased numerous older guns that were unfired when I acquired them (including several Model 27s, BTW) and I have shot every one of them. I wasn't looking for unfired examples, I just happened to find them at my price.
I wouldn't shoot a collector gun if I paid collector price for it. Then again I would never pay collector price.
I wouldn't shoot a collector gun if I paid collector price for it. Then again I would never pay collector price.
Keep in mind that some of out members simply hate money. 
O maybe it's a case of just being dumb.
For longer them some of them have been alive the Old Fuff has been able to partly support his gun buying habit by knowing what to shoot, and what not to.
If it's really unfired, an older Smith & Wesson revolver, especially an N-frame, and extra especially if it's an early model 27 or pre-27.... well it's like money in the bank, and better - particularly at today’s interest rates.
In this case the 3 1/2 and 5 inch barrel lengths are especially popular, and draw the most $$$$$. A box with papers and accessories will add substantially, but not having them won't reduce the basic value of the gun.
If you watch the larger collector auctions (and I don't mean ones like Gunbroker or Guns America) you would know, as I do, that classic and antique high quality guns are going through the roof - even in the present down economy.
Shooting a perfect unfired collectable will reduce it's value, and it's the collectors - not the I-shoot-everything-I-got crowd that have the desire, and big bucks to pay for what they want.
On the other hand if what ever you have has already been used or shot some, the extra-high value of an unfired/unused piece is gone, and shooting it a bit more won't decrease the value enough to matter so long as the additional use is only occasional.
As for shooting antiques - using current smokeless cartridges in what was made to shoot black powder can reduce a valuable collectable to scrap, and if you break a spring or some other part, finding a replacement and a qualified gunsmith to fix it will likely prove to be expensive, and without a fix the value is substantially diminished.
On the other hand since I know how to repair some of these older guns I've taken some of the I-had-to-shoot-it-'cus-it-was-made-to-shoot guys to the cleaners after I bought the remains on-the-cheap because they had too do what they had too do....
So do what you want. But keep in mind that they're two kinds of people. Those that always buy what they have out-of-pocket, and those that buy using profits from what they buy. I'm way too smart to shoot everything I've got.
O maybe it's a case of just being dumb.
For longer them some of them have been alive the Old Fuff has been able to partly support his gun buying habit by knowing what to shoot, and what not to.
If it's really unfired, an older Smith & Wesson revolver, especially an N-frame, and extra especially if it's an early model 27 or pre-27.... well it's like money in the bank, and better - particularly at today’s interest rates.
In this case the 3 1/2 and 5 inch barrel lengths are especially popular, and draw the most $$$$$. A box with papers and accessories will add substantially, but not having them won't reduce the basic value of the gun.
If you watch the larger collector auctions (and I don't mean ones like Gunbroker or Guns America) you would know, as I do, that classic and antique high quality guns are going through the roof - even in the present down economy.
Shooting a perfect unfired collectable will reduce it's value, and it's the collectors - not the I-shoot-everything-I-got crowd that have the desire, and big bucks to pay for what they want.
On the other hand if what ever you have has already been used or shot some, the extra-high value of an unfired/unused piece is gone, and shooting it a bit more won't decrease the value enough to matter so long as the additional use is only occasional.
As for shooting antiques - using current smokeless cartridges in what was made to shoot black powder can reduce a valuable collectable to scrap, and if you break a spring or some other part, finding a replacement and a qualified gunsmith to fix it will likely prove to be expensive, and without a fix the value is substantially diminished.
On the other hand since I know how to repair some of these older guns I've taken some of the I-had-to-shoot-it-'cus-it-was-made-to-shoot guys to the cleaners after I bought the remains on-the-cheap because they had too do what they had too do....
So do what you want. But keep in mind that they're two kinds of people. Those that always buy what they have out-of-pocket, and those that buy using profits from what they buy. I'm way too smart to shoot everything I've got.
MCgunner
Member
I don't own guns to look at. If it was worth a lot of money and I picked it up cheap, I'd sell it and buy something I could shoot. JMHO.
Obviously MCgunner doesn't hate money....
Yup' that was my point. If you buy something that isn't a particularly good shooter (or maybe even is) for the right price and then turn around and make money on the transaction you can go out and buy a better "shooter," or whatever.
If you do something to reduce the value of the first purchase (such as shooting a mint/perfect collectable) you likely can't.
Yup' that was my point. If you buy something that isn't a particularly good shooter (or maybe even is) for the right price and then turn around and make money on the transaction you can go out and buy a better "shooter," or whatever.
If you do something to reduce the value of the first purchase (such as shooting a mint/perfect collectable) you likely can't.
Recently while watching a collector's auction I watched a gentleman pay over $1,200.00 for a Smith & Wesson pre-war Military & Police .38 revolver.
There was nothing exceptional about it except it was in "like new" condition.
Would I pay that price to get that gun? No way!!!
But if I had one I sure would sell it for that!
There was nothing exceptional about it except it was in "like new" condition.
Would I pay that price to get that gun? No way!!!
But if I had one I sure would sell it for that!
Not if it is indeed NIB. Either keep it as an investment or sell it to a collector and buy a good used one to shoot. Put the difference in your pocket.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=162329948
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=162136171
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=162329948
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=162136171
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Carl N. Brown
Member
I am happy with my ~$300 Security Six shooting iron/nighttable gun with a few scratches and dings.
I would not be happy with a pristine NIB I was afraid to shoot. Besides, every gun has been fired, even if only as test at the factory.
I would not be happy with a pristine NIB I was afraid to shoot. Besides, every gun has been fired, even if only as test at the factory.
sagebrushjim
Member
Guns are Like Women and Trucks -- Meant to Enjoy and if You Put a Few Miles on Them and Maintain Them Properly You Have No Problems ...... Ride it, Drive it and Shoot it !!!!!
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=9324134
I won this a couple months back. It truly never has been fired outside the factory. As evidenced by every other cylinder charred by factory test firing. Have a box and papers for it. sn puts it in the mid 60's. Its gonna get shot. Like cars and women. Gonna be enjoyed. Not just looked at. It will be well cared for. After 3000 rds the nickel will still shine. No nicks in the wood. The only sign of wear will be a cylinder ring. I say all this because I have others that have been treated the same and look like they did when I got them years before
I won this a couple months back. It truly never has been fired outside the factory. As evidenced by every other cylinder charred by factory test firing. Have a box and papers for it. sn puts it in the mid 60's. Its gonna get shot. Like cars and women. Gonna be enjoyed. Not just looked at. It will be well cared for. After 3000 rds the nickel will still shine. No nicks in the wood. The only sign of wear will be a cylinder ring. I say all this because I have others that have been treated the same and look like they did when I got them years before
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Yes.
If it was a 1910 Colt SAA worth $5,000+ I might not.
But it isn't.
It's a really nice S&W, and I would shoot it as I have both a NIB 1967 Model 36 and a NEB 1958 Model 34 I found in the last couple of years.
rc
If it was a 1910 Colt SAA worth $5,000+ I might not.
But it isn't.
It's a really nice S&W, and I would shoot it as I have both a NIB 1967 Model 36 and a NEB 1958 Model 34 I found in the last couple of years.
rc
MCgunner
Member
If I could just go back in time with a wad of cash before the movie "Dirty Harry" came out. But, I don't manage my own IRA for a reason.....
But, I don't manage my own IRA for a reason.....cottonmouth
Member
You could take a picture of it, frame it and then send me the 27, I'll shoot it!!
J.B.
J.B.
Supertac45
Member
I'd hang onto it unfied for another 10 or so years. Money. Buy another used for shooting.
Old Fuff said:
I may be accused of trying to ride Old Fuff's coattails here, but that's my sentiment. I have a few ANIB guns and I don't shoot them. But I also have duplicates of them I do shoot. Is my blued steel ANIB S&W 19 going to shoot differently than my nickel one? No. Why lop a few hundred off its value? Ditto with several Colts.
If you want a shooter, buy a shooter. If you want ANIB, buy that and leave it that way. If you can buy ANIB at a "shooter" price, then do so. Then either keep it as is or sell and buy two shooters with the profit.
sw282 said:
Nickel N frames are lovely. And that was a great deal. I also like that seller; I have a few guns I bought from them. My favorite Colt Series '70 "shooter" came from them a few years back. I don't go back and check their inventory often enough.
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Phydeaux642
Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2007
- Messages
- 1,886
A coin is just money. It's meant to be spent.
A stamp is just a stamp. Put it on a letter and mail it.
A flame maple 1959 Les Paul is just a guitar. Let your buddies play it at the weekend bbq.
Etc.
If you own it, do what you want with it. If I had a truly NIB older 27 I would probably leave it that way and find something else to shoot for fun.
WOW!
OldCavSoldier
Member
Buy another new production M27 and shoot the new one. Leave the old one as an investment.
Just my opinion, and you know how good they are......
...that being said, I have shot and still shoot every handgun I own. Sometimes it is a year or so before one may come up in the rotation, but, they are all shooters. The only investment grade gun I own is a near-NIB 28 ga Parker VHE I inherited......
Just my opinion, and you know how good they are......
...that being said, I have shot and still shoot every handgun I own. Sometimes it is a year or so before one may come up in the rotation, but, they are all shooters. The only investment grade gun I own is a near-NIB 28 ga Parker VHE I inherited......
captain awesome
Member
If I already had it, probably. If I didn't, I wouldn't buy it, and get something else, a used one of the same thing and fire that instead. its too tempting, owning a gun, and never putting rounds through it.
I could see it now, the gun staring up at me with those puppy dog gun eyes begging me to take it to the range every time I open the safe. I am weak. Women have the same effect on me
I could see it now, the gun staring up at me with those puppy dog gun eyes begging me to take it to the range every time I open the safe. I am weak. Women have the same effect on me
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