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  #1  
Old 08-05-2020, 03:29 PM
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Default NIB

I bought this service model Ace ser.# SM18641 appr.41 years ago.
still NIB,Shoot it or keep it NIB ?
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Old 08-05-2020, 03:58 PM
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You? Tough call for me to suggest what you should do. I truly believe that either is a fine choice.

If it were mine, and I was in your position, absolutely no way would I shoot that. No way. If I really wanted to shoot that, I would buy another one that’s already been shot.

My opinion on this is usually in the minority but never will it be changed.

That’s a cool pistol you have!
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Old 08-05-2020, 03:59 PM
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Are those Mustang stocks on there? Didn’t ship with those did it?

If those are aftermarket stocks, it suggests that you intended to shoot it when you got it. What kept you from shooting it?
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Old 08-05-2020, 04:10 PM
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I looked at a couple online auction sites and Colt Aces asked and sold for $1400->up. NIB should be higher.
Maybe you should list it with a good reserve and see what it's bid up to, then buy a nice used Mod 41 with the proceeds, unless you really want to shoot a 1911.
The Mod 41 5" heavy barrel feels very much like a 1911 and is a precision piece right out of the box. And it's S&W.
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Old 08-05-2020, 04:10 PM
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If that is truly unfired since leaving the Factory and I wanted to shoot a 1911 in 22LR, like Sevens suggests I would go buy a shooter grade and keep the unfired gun unfired.

Myself, I usually buy two to start with just so I can keep one all original
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Old 08-05-2020, 04:15 PM
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Sounds like you already decided!
41 Years? Not Shot?
Why would you want to shoot it now?
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Old 08-05-2020, 05:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevens View Post
Are those Mustang stocks on there? Didn’t ship with those did it?

If those are aftermarket stocks, it suggests that you intended to shoot it when you got it. What kept you from shooting it?
I still have the original grips.
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Old 08-05-2020, 05:37 PM
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Where is the third option?



Sell it???
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Old 08-05-2020, 05:38 PM
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After 41 years I think I would leave just as it is. I have a 19-3 nickel snub and a 24-3 4in that are NIB I have plenty of other guns to shoot those NIB will remain that way.
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Old 08-05-2020, 08:37 PM
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Shoot it or not, for the love of God, put the factory grips back on! You'll increase the value and enhance the provenance.
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Old 08-06-2020, 01:01 AM
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I'd shoot it! Why let someone else have the pleasure!??
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Old 08-06-2020, 02:24 PM
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Yes, keep it NIB, you can probably get a good price for it that will let you buy lots of shooters.
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Old 08-06-2020, 02:46 PM
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SHOOT IT !
Or the next owner will
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Old 08-06-2020, 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Rule3 View Post
Where is the third option?



Sell it???
Give it as a present
I'll take it.
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Old 08-06-2020, 05:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weatherby View Post
Give it as a present
I'll take it.
You're a giver Paul.

All kidding aside, do you not have a SM ACE?

Perhaps I'll remember you in my will.

Rob
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Old 08-06-2020, 05:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ameridaddy View Post
I looked at a couple online auction sites and Colt Aces asked and sold for $1400->up. NIB should be higher.
Maybe you should list it with a good reserve and see what it's bid up to, then buy a nice used Mod 41 with the proceeds, unless you really want to shoot a 1911.
The Mod 41 5" heavy barrel feels very much like a 1911 and is a precision piece right out of the box. And it's S&W.
I actually traded a early 4 digit Ace straight up for a 1YO M41. That Ace never ran right and the M41 ran like a top from day one. Still does, 29 years later.

Got a nearly new SM ACE years later from a good friend going through a divorce, who got it from his neighbor for the same reason (divorce). $600 and just barely broken in. It also runs like a champ.

The M41, with the same grip angle and the balance of the 5 1/2" HB is so close to the 1911, I love shooting both.

Rob
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Old 08-06-2020, 06:14 PM
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There is no way I could have done that! sooooo, I'll just say, don't you dare shoot it now!
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Old 08-06-2020, 06:58 PM
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I’d sell it to someone who isn’t attached and let them make the call.
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Old 08-07-2020, 08:08 AM
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That is a vintage, NIB firearm and all firearms are NIB only once. If you shoot it, it will have decreased value to a collector. If it were mine, I would very carefully, so as not to mar the screws, put the original stocks back on and either put it away and let it continue to increase in value or sell it to a collector and buy something else.
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Old 08-07-2020, 09:48 AM
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Those stocks are Herritt's. Same ones on my Gold Cup I have had since 85. But it isn't still NIB, it has been accurized and used quite a bit.

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Old 08-07-2020, 10:03 AM
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Unless you're planning to sell it I don't see why anyone wants to have something they'll never enjoy just sitting in the safe. What are you saving it in NIB condition for? So when you die someone else can either shoot it and enjoy it or sell it at a profit??
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Old 08-07-2020, 10:05 AM
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That's a tough call. I have several NIB 1911s, but I'm getting older and they will never be sold anyway. So recently I took 2 out and shot them, I really enjoyed it. I do have a NIB Nickel 1911 that was my 65th birthday present from my son. The 1911 and he were born in the same year. it will never be shot by me.

Good luck on your decision.

Last edited by 1911haulic; 08-07-2020 at 10:07 AM.
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Old 08-07-2020, 01:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uncleted327 View Post
I don't see why anyone wants to have something they'll never enjoy just sitting in the safe.
?!
How did you get to such a conclusion? I own at least a half dozen that I have never shot and I enjoy them immensely.
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Old 08-07-2020, 01:57 PM
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There are few things sadder than a firearm that has never been fired.

Go shoot it. That's what it was made to do.
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Old 08-07-2020, 02:23 PM
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A firearm that can't or won't be fired loses its status as a firearm. It's an "object". Collector value? The OP pistol is not rare, and has only value as a shooter. Unfired? Maybe to someone else who wants to maintain the non-fired status for some reason. I don't know how one would prove it's unfired. If it were mine, I'd shoot it or sell it, unless you want to keep it as a trophy.
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Old 08-07-2020, 04:21 PM
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I have shooters and I have "collectibles", that one is a collectible. One family I know has a shadow box with the badge, other accoutrements and service revolver of a family member who was an LEO-and used that revolver more than once. THAT is an heirloom and belongs in a museum some day. Collectors of US military firearms jump for joy when they find an unaltered piece.
I have zero experience with the Colt Service Ace, recently I have been shooting the Ciener units, wish they made them for S&W.
A friend has several antique vacuum tube radios. You can't tune in 1937 but they are still a pleasure to behold.
The Clerke designed 45ACP that Mossberg was going to market is a good example of a firearms that should be treated as an "object". The board member who owned it noted its design flaws, how difficult it was to dis- and reassemble.

Last edited by BLACKHAWKNJ; 08-07-2020 at 04:26 PM.
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Old 08-07-2020, 04:59 PM
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Lots of postings here and other gun boards about a gun just purchased and many/most times the issue of was it a good price,,is it a good 'investment', will it hold it's value against inflation or be a real profit in the near or distant future.

I usually don't buy stuff with that in mind, but many do and I don't blame them. There are some fine short and long term profits to be made with firearms if you are sensible about it.
It can take the fun out of just owning them though but that's another story.

The ACE described here is NIB.
There are plenty of other 80's Colt ACE pistols around in every sort of condition if you want one to shoot, carry, ect.
They are nice, I've had a couple. The last one cost me $400 in 1997 or 98. So you can see that they do in fact climb in value.

With the thought of flushing some value down the pipe and that actually shooting the NIB specimen will be about as exciting as being first on the ice rink which no one cares about anyway,... why do that?

Why not pick up the extra wad of cash lying plainly in front of you in the form of a truely NIB Colt pistol and turn that over.
With that, take the extra profit and pocket it. Then if you really wanted a Colt ACE, go buy another one,,a 90%er at significantly less money.
It'll shoot just as well.

That's how I look at it anyway. I know I'm probably in the minority.
But the thrill of being the first to shoot a NIB gun is lost on me.
I'd rather have a collector type pay me a lot of $$ to keep that NIB condition in tact.
You're not the first anyway,,it went through the Colt range and had proof, function and targeting done to it.
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Old 08-07-2020, 05:07 PM
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I have thought about this thread for a couple of days and still don’t have a clear answer.

Your Colt was manufactured with the purpose of being shot. The vast majority of my firearms have been and will be shot.

I do have one that qualifies as a safe queen, being a 150 year commemorative issued by my agency. Several officers carried their commemorative sidearm. I did not as. I was uncomfortable carrying a cocked and locked as my duty sidearm.

I have never shot it and I probably won’t.

So I can see both sides of the discussion, and don’t have a easy answer.
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Old 08-07-2020, 08:06 PM
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It's a collectable, you can sit on it and still make a profit when you eventually sell it. I have collectables, there are 12 of them sitting on Gunbroker right now and I had only shot 1 of them one time. You just have to determine at what point you sell them. I'll have another near dozen in another couple of weeks, but those won't be antiques, and I will have shot most of them.
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Old 08-07-2020, 10:17 PM
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Not shooting a gun is like not kissing your girl. If you don't someone else will!
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Old 08-08-2020, 12:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1911haulic View Post
That's a tough call. I have several NIB 1911s, but I'm getting older and they will never be sold anyway. So recently I took 2 out and shot them, I really enjoyed it. I do have a NIB Nickel 1911 that was my 65th birthday present from my son. The 1911 and he were born in the same year. it will never be shot by me.

Good luck on your decision.

Soooo, take your son out and BOTH of you shoot it!

Sounds like he put a lot of thought and effort into that present and wanted you to enjoy it. Keeping it NIB and unfired just doesn't seem to be his intentions here.

If you're planning on leaving it to him when you pass, the memories of both of you enjoying it will be priceless for him.

Rob
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Old 08-08-2020, 06:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevens View Post
You? Tough call for me to suggest what you should do. I truly believe that either is a fine choice.

If it were mine, and I was in your position, absolutely no way would I shoot that. No way. If I really wanted to shoot that, I would buy another one that’s already been shot.

My opinion on this is usually in the minority but never will it be changed.

That’s a cool pistol you have!
I think it's laughable when all the self-proclaimed "experts" say you have an obligation and duty to country to shoot and be proficient in every gun you have.
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Old 08-08-2020, 09:10 PM
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If you buy it with the intention of collecting and you like that, do not shoot it.
If you bought it as a financial investment, don't shoot it.
I believe that weapons were made to be used, then they can be fired, properly maintained and at the same time collected.
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Old 08-08-2020, 10:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colt_saa View Post
If that is truly unfired since leaving the Factory and I wanted to shoot a 1911 in 22LR, like Sevens suggests I would go buy a shooter grade and keep the unfired gun unfired.

Myself, I usually buy two to start with just so I can keep one all original
Buy a shooter...Have you seen the prices...

For the price you paid go ahead and shoot it. You'll still profit nicely if you ever want to sell later.
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Old 08-09-2020, 11:15 AM
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IMHO It's such a beauty I would not shoot it. I would keep it pristine or sell it to the highest bidder and go buy one of the new .22LR 1911 style pistols if you want a shooter or look for an original that has been shot.

Last edited by metrotps; 08-09-2020 at 11:19 AM.
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Old 08-10-2020, 03:04 AM
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Quote:
...looked at a couple online auction sites and Colt Aces asked and sold for $1400->up. NIB should be higher.
Considering inflation it's ~$264 cost would be ~$1100 in todays dollars.

If you sold it for $1400 that ~$300 relative gain would amount to ~$7.15 a year for the nearly 42 years.

Since you haven't shot it yet you might as well keep it unfired & give someone else the satisfaction of doing the honors.

.
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Old 08-10-2020, 03:16 PM
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That is a Colt, those are supposed to be carefully kept in the safe until your widow gives it to the pool boy.
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Old 08-10-2020, 08:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BLUEDOT37 View Post
Considering inflation it's ~$264 cost would be ~$1100 in todays dollars.

If you sold it for $1400 that ~$300 relative gain would amount to ~$7.15 a year for the nearly 42 years.

Since you haven't shot it yet you might as well keep it unfired & give someone else the satisfaction of doing the honors.

.
I bet at $1400 it would last 1 sec in the CA marketplace.
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