I'm a new member as I've only joined a few months ago. I have a couple posts asking novice questions but the one question that is killing me "Is to fire or not?" I acquired these revolvers " my first" a few months ago (reason I am now a member of this wonderful forum). The knowledge is incredible. 50% say fire them 50% say safe queens. I have other pistols but these are my first revolvers. No boxes but did send for letters. All opinions welcome.

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Who are you saving them for, treat them nice and enjoy shooting them!

Welcome aboard from ol' Wyo.

Shoot 'em if ya' got 'em.

Otherwise, why ya' got 'em?

Enjoy.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Give them to me with a few boxes of ammo, and I'll return them to you for cleaning...Then the cherry will be broken, and you won't feel guilty about shooting them......Ben

Too late. The factory had its way with them long before they shipped!

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

You say you "acquired" these revolvers, how and why did that occur? If you bought them was it an investment, or did you want/like them? If you bought them as a a money making investment, DONT fire them! If you bought them because they caught your fancy and appreciation of quality revolvers, then BY ALL MEANS FIRE THEM and enjoy and rejoice in your new found love!

They didn't do it as good as I can though......Ben

Since they both appear to have turn lines on the cylinders, and you do not have the boxes at this point they really aren't safe queens. As long as you take care of them shooting them will not reduce the value that much. If you had the boxes and there were no turn lines then no I would not shoot them.

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Randy

They were given to me from a family member. And I do love the the old school craftmanship. Thanks for the advice.

If they have been fired before, more of the same with careful cleaning and handling won't affect their value, but may put a big grin on your face. And probably your family member's too. Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

+1. My thoughts exactly. Life’s too short, shoot those guns.

Shooting them won't hurt them...shoot, clean, repeat.. and just don't drop them or carry them in holsters for months at a time.

Robert

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Shoot. Them. Both.

That's exactly what I'm going to do and my Dad is going to love it.

No box, no papers, and have been fired since leaving the factory? I'd shoot them, but with care. No beating them to death with hot ammo and no shooting, then chuck them into a drawer without cleaning and proper lubrication. Take good care of them and enjoy them.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

PaulDoc, welcome to thee forum. You have a pair of classic Smith and Wesson products. I and many others believe that the Model 19 is one of the finest all around revolvers ever produced.

To shoot or not? I for one don't want to have anything so nice that I can't use it from time to time. Shoot it but don't abuse it.

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Always Stay Strong!

To the tune of These Boots Were Made For Walking

Those guns were made for shootin
And that's just what I'd do'
One of these days they'll be shootin too

I own guns I don't shoot, for various reasons, but I don't own anything I wouldn't shoot . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

If you’re not going to shoot em, sell em to someone who will. They’re nice, but not museum pieces. Reminds me of a buddy who bought a Corvette after he retired. It sits in the garage because he’s afraid to put any miles on it.

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213th FBINA

I sold all my collectors sans 1 and bought used Smiths that had seen service... If you cant use it its just clutter taking up space.

Choot 'em!

I have a 1956 44 magnum that is NIB,in the black box. There is no was on Gods green earth I`m going to fire it. Theres other guns I have if I want to shoot

It’s all been said but without boxes and accessories, they are not “collector” safe queen specimens so shoot, clean and care for them responsibly.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

Decision made. I'm lighting these candles. Thanks to all who replied. I'm glad I asked the question.

Your choice..............The next owner will.

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S&W Accumulator

You got to make a decision !
Shooters shoot them .... collectors just look at them
So ... you going to shoot or just look .

Me .. I'm a shooter because I can't afford to be a collector and shooting is a lot more fun than than just standing there looking at a gun . .

Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I have several dozen Smith and Wessons and all get shot, save two that fall into the unfired in the original box category. I just thought they would be nice to have, but I have duplicates of the same model that are shooters. So, there is an alternative. My general philosophy is stated in the byline below. Have fun

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

Wait till you have 2 of each model,
Before buying any safe queens,
It reduces temptation!

Doc, welcome to the club. You already have a great list of good advice. My mother for years told my daughter when I pass my jewelry is yours with all the "do nots' starting with do not wear on a regular basis. On my mothers death bed, her advice changed to wear it all and enjoy as often as possible. Shoot the guns and treat them with respect..

AS I see it, both these revolvers are a collectors prize. The 4" M48-0 is indeed a very scarce revolver. If you are going to shoot it, I would be willing to trade you a numbers matching M48-0 with the 8 3/8" bbl. A real nice one too. PM me if interested. Big Larry

from spending years on the Guns International site,the unfired since factory Smiths usually list for around $1000 more than their counterparts that have been fired. Just my 2 c

The only S&W's in my collection that haven't bees shot are some of the antiques. I have a few that have been shot minimally, but then cleaned and put aside. The only way to "enjoy" your revolvers is by using them.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I find myself 'petting', as MrsG calls it, my shooters as much as I do my Queens. I'm down to one Queen, as above a '56 44 magnum. It is for sale.

Let's say they've never been fired. Mint condition. You put them in a safe and store them, never shooting them. Then one day you die. At that point whatever they're worth doesn't matter to you. You aren't here. Either you pass them on to your kids/grandkids or they sell them to someone else. Eventually they'll be passed on to someone who shoots them. So you could have had the enjoyment of shooting them now or let someone after you die enjoy shooting them. Heck with that! If anyone is going to shoot my guns first it's going to be me. I'm shooting them.

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183rd FBINA

Ive got a 19-4 factory fired, three rounds, box, papers, tools, wood, it goes with the three comemerative winchesters I have, also boxed and papered unfired, Ive got a 66 that is basically the same except stainless, the 19 will never be fired and mother knows it will be sold as such when needs be, I love the look and play with it often, I havent bothered dry firing it either, couldnt tell you the action at all, just my 2 cents.

For investment, buy gold. Shoot the pistols.
Though the Combat Magnum shoots .357, it is not an N frame. It will fare better over the years w/o constant .357.

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"from my cold dead hands" C.H.

Ah Yes, the "Safe Queen" conundrum.....
Just what qualifies as a Safe Queen?

Seems to be in the eye of the beholder and falls someplace between NIB , untouched by human hands and a gun that hasn't been fired in the last month or so......
If one uses the lower end of the scale, I probably have 50 or 60 "Safe Queens". I don't have anything at the top end of the scale, however I do have a few that I will not shoot, mainly because of scarcity. I also have a few I won't shoot because of questionable condition. (Does that make them "Safe Queens" at the low end of the scale?) That leaves a large number that aren't being shot just because of time and lack of interest in how they shoot but more interest in what they are and their history.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Doc, I'd shootum until they rattled. We are only going to pass through here but one time, but that's me.

Nice pistols.