I am new to this forum and am looking for some guidance. I have been a fan of the .41 mag. caliber for some time and finnally broke down and purchased a Model 57 (serial # N214XX which if I read Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson correctly would indicate it is from the 1969 to 1972 era) with the intent of shooting at a local range.
In looking the gun over I find it has never been fired. It came with the wooden presentation box minus the valour and tools and only the original parts list.
How much would I degrade this beautiful piece by firing it?

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41 Magnum.jpg (67.1 KB, 110 views)

I have bought several firearms over the years that had not been fired, and have fired everyone of them. It's not like it is going to help your retirement. The 57 is a sweet shooting revolver and you should experience it in my opinion. Others may say different. I love shooting mine.

I feel your pain, I have a M57 that is also unfired in the presentation case. I want to shoot it so bad I can taste it, but I am a bit worried about how much it degrades the value............Nah, not really. As soon as I find the time and some ammo for it I am going to try it out. Since I am not planning on selling it while I am alive, I really don't care if the value is diminished somewhat.

I have decided to stop preserving guns for someone else after I die.

I just picked up a brand new 1971 29-2 and debated firing it. It will be a shooter. I figure if it drops the value a hunnerd or two, I'm still going to be ahead in the long run.

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Even older, even crankier....

I say treat and handle it very carefully and fire it. That what I will do with my s&w.

[QUOTE=BigBill;137236817]I say treat and handle it very carefully and fire it. That what I will do with my new S&W. The value won't matter when I pass on and the next owner will hammer it anyway or sell it(my family). The kids today just don't know what a good shooting iron is anyhow.

Thanks to all of you, and you are absolutely right; they were built to shoot and I'll do everything possible to keep it purdy.
Great to have a place like this!

CAPops....Your Model 57 was probably shipped in 71 or 72. You won't affect its value much by shooting it unless you wear a noticeable amount of blue off by putting it in a holster.

Bill

Welcome,I feel your pain.
This is my kind of problem!

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That's the light, not a scratch, on the cylinder of my 57.

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Halfway and one more step

My very nice shiny blue M-58 comes to the range every time- IT SHOOTS so good!!!!
I do have a new unfired M-57-5 Mountain Gun which I will not fire , but only because I intend to sell it soon.
Jack

Like your comment, as we get older our mortality feels a more real. A lot of the guys can afford to have both collector's guns and shooters. For me I just buy shooters.

If you bought it to shoot, shoot it. If you bought it to collect, or flip to make money reselling don't.

I would shoot it!

Just me...but I have bought probably 10 unfired collector quality Smiths over the last 15 years and have not shot any of them. Two 6" nickel 57s, a nickel 8 3/8" 57, 5" 27-2, two engraved 57s with 4" barrels and a few others that escape me right now.

Still have the two engraved 4" guns and an unfired in the box 58. All the rest were turned over for usually a nice profit as will these be one day.

So for me if I bought something NIB and can turn it for a profit and then get a "shooter" grade gun for less money that is what I do. If on the otherhand the gun was something I wanted to keep and shoot then I would.

Bob

if you can swing it, stuff it away and get one that has been fired.

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

Have fun with it and shoot it often and lots.

Graydog

They have all been test fired in the factory, I have the exact same model in great condition and I use it but take excellent care when cleaning. Those sweet revolvers are tools use them and enjoy them, you only go around once why save it for someone else. There are plenty of safe queens already.

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S+W Fan

I traded for an unfired 73' vintage model 57 with all the papers, cleaning tools and the presentation case. I shot it the same day and ordered a mould, brass and dies that afternoon! Excellent shooter too. No safe queens here but many excellent S&W N-frames nonetheless.

I usually have a firearm with one of two things in mind. Either I have shot it or I'm going to shoot it. There have been occasions where I duplicate another firearm, in that case I can have a shooter and a safe queen. However, if I can't use the shooter, the safe queen loses her crown and cherry.

Enjoy, Steve

Thank you all again for the beatiful photos and great advise and comments. To steel Steve's wording I am sure the queen will soon be a shooter.
Dave