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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


View Poll Results: You decide to:
Put it away, never to be fired - just admired. 45 22.50%
take it to the range the next day and start shooting the hell out of it as a keeper/shooter. 78 39.00%
put it away and begin your quiet debate as to shoot it or not (this could go on for months or years). 48 24.00%
Sell it to someone who offers you a sum that makes you a nice profit. 29 14.50%
Voters: 200. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 02-08-2009, 03:26 PM
MakeMineaMagnum MakeMineaMagnum is offline
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You find and buy a never-fired S&W Revolver (Model # and caliber of your choice), in its original box, with all paper work, and still wrapped in S&W paper.
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Old 02-08-2009, 03:26 PM
MakeMineaMagnum MakeMineaMagnum is offline
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You find and buy a never-fired S&W Revolver (Model # and caliber of your choice), in its original box, with all paper work, and still wrapped in S&W paper.
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Old 02-08-2009, 04:38 PM
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Hate to say it, How old is it?
What model is it?
I have 2 36-1s in 3" nickel, NIB never fired And I wont either.
Peter
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  #4  
Old 02-08-2009, 04:44 PM
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Sir, it would depend on what it was. A common gun like a late Model 10 I'd probably shoot. Something hard to find, like a pre-war .38/44 Outdoorsman, I probably wouldn't. A really rare gun I'd probably sell.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

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  #5  
Old 02-08-2009, 04:50 PM
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Awhile ago I bought a model 36 3" round butt new in the box with all tools paperwork etc. It is the only gun I ever bought online. It was fairly cheap, advertised as used?, but looked to me unfired, didnt looked touched. It was made in 1969 or 1970. Took it right out, shot it and the wife said this one is mine!
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Old 02-08-2009, 05:31 PM
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I vote to stash it away.
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  #7  
Old 02-08-2009, 05:38 PM
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I always said that I wouldn't have a gun I didn't shoot, but I lied.
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Old 02-08-2009, 05:52 PM
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I guess it's like the others have said that it is based on how rare the gun is and what model it is. I just bought a Nickel Model 29-2 with 6 inch barrel that was unfired with no box or paperwork. I will never fire that gun so my answer to your question is I would probably save it in most csaes.

Would you fire this 1973 beauty ??
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  #9  
Old 02-08-2009, 07:02 PM
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What you do is; keep it ANIB then buy *another* one for a shooter.
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  #10  
Old 02-08-2009, 07:02 PM
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Sure, would and did. I bought a new nickle 8 3/8 back then. To a old man like me that doesnt seem long ago. Now, if it was a 1st generation colt SAA maybe not. I know if you were born about that year or so thats a lifetime ago. But I was about 32 back then, so the gun doesnt appear old to me in the least!
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  #11  
Old 02-08-2009, 07:02 PM
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I wanted to buy a 29-2 4" to shoot. Had feelers out for one about 5 years ago and got a call from a local shop. The gun is perfect in a presentation case and appears unfired. I could not pass it up for $550.00 (2004 price, remember). So, I either buy a 4" shooter and keep this one as a safe queen, or shoot it. That's where I'm at, the 5 year debate stage. Don't plan on ever selling it and will pass it on to son or grandsons.
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  #12  
Old 02-08-2009, 07:22 PM
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I had a shooter once that became more valuable as a collectible than as a shooter. I sold it. If I can't shoot it, I might as well sell it to someone who will appreciate it. That was a wartime commercial Broomhandle.

I also purchased a Model 43 without a box and with correct but not original grips for a reasonable price. The seller thought it was unfired. I think that it may not have been fired since it left the factory. It sure has, now, and it's fairly accurate with the right ammo. I'll carry and fire it, but I'll be very careful of the finish, just like I am with my Model 12.

I have no argument with collectors, but, for me, if I can't fire it, it isn't a gun.
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  #13  
Old 02-08-2009, 07:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by feralmerril:
Sure, would and did. I bought a new nickle 8 3/8 back then. To an old man like me that doesnt seem long ago. Now, if it was a 1st generation colt SAA maybe not. I know if you were born about that year or so that’s a lifetime ago. But I was about 32 back then, so the gun doesn’t appear old to me in the least!
I am going to be 65 in a few weeks so I know what you mean. It isn't the value of the unfired Nickel 29-2 that bothers me it's the fact that it is so damn pretty without a marks on its shiny surfaces.

But then I know someone will be shooting it when I start my dirt nap so maybe I should be shooting and enjoying it now.
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  #14  
Old 02-08-2009, 08:17 PM
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Has happened to me a few too many times...and it almost always ends the same way...sell it.

The most recent was a Manurin PPk/S .22 Long Rifle... Got a good deal on it but when I got it home and looked it over, not only was it 100% it was unfired... All I wanted it for is a shooter and training piece so I took the $200 profit and put it toward as Beretta Cheetah .22 instead..

I just can't debauch old "virgins"...

Bob
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  #15  
Old 02-08-2009, 08:35 PM
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I voted " sell it for a profit". That's not totally accurate. I wouldn't have bought it in the first place. I assumed that it was an older piece from the era that the topic was in. There are a limited number of these, and I wouldn't reduce the number further by buying it and shooting it. I would leave it for the folks who collect these and buy the shooter that was in the best shape ... and enjoy it just as much.
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Old 02-08-2009, 09:16 PM
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If this gun in question was the model and caliber of my choice,I would be so tickled to have found one NIB never been fired I would go try it out at first daylite, that said I am not a collector per say, and probably wouldn,t know any better. But IMHO they are for shooting. I collect vintage Gibson guitars as well and play them all, I'm one of those people, use it have fun with it or move it on so someone else will. Pigman
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  #17  
Old 02-08-2009, 09:17 PM
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I am not a collector.
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Old 02-09-2009, 03:49 AM
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I won't buy anything I won't shoot. I do have a couple of very nice collectables that don't get shot very often. In fact, they may go for several years between range trips. But they do get shot.
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Old 02-09-2009, 04:20 AM
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If I can turn a nice profit on one of my guns, then they are all for sale.
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Old 02-09-2009, 05:31 AM
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I voted to debate the question. But I agree with the "shoot it" group. I have an extremely low milage 27-2 8 3/8' with box and used tools. I have shot it but it mainly lurks in the safe as I have other 357s to take care of the heavy shoot. That said if there was not visible turn line I would really hesitate to shoot it. How's that for walking both sides of the street.
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Old 02-09-2009, 06:01 AM
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Unless you specifically bought it to turn a profit, I say shoot it.
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Old 02-09-2009, 06:54 AM
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I figure that someone someday will either:

1) Shoot it after my heirs sell it

2) Turn it in to a "gun buy-back" program

3) Neglect its care and allow it to deteriorate

4)...etc., etc., etc....

I want the pleasure of shooting a really fine gun--that's what it was made for. We're in the ground a long, long time--might as well be me or my kids who shoot the damn thing! If it loses a few bucks in value, well, so be it.

Some good advice I was given:

"Never love anything that can't love you back"

Tim
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Old 02-09-2009, 07:46 AM
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I have come to the conclusion that I can afford a variety of guns that I will actually shoot, but I cannot afford a bunch of unfired "safe queens." Thus, I voted "sell it for a nice profit."

What I mean by that is that I decided to make a concerted effort to sell the few unfired, collectible guns I had a couple of years ago. The ones that did not sell after a year or so of trying went to the range. I figure that I gave the "collectors" a chance to put their money where their mouths were...and, if they did not, I took the lack of interest in my price as an indication that the gun was not worth as much as some people claimed and decided to use it accordingly.
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  #24  
Old 02-09-2009, 07:50 AM
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I was in the market for a 4" K-22, and I found a Model 18, that seemed to suit my needs. I was not looking for a collectable, or one in pristine condition. I wanted something that I could "use" as a trail/camp gun. I found a model 18, and it looked to be in "good" shape from the photo's that the buyer supplied me with, and I worked a deal and bought the gun for a very fair price. When the gun came in at my FFL, the sales guy and I opened the package...and our jaws dropped!!! He said "Your NOT going to shoot this gun are you?" I said "I am now having second thoughts about doing just that!" The gun looked like it had just come off the showroom floor! A quick check with the borescope, and it had been fired little if any!!! I sat on that gun for two weeks...just looking at it, not knowing what to do. I came on the forum here and asked about the same question as the first post. The answers I got were unanimimously in favor of using the gun. "Use it...take good care of it...and it will always be worth something." I am a user, not a collector, and I bought the gun for a specific use. Grant it, I take extra special care of this one, but, it has accompanied me to the range, and into the woods on a number of occasions, and will continue to do so.....and, its kind of nice to have a brand new 1972 Model 18 to work with.
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Old 02-09-2009, 08:26 AM
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I have never missed the ones that I had saved as safe queens after I sold them..I do miss the ones I had shot and sold or traded away..all5x
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Old 02-09-2009, 08:51 AM
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I have a Model 42 and a Model 51 - both unfired in the box with wrap. Still haven't made up my mind on the 42, but when I get around to it the 51 will definately be fired - looking forward to that a I understand they are quite LOUD!
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Old 02-09-2009, 09:36 AM
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If I can afford to buy it, I will shoot it.
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Old 02-09-2009, 01:31 PM
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I am having the same quandry about this 5" 27-2 NIB


I bought it to collect because at the time I thought it was a 4", but when I dscovered it was a 5" it aint quite as collectable.

I voted to debate.
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  #29  
Old 02-09-2009, 01:54 PM
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I would shoot it, but not "shoot the hell out of it." IMHO, shooting the gun makes up a large part of enjoying the gun.

YMMV,
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  #30  
Old 02-09-2009, 04:30 PM
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NIB...sell it,,(but perhaps not right away...a little pride of ownership slips in there).
Shooting it just to say I was the first one is just an expensive exercise in quickly devalueing the gun. Plenty of collectors looking for the NIB specimens, why disappoint them.
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Old 02-09-2009, 07:26 PM
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I would sell it to one of the Big spenders
here on the board
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Old 02-09-2009, 07:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Grayfox:
I won't buy anything I won't shoot. I do have a couple of very nice collectables that don't get shot very often. In fact, they may go for several years between range trips. But they do get shot.
Amen, Brother Fox.
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Old 02-10-2009, 07:35 AM
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If I bought it, it's a shooter!
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Old 02-10-2009, 09:19 AM
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The "worst case" happened to me, but it wasn't a revo. I have several S&Ws that were unfired when I got them... only one remains, an M38 Bodyguard... and it remains unfired due to the fact I have 3 others. The BIG unfired gun that I almost bought was a NIB Colt M16A1. I wanted a shooter, and this would be a rifle that would lose quite a bit of value if after 18 years is was turned into a high count shooter. I bought a Colt that belonged to the Alyeska Pipeline Co. in '02 and have been happy ever since. No more virgins!
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Old 02-10-2009, 10:05 PM
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I quote Ron H [and slightly disagree],

Quote:
Sir, it would depend on what it was. A common gun like a late Model 10 I'd probably shoot. Something hard to find, like a pre-war .38/44 Outdoorsman, I probably wouldn't. A really rare gun I'd probably sell.
I would also shoot the "hard-to-find" [but not rare] .38/44 however I would never shoot a rare gun, if I found one at a cheap price I'd turn it over for a profit.

Here's a NIB, never fired 1974 purchase M57 with all original tools and papers and sales tickets. It will be fired by me.

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Old 02-11-2009, 07:48 AM
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I'm still on the fence and I must admit the easy answer is just go and shoot them and don't worry about it. I think I should lower my standards when I buy a gun and that way the answer would simply be to shoot them. I have four S&W 27-2 and all of them look new except two of them have been fired very little. I do have two that look to me to be unfired except for factory test firing. It's hard for me to want to shoot those two and use the excuse that it’s just because I can. It's the same with the Nickel 29-2 that I have that's unfired.

The other factor is I'm 65 and after I pass on what are my kids going to do with them. I have two sons that own and know guns and they will keep the ones they want but they would sell the others.

There's a big part of me that says "shoot them all" and then there's a part of me that says this thing was made in 1973 and it's pristine so why shoot it just because I can.

I guess I'm making this harder then it needs to be. On these models that I have the difference between a well cared for 95% gun and an unfired hundred percent gun is measured in less then a few hundred dollars. That’s not like the thousands of dollars difference for small differences in condition on some early Colt SA and early pre model S&W's.
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Old 02-11-2009, 08:24 AM
N_itis N_itis is offline
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Another thought.

Shooting an unfired gun certainly reduces it's value, but something that many of us tend to overlook is that the same gun could be damaged through improper storage, a natural disaster, or simply by bumping it up against another gun in the safe or dropping it when removing it from the safe for inspection. If any such possibilities worry you, it is best to pass the gun along.

Yes, high end guns are wonderful things but they belong in museums or in the pseudo museum "display rooms" of high end gun collectors.
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Old 02-11-2009, 08:33 AM
stevieboy stevieboy is offline
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I buy only to shoot and that includes the two guns (617-1 and 66 no-dash) that I purchased within the last year that were represented to me as "unfired" when I bought them. I realize that neither of these is exactly a rarity but it wouldn't matter to me if they were.

That's not to say that I don't have infinite respect for those of you who are collectors. I love your photos!
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Old 02-11-2009, 08:33 AM
boneman boneman is offline
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I have a brand new 19-3 that has never been fired and I will never fire it. I have a 19-4 that if it has been shot it's very little. I have and will continue to shoot that one. Thanks Larry
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Old 02-11-2009, 06:41 PM
lugnut3537 lugnut3537 is offline
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I always buy guns to shoot,however I have some higher end guns that I don't shoot much. I don't think I could buy one and not shoot it.
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Old 02-11-2009, 07:04 PM
shawn mccarver shawn mccarver is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by MakeMineaMagnum:
You find and buy a never-fired S&W Revolver (Model # and caliber of your choice), in its original box, with all paper work, and still wrapped in S&W paper.
In my experience, surviving relatives do not value the deceased person's stuff as much as he did.

Thus, shoot it and enjoy it while you live. You certainly won't be able to after you have expired.
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Old 02-11-2009, 07:34 PM
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If I bought it it's not a rare collector's model, it's something I bought to shoot. If people want to collect, that's fine and I won't go out of my way to shoot rare guns.
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Old 02-11-2009, 07:35 PM
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Meeteetse Meeteetse is offline
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For me the question has an easy answer, because I believe guns to be tools so I shoot them or I don't own them. The one exception is the rare gun.

If I had a rare gun that had some meaning to me, I would put it in the safe and enjoy it. If I had a rare gun that had no meaning to me I would probably sell it to someone who appreciated the rare qualities and wanted or needed it for their "collection" and buy a new tool for my shooting collection.
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Old 02-11-2009, 09:11 PM
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I have a hard and fast rule. If it a new production gun I buy it to shoot, if it is an older firearm that has been fired I'll shoot it. If it an older firearm in pristine condition it goes in the safe forever.
I try, when I can, to buy a duplicate of the safe queens in fired condition to have fun with, but the unfired examples will someday make someone else happy.
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Old 02-12-2009, 08:18 AM
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I say shoot it. If someone wants to collect unfired specimens, that's fine, but I don't get any enjoyment from letting a gun sit in it's box in a safe. Think how much the gun is worth unfired, then weigh that against how less it will be worth when you sell it, probably years from now. Is that piddly difference worth not shooting it? I think not. My guns have more damage from just sitting in the safe, or closet or drawer, than from my shooting them. I don't think I've ever damaged a gun from shooting it, just discovered whatever flaws it might have. Get real, it's just a piece of steel, it doesn't have feelings, and it has no personality. You're not raping a virgin.
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Old 02-12-2009, 08:54 AM
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Put me in the shoot it catagory. If it is to a safe queen then I will not buy it.
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Old 02-12-2009, 09:09 AM
bnewc75 bnewc75 is offline
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Ask yourself.......are you a collector or a shooter? A collector should have two of everything an a shooter should shoot everything
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Old 02-12-2009, 09:37 AM
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I see no point in having a gun I don't shoot. I have guns going back two generations in my family, all shot, cleaned and maintained carefully, for three generations including me. Some are coming up on one hundred years old. I think they are as sound as the day they were bought. The fact that they have been shot and appreciated as working firearms, each different, makes them much more understood and appreciated than if they were mere objects. I guess if your plan was to turn around and sell them at a profit you wouldn't want to shoot them. But then You're a trader, not a collector in my book. If I had beautiful cars I'd want to drive them too. I'll pass them to my daughters, gen 4.
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Old 02-12-2009, 07:20 PM
Zackary Zackary is offline
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Load it up and shoot it. It's Smith and Wesson. Now.... didn't that feel good?
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Old 02-13-2009, 09:28 AM
deanodog deanodog is offline
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Some people like to collect and save NIB unfired
guns and they are not to be scorned for this.The other of us who would rather shoot than
collect are motivated differently and we are all gun lovers. I never buy collectable guns so I shoot them all. I also respect anyone's desire to keep them as new. I used to look at this different than I do now. Maybe old age lets
us see differently.
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