Shoot or store?

[watsonrg]

Been reading forum for awhile, but recently joined.

A few months ago I bought a 649 pre-lock brand new in box. The shop owner said it dates from sometime in the 1980s.

Serial # is BBU99XX. It is not rated +P. The box reads model 649, but to these old eyes it looks like there might be a -1 on the yoke.

Price was $460 + tax in Illinois.

Is it worth keeping pristine as a collectible or not?

Looking forward to your thoughts.

 

[2ndAmendmentNut]

The 649s are an IDEAL carry piece in my opinion. If you intend to carry you have a great gun at a good price. If you have no intention of carrying I would store it and use other more comfortable guns for range use.

 

[Harrison]

Once you shoot this fine pistol, it is no longer pristine, and it has lost collector value. keep it lightly oiled laying in it's open box, in the gun safe. Take it out once a month or so, examine for any rust, admire it and wipe it down. Try not to go pulling the trigger or dry firing. That will just develop a cylinder wear ring and further decrease it's collector value. If you need a carry gun, there are dozens of them out there that are inexpensive. Buy one, to carry and shoot.

 

[Jhamblen86]

Personally, shoot the thing. I understand a collectors point of view but, if it was meant to sit. The metal should have been used to make paper weights.

 

[Hapworth]

Welcome to the Forum.

You ask the eternal question: to shoot or not to shoot a collectible grade gun.

It's a sad cliche, but the fact is only you can answer, because only you know your own thresholds.

Fact is, if you just want to put some rounds through it occasionally and otherwise store it, provided you take care and clean thoroughly, you can likely do this without affecting its value.

If you intend to carry, though, that gun will pick up handling marks and holster wear -- it's unavoidable.

Personally, I carry shooters or modern guns because I don't worry about picking up the occasional mark; older, well-preserved or collectible (especially blue, for me), I ache over adding wear to.

What's you intended use, and what are your means to get another?

 

[Comrad]

There are probably too many made and too many that have been put away NIB for these to have any great collector value, I think.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

The 649 arrived in 1984- Once again, I have had mine since they came out. Might be just me, but I fail to see any 'collector' value here. These were made to use. For those that feel they must be stored away fine, do so. I am thinking we are way too hung up on this 'collector' thing. These guns CAN handle a +P once in awhile, but I sure wouldn't make a habit of it. JMHO, and experience.

 

[hangnoose]

CHOOT EM ELIZABETH

Some good answers regarding collectors value, but I think you are definitely asking a biased (towards shooting it) crowd. I say shoot it and enjoy it as it was made and intended for.

 

[S&W357]

Shoot it ! Shoot it again !! Keeping it oil so it doesn't rust is what you should do. I have guns that i didn't shoot and is in mint condition.. When i sold them i still had drop the price less then list.
Maybe if it's a $4000 plus gun then i would not shoot it. Wheel guns are made to shoot. So--have fun with it.. If you have a gun safe -buy a heat rod and leave it on all the time. I had a S.S. kimber and had it in the safe for only 6 months without the heat rod and it started to rust.

 

[CoMF]

First off, welcome to the forum and congratulations on your recent acquisition.

To echo what others have stated, the 649 is a fine revolver, but not especially collectible. It is yours to do with as you please, but I recommend you shoot it, take care of it, don't worry about the inevitable minor scuff or scratch, and just enjoy it. The J frame has much to offer as a defensive firearm to those willing enough to master them, but then again you probably already know this.

To me, preserving a NIB but not rare firearm is like buying a Simpson 260 and never taking it out of its original packaging except to admire it with cotton gloves before putting it away again. In other words, it's a finely crafted tool that was meant to be used and provide you with years of service as opposed to being preserved as a fine art piece.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

This is definitely a shoot it crowd!!!!

There are probably too many made and too many that have been put away NIB for these to have any great collector value, I think.

I agree.

I'll say this - if this Forum is here in 2113 and someone writes that he acquired a 1980s-era NIB Model 649 the answer might be different. Maybe. Meanwhile, you and your progeny passed up years of shooting fun, and self-defense carry, on the outside chance that 100 years from now a 460 dollar gun might be worth 1000 dollars.

Jus' sayin'......

***GRJ***

 

[BigCityChief]

I agree with the earlier post that suggested this is a "shoot it" crowd. Shooting is exactly why the firearm was made. Don't worry too much about collector value - enjoy it AND use it.


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[snubbyfan]

It's not exactly a rare collectable. Take it out and shoot it lots.

 

[kozmic]

So when you gonna post some pictures of your paper targets?????

I don't see a scenario when it will EVER be a serious collector or heirloom piece. FIRE THE HECK OUT OF IT, CARRY IT AND ENJOY IT. Use care and it will be something you can certainly leave to your kids.

 

[Dregg]

There are probably too many made and too many that have been put away NIB for these to have any great collector value, I think.

^^This^^

It's a stainless gun. Carry and shoot the thing.

 

[Nick B]

It's not exactly a rare collectable. Take it out and shoot it lots.

^^ This .We're not talking about a NIB 1st generation Colt Single Action .
Even if you sat on it and 10 years from now it was worth double, big deal .
Shoot it and enjoy it .

 

[66snub]

Use it for what it was built for. To protect your life (and your family's) in a sneaky fashion. The 649 is my favorite of the J frames. When I can't get away with carrying my M19, I carry the 649. For me, an old gun, purchased new in the box, is a chance to go back in time and buy an old Smith in present day.

I bought a German (mid 90's build) Sig P226 in 9mm a couple of years ago that was new-in-the-box, unfired with absolutely everything it left the gun store with. A rare opportunity, to be sure. I carry and shoot it, and I don't lose a wink of sleep.

 

[kaaskop49]

Whatever you decide, by all means keep the gun. I well remember the late 70s, the Carter years, when it was nigh impossible in the northeast to find snubs. The antis considered them as Saturday Night Specials and snubs were high on their 'hit list.' This can always happen again, given this administration and the potential next one.

Better to have something now rather than later when it may not be obtainable. Sorry for being so grim; I've been fighting the antis for 40 years and know what they're capable of.

Good shooting and happy holidays.

 

[Jaymo]

You have a fistful of protection with that gun.
The only way to know if it works and is accurate is to shoot it.
Your life could depend on it someday.

Enjoy it in good health.

 

[rwsutley]

At my age I buy revolvers to shoot not as an investment. Sure my son will own it when I wake up on the dark side of the turf but the first thing he will do is go out and shoot every gun I leave him and burn up a butt load of ammo in the process . These wonderful guns were produced to be used and I believe they should be. Perhaps one of my finer revolvers would be worth a few dollars more when I am dead than if I had not enjoyed it when I was living by shooting it. Weigh that against the cost of the ammo you shoot every time you go to the range and shoot an inferior gun to preserve the finer gun in your safe. Shoot the gun and do it often. Buy quality guns because they will last for many life times and bring much pleasure.
JMHO