Announcing a major policy change...

[Art Doc]

In the past when someone asked if they should should the pristine revolver they acquired I replied that I shot mine and to decide what he wanted, a work of art or a gun. I am hereby amending that position.

Any pristine pre-1982 S&W revolver should not under any circumstances actually be fired. It must be preserved in its current condition. Why my change of heart? You all know why. The recent selling prices of pristine S&W revolvers makes them simply too valuable to shoot. If the gun is like new, for God's sake keep it that way until you sell it. Since having a correct box appears to double the value at auction if you don't have a correct box then get one. If the seller wants $500 for a box...pay it.

Now if I could just undo the past and have back all those NIB in box S&Ws I took to the range. I bet I have thrown away $20,000 or more.

 

[DWalt]

Does that apply to Colts also?

 

[824tsv]

"Does that apply to Colts also?"
Why not?

 

[Nicksterdemus]

My arms are modest, so I do not perceive them as an investment. I've already spent more on ammo than they could achieve in price within my lifetime.

 

[Art Doc]

Even "Modest" guns are bringing money way beyond imagination. If by modest you mean lower priced models when new. Any pristine S&W is worth gold these days. Of course the 27s and 29s bring the most, but even M&Ps and M28s in NIB condition fetch outrageous amounts at auction.

 

[raylan007]

Value of box and accessories

I have consistently read where a matching #'d box,tools ,manual can add up to $150 to the value of the gun but I guess it would always reverts back to what a individual is willing to pay.

 

[LimaCharlie]

I have turned down great offers to sell me unfired unturned NIB collector guns because I knew I would take it home, clean and lube it, and head for the range.

 

[vinny77]

I prefer the concept of the joy of shooting. new or not. It doesn't hurt to shoot them IMHO. I quit worrying about the potential increase in value. They are going to be passed down to my children and friends anyway so Enjoy!.

 

[weatherby]

I'm with you vinny.

Fire away




I'd rather create memories....than worry about an asset

 

[Mike McLellan]

My guns are like gold, except, for the sake of utility, I asked the factory to substitute some kind of steel/gold alloy for the pure gold.

 

[Dave T]

I have no unfired guns or even near new guns, just shooters. However, I can see where SP is coming from. Unfortunately this will only drive up the price of "shooters", so we're still screwed.

Dave

 

[blujax01]

They're only worth long money if you intend to sell them. Myself, I bought my house to live in, my Caddy to drive, and my revolvers to shoot.

That said, I do get your point and am aware that I am no longer shooting inexpensive guns. Makes me feel like a rich guy!

 

[jtcarm]

I don't want a gun I can't shoot, unless it's a family heirloom. The only one I consider too valuable to shoot is my dad's Remington Rand 1911-A1. Had it not belonged to him, I'd trade:sell I'm a heartbeat for some Smiths, or maybe a modern 1911 I wouldn't mind shooting.

Now if brother mentions it again, I'll offer to trade for Gramp's 1st issue Colt Woodsman that is in his possession. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot that gun as it's already got some blue wear and it's hard to wear out a .22 LR except through abuse.

 

[crsides]

Good to hear. Go shoot'em. Have a ball. Just makes my NIB safe queens more rare .. and more valuable.


Charlie

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Saxon Pig, I just bought a NIB 42 Nickel at a gun show. It is now loaded and in my pocket. The darn things were made to carry and shoot.
Im not saying I disagree with you, but I have had RMs that I shot the Poop out of. They are just so much fun to take to the range. Just shoot them and pass them on to the kids. Best to you, Mike #2796

 

[Florida J Frame]

I have to agree with SaxonPig. I wasn't a big believer in safe queens until I happened across an "unfired" no turn line model 12. I put it away for a while and before I took it to the range for the first time I did a little value checking, gave it a coat of wax and put it back in the safe. I'll go buy a shooter. Prices are crazy right now and they don't seem to be going down any.

 

[fyimo]

It's always a funny subject to me because we all drool over old revolvers that are like new even before those revolvers went through the roof price wise. To me it's all up to the buyer and just how much satisfaction they get either shooting them or keeping them like new for the future preservation of those few revolvers in that condition.

When I started I always kept one not new model of each for the range so I got the satisfaction of shooting that model. However I did keep the mint ones mint because I admired their beauty and the fact that they were rare in that condition. I really wasn't looking for a big payoff just the satisfaction of owning them.

Of course I also a coin collector and I don't handle my mint old coins either as to detract from the value.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I see gorgeous, USED, revolvers bringing premium prices at every gun show. Unless you possess some very unusual collection piece I simply do not think your unfired safe queens are worth all that much more. A thousand dollars for a used 629 without the box is not uncommon, for example. Seriously, how much more is it worth NIB?

I collect shooters.......100 years from now the ones that are rare and look great will be premium guns whether or not they were fired. Just mi dos centavos......

***GRJ***

 

[DWalt]

All you have to do is look at the prices for bare metal first generation Colt SAAs, in 0% condition. Most of those will have asking prices close to $2K. 50 years ago they would have been considered as being nothing more than scrap iron. Just a mystery of 2014 gun collecting.

 

[Hondo44]

I too would not shoot pristine, unfired premium collectibles. But neither would I pay the freight to acquire, insure, secure, and bear the risks of ownership. And certainly not for a "true investment".

These are the two themes afoot on this issue which are mutually exclusive, although some may think they are not. As you can see, and just for the record, I'm clearly in neither camp.

To wit: everything is relative. I understand and certainly approve of a desire for pride of ownership to own, enjoy value appreciation, show, cherish, etc., premium firearms. So, if you pay top dollar today and sell for top dollar (or your family does, hopefully, if you're gone) in 10 or 20 years from now, what has been gained in money? Nothing really but it's OK, there was a much higher purpose.

And all fun endeavors require investment, few of which are as good as firearms, that's a given. In fact, true for all firearms albeit to a lesser degree then premium examples. But this should not to be confused with "investment" for purposes of retirement, education, health care, etc.

Because if you do it just for monetary return on investment, the superiority of professional investment portfolio results over that same 10 or 20 years, time and gain, have confirmed the foolhardiness of it. I'll acknowledge that there are some extreme appreciating firearms exceptions but how difficult is it to obtain enough premium firearms to support a true investment purpose? So in that case I can support a combined portfolio of premium firearm investments and professional portfolios.

So when discussing value escalation, as an investment, it's important to distinguish between the two themes.