Devaluing a NIB gun?

[Narragansett]

I have a question. Obviously, there are only so many NIB older models around, and for the purpose of my question I will use say a 1975 Model 19-3 4'bbl. if you own the aforementioned gun, NIB( factory fired only), and you decide to start using it, how much in say percentage terms do you actually devalue the gun?

 

[BAM-BAM]

I have a question. Obviously, there are only so many NIB older models around, and for the purpose of my question I will use say a 1975 Model 19-3 4'bbl. if you own the aforementioned gun, NIB( factory fired only), and you decide to start using it, how much in say percentage terms do you actually devalue the gun?

Not rare, not even uncommon. If " using it" means occasional range use only; could be as little as 10% in my book.



Carrying it deer hunting....... in an open holster....... well condition is everything......some folks,here, have been saying that any decent .357 S&W is worth $500... so the wrong 'accident" could turn it into a $500 shooter grade......

 

[Sevens]

There is absolutely no solid answer or math that solves this question, but you can likely bank on the idea that the LESS RARE the model is, the LESS DRASTIC the "devaluing" is likely to be.

The value question is often a difficult one because even if you can pin down a number and get most folks to agree what the number is, it is still only a number and opinion until two folks agree for certain and wish to exchange one for the other.

A tremendously large marketplace is Gunbroker and if you pay strict attention to what you see, you will come to the conclusion that some (well established!) sellers are always going to get more, and sometimes far more for any particular item than anyone else is going to get even if they run the exact same auction.

Are we to conclude the value is different?

I often make this suggestion to folks who happen to own a NIB gun that is dead mint or nearly so: if the idea of shooting it grates on you, your best solution may be to start shopping for a lower grade version of the same thing and shoot the wheels off that. Doing this is kind of like having your cake and eating it too!

I also offer this suggestion: while far less so on the S&W forum, which is loaded with astute collectors... you will find in many other forum just a truckload of folks, often of the loud-mouthed variety, who think you are NUTS for refusing to shoot and enjoy a high grade gun. Please don't listen to them -- they think they are right and they are not right because they are NOT YOU, they don't understand your thought process and while some never will, some of them actually evolve and see that not every gun has to be shot to be enjoyed. Don't let them try to convince you that you are wrong for wanting to keep a mint gun in mint condition.

 

[Eddietruett]

I would think percentage wise it would vary based on how rare the gun is. While not common, you could find a NIB model 19, 27, etc but a NIB Registered Magnum as an example would be harder to replace.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

I have a question. Obviously, there are only so many NIB older models around, and for the purpose of my question I will use say a 1975 Model 19-3 4'bbl. if you own the aforementioned gun, NIB( factory fired only), and you decide to start using it, how much in say percentage terms do you actually devalue the gun?

Pete, please don't shoot it. If you want a clean one to shoot, I'll swap you out.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I'm sitting here at the keyboard wondering how one can accurately "value" a NIB mid 70's pistol, which must be done before you can figure out how much it gets devalued. My off the cuff guess is that shooting it occasionally might drop the price 5% . . .

 

[daddio202]

This is an answer to your question that is only my opinion. I think occasionally shooting it, if careful and cleaned every time will not devalue your gun at all. Reason being if I were buying the gun from you I would not believe it had not ever been fired. The factory fires the gun before it leaves in every other chamber. So your gun has been fired. It is over 30 years old and very tough to prove any shots being fired. It may look exactly as good as it does now after a couple range trips so value being the same. I consider every used gun somebody is selling as NIB, to me it is basically LNIB. As other people have mentioned if it was rare or one of a kind that would be a different story. You would not want to shoot because an accident may happen( drop gun, scuff barrel, etc.). Guns are meant to be shot, that is why they are made. So just be careful but enjoy it.

 

[A10]

I could see someone getting a grand for a perfect gun these days. 7 to 750 is what I see most 19s going for. Just my opinion and observation.

 

[Narragansett]

Pete, please don't shoot it. If you want a clean one to shoot, I'll swap you out.

Not intending to Vic, and mine is a 19-4. It was just a question. If I wanted to shoot a 19, I would buy one in shooter grade. I have a NIB 629 no dash, and I believe a NIB 15-3 X 2". i was just wondering what it does to the value

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Not intending to Vic, and mine is a 19-4. It was just a question. If I wanted to shoot a 19, I would buy one in shooter grade. I have a NIB 629 no dash, and I believe a NIB 15-3 X 2". i was just wondering what it does to the value

It depends on the revolver, of course, but while there are many shooter grade pistolas out there, including the very clean ones, every year there are fewer and fewer NIB examples of these guns. I sold an extremely clean (no "engraving" on the recoil shield), but fired, 29-2 x 6.5" for $1,650. Same gun, same year (1975), but unfired and complete, went a week later for $2,400.

 

[Narragansett]

It depends on the revolver, of course, but while there are many shooter grade pistolas out there, including the very clean ones, every year there are fewer and fewer NIB examples of these guns. I sold an extremely clean (no "engraving" on the recoil shield), but fired, 29-2 x 6.5" for $1,650. Same gun, same year (1975), but unfired and complete, went a week later for $2,400.

Guess I will keep my 3 unfired ones unfired. I have a 29-5 Classic DX 5" bbl. Fired 12 rounds 25 years ago. That is pretty close to NIB

 

[CJSmith]

I have a question. Obviously, there are only so many NIB older models around, and for the purpose of my question I will use say a 1975 Model 19-3 4'bbl. if you own the aforementioned gun, NIB( factory fired only), and you decide to start using it, how much in say percentage terms do you actually devalue the gun?

I would say .012% per 38 SPC round, .023% per 357 Magnum round.

All teasing aside, it's really hard for me to say I've never shot a full cylinder through at least one of my guns. Having said that, have a couple I haven't had the courage to devalue because of your very question.

 

[Camster]

I had that exact gun, year and all, and never gave a thought about not using it.(and I'm a guy that does like to keep certain guns in unfired condition) When I sold it, it was still in perfect,though fired condition,and I realized more than I paid, in not that many years..
If possibly losing $50 in value or appreciation at some unknown point in the future,(while you enjoy it in the meantime) is a consideration to you, you need to either change your thinking,or get supplementary income.

 

[Dieseltech56]

If you're fortunate enough to actually own a NIB gun from 40 years ago I would lean towards keeping it that way. You can go pick up any 19 from any era and shoot that instead. I definitely am not a believer in if you have it you have to shoot it. I have some really nice guns that aren't NIB but I choose not to shoot them because I really like the way they are right at this moment. There's always that chance that the gun won't come home from the range the way it went there.

 

[reddog81]

Too many variables to give an exact answer. Somewhere between $50 and $200 depending on how much you shoot it. Some guns start to show wear after a couple cylinders while other hold up a little longer. It also depends on the rounds you're shooting. A box of .357 is going to have more wear than a box of .38 Specials. After a couple of range trips you'll start to notice wear around the muzzle, ejector rod, recoil shield, a little gas cutting on the top strap, the cylinder stop ring around the cylinder, etc.

However, what's the point of owning it if you're never going to shoot it?

 

[Muley Gil]

"However, what's the point of owning it if you're never going to shoot it?"

My feelings exactly. About 12 years ago, I bought a nickel 8 3/8" M27 that was new in the box. I bought it, went out and shot it and then had it re-barreled to 5". Then shot it some more.

If someone wants to buy a gun and not shoot it, that's their choice. More than likely, after that person is dead and gone, the next owner will probably shoot it. I prefer to shoot my own guns and let some one else worry about the value after I'm gone.

 

[Willyboy]

NIB

I think you also are limiting your resale market by keeping a gun NIB.
I won't pay the premium for an unfired NIB piece because I shoot everything
I buy. Of course some collectors will pay the premium, but they may be hard to find when you are ready to sell. Willyboy

 

[Narragansett]

I had that exact gun, year and all, and never gave a thought about not using it.(and I'm a guy that does like to keep certain guns in unfired condition) When I sold it, it was still in perfect,though fired condition,and I realized more than I paid, in not that many years..
If possibly losing $50 in value or appreciation at some unknown point in the future,(while you enjoy it in the meantime) is a consideration to you, you need to either change your thinking,or get supplementary income.

I was going to take issue with your curt somewhat insulting answer, until I realized you never understood the original question. It was never about me. I picked a random common gun to ask a general question about depreciation. Oh, and supplemental is the correct form of the word you were searching for.

 

[Sevens]

Quick note:

More guns are likely devalued and degraded by poor handling, poor storage and ham-fisted, unneeded, WAY over-zealous cleaning then by actually shooting.

And if it's blued... by HOLSTERS.

Hahahaha, the comment above about "limiting your potential sales market...." Oh boy. Are you honestly suggesting that willfully keeping a gun in HIGHER CONDITION actually limits your future sale potential?! Did I understand that correctly...?

 

[old bear]

I'll admit it, I like having nice things, but I don't want to have anything I can't use in the fashion it was made to be used. That does not mean I don't take good care of the things I have. Use them, enjoy them, and maintain them.

So all of you non-shooting owners, please use your guns as they were made to be used. I'd bet you will learn to enjoy it.