Recently won an auction for a LNIB 627-0 and I'm debating whether to shoot it or keep it as a safe queen. Ordinarily I hate the idea of having a modern gun that I don't shoot and only look at but I have more .38s and .357s than I can use in one range outing. So how about your opinions folks, shoot it or keep it as is in the original box?

Thanks.

P.S. Pictures to follow in about a week when it shows up.

Cornfed: Shoot it. Goodness, you don't even know if it's a gun until then.

Look at it this way: it's a modern mass produced firearm that will never be a rarity (at any rate not within your lifetime or your childrens'). By not shooting it, you would add only marginally to the value on an eventual sale. Will an extra hundred bucks (or two if we're lucky) make any difference in your life at all? Moreover, you won the gun, so you're not even trying to protect an investment.

It's not like it was your Granddaddy's black powder shotgun that would blow up if you fired modern ammunition.

If you maintain it well -- shooting will not substantially hurt that gun at all.

Frankly, a lot of us have a distorted idea of the investment value of our guns -- then when we die, our wives and kids keep a few and sell the rest at not much more than wholesale.

If it's "LNIB", with proper care it will stay LNIB.Fire away.

__________________
Sure you did

Sell it for what you paid, and buy another one that you didn't pay a premium for that has all ready been shot. Then shoot that one.

Shoot it...then shoot it some more.

ditto,

stainess is easy to maintain...shoot the tar out of it

__________________
Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Take good care of it and shoot it. Your hand will give out before it does.

I like what I'm hearing about shooting it. I got lucky on the auction and paid what I would consider shooter price for the gun, $750 plus FFL and shipping fees bringing me to right about $800. Its one of those pieces that has been on my watch list for several years and I consider myself lucky to have been able to grab it. I know the 627 model of 1989 was pretty limited production and LNIB is nearly impossible to find now 20+ years later which is why I had considered keeping it as a safe queen. I've seen comparable 1989 627s go for up to $1200 on Gun Broker and the like. I appreciate all the extra opinions and I think I'll be taking your advice.

Corn: That's excellent! Besides shooting, I also play guitar and I can't tell you how empty I feel when someone buys a 50s or 60s Fender Strat and just sticks it in a glass cabinet -- the difference though is that the guitars actually do wear out!

Have fun!

You bought a gun and have to ask for advice on whether or not to shoot it, god what is this world coming to ????? Why would you even buy a gun period if you are not going to shoot it, oh I forgot to just fondle it and pretend you are shooting it and then put in back in a display case or safe .
Eric

excellent find....now go out and shoot her!

__________________
SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I almost bid on that auction! Can't wait to see the pictures.

Shoot it!

Shootit, Shoot it shoot it, or sell it to me.

Trulyapostolic, I'm glad you didn't bid too because I cringed more than a little when I typed in the bid that finally won her.

On a side note, the seller tells me that the Pachs that are on it are from the factory, I had hoped for the coveted combat grips to be with it but alas... Does anyone know for certain if this was a normal practice for the factory to not use the combat grips on this model? Other threads that I've read suggest that combat grips were standard.

I own a 627-0 that I bought new in '89. Back then I shot it some, but not a lot, and then it sat. Like the OP, I had/have a pile of 38/357 revolvers and, at least to me, the gun with the OEM Combat stocks didn't fit my hand right. If the OP got the Combats, those are worth some $ in their own right, so I'd say that $800 for the gun is a good deal in this day-and-age.

Mine is now a safe-queen, but if I'd never shot it before I'd definitely take it to the range a few times before cleaning it up and sticking it away. I have a little sentimental attachment to mine, though, because I bought it 23 years ago and, at the same time, bought a 625 for my son, and we used to take them out shooting together. He was a teenager at the time. He still has his 625, and me my 627-0. Neat gun.

Are you guys talking about Gunbroker ?

I was under the impression that the *coveted* combat grips were never on the 627??? Though I'm far, far from an expert on such things.

My 627-PC, which I thought was older than a -0 came with combat grips, but they were Altamonts not The Combat Grips.

FWIW, I have since sold the original Altamonts, as I think they only look good. Feel terrible to hold and don't like how they shoot either.

I shoot the **** out my 60+ years old pre-27 and OTH 27-2 and simply can't imagine not firing any new gun. Except, of course, for the limited edition Colt "Carbonia Blue" (01911) and "Black Army," (01918). Heck, I can't imagine anyone even asking about whether or not to shoot a modern non-special edition S&W.

You don't have an unfired S&W so you picked the 627 for your NIB fired only at the factory safe queen. Or, you find the 627 VERY unique an expect it to be a first round Hall of Famer that should be protected? Do what your gut says or get a second one (a living before and after pair). My 627 went to the range the day I got it, and I look forward to many future rounds

My 627-0, purchased by me new in 1989, had Combat grips.....still does. I agree about the feel, the grooves just don't line up with my fingers. I have kept them on the gun, however, just to keep it original.

The "coveted" Combat grips are in my opinion the worst grips S&W ever put on an N frame gun . I just don't understand why people make such a big deal about them and go out and pay big bucks for them .

Take her to the prom

__________________
... --- ... ..- ... .-

Unless you have a museum where you like to display fine guns for others to drool over, shoot it! Even with the low production numbers of convented models, none of us could afford to buy them all (because there are just too many out there). I do keep boxes, paperwork and usually factory grips stored away but the gun goes into service. I figure if I ever wear it out, I will just get another one.

Here's the flaw in your logic. When I first started buying guns, I didn't have the money to keep 'em all so I would have to trade to get a new one. At some point when my income increased to the point I could keep all the guns I bought, I collected quite a few. Some of the ones that weren't my favorites, for whatever the reason, got squirreled away in the back of my safe. Now 30 years later when again I need to liquidate some of these guns for new and expensive gun projects, I find I'm actually getting more than I paid for them. But, and this is a huge but, I didn't get enough extra money to make up for inflation. Now factor in the amount of joy you'd have had in the years of shooting that gun versus the momentary joy of selling the gun years later for more than you paid for it.

Unless you have a crystal ball and can be sure the gun you intend to keep pristine, will increase in value, any real profit (over and above inflation) will take scores, if not centuries of years to realize. Guns that appear to be collectors items today seldom work out that way. Take the commemorative guns that appear monthly in gun magazines. These guns used (or on the secondary market) almost never sell for more than their unembelished counterparts. Sometimes even less.

__________________
NRA Benefactor

You said something about pictures?
I would shoot it and enjoy it.
Be safe, Frank.

Shoot it, its stainless and they made enough of them.

I bought one NIB last year, and I shoot it regularly. I have had offers to buy it from guys who have seen me shooting it. All of the offers were more than I paid. It is not a rare gun. Life is short. Enjoy it.

Run at least 12 rds through it, if you really like it- keep shooting it.

If it doesn't do enough for you, clean it real well & put it up.

BUT at least try it once!

I just missed out on the "Blue" 01911 when they first came out, but got the "Black" 01918 a short while later. It's NIB, and probably going to stay that way. I'd sure like to score the Carbonia Blue version one of these days but the prices are ridiculous.

__________________
Sure you did

I didn't realize prices were getting ridiculous on the Carbonia Blue version. I have been shooting mine every month in Cowboy Wild Bunch . Maybe I should consider giving it a rest?

Give that thinking man a fine cigar! He nailed it. If you are thinking of investment value, there are much better investments than buying new guns, or paying 2X the original price for a "like new" post-1980 gun.

There is a definite fun component to collecting guns - as I am newly discovering myself. But IMHO, new, or quasi-new guns should be enjoyed by using them and taking special care of them.

Now, if you should stumble upon a fine Hand Ejector in excellent condition, and especially if you can get it at a good price, that's a different story.

__________________
Regards,
LarryD

Shoot it. And then tell me how great it was because I haven't shot mine since I bought it on the forum a year ago.

I go through the same thing you are, everytime I buy a gun.

Heck, I have a hard time de-flowering a squirt gun!

I think it's that same feeling we had as kids when we saw that pristine birthday cake and wanted so badly to get a taste without ruining the beauty.

The "have your cake and eat it too" line is over used for a reason - it's the truth.

I think the first shot will be tough but the next few thousand will be fun.

BTW, mine came with the combats and I'm lucky in that they are perfect in my hand.

I just bought a 617-2 at a premium price, and I plan to shoot it. I'd advise you to do the same.

I found one in a pawn shop 7-8 years ago for $500 OTD. I thought it a little high at the time but not anymore. No box or docs but it did have the combat grips. They don't fit my hand so I stored them in a soft cloth wrap and put some rubbers on the 627. I've fired over 1,000 rounds through mine and occasionally carry it 4-wheeling or hiking. As said before, the stainless cleans up well. I saw a set of grips sell for $200.00 a couple of years ago. The gun is not rare but I would consider it scarce as only around 5,000 give or take a few were made. It rides well in most 6" N frame holsters.

Charlie if you feel the urge to clean out your safe and find a new home for those grips I'd be happy to oblige you if the price were right. From what I've read approximately 5,400 of the -0 were made, so no it is not overly rare but it has been quite some time since I've found one at a price that I've considered reasonable. I've never heard a bad thing about how they shoot and I've even read that some consider it to be the "quintessential" range gun. As it is LNIB with original box and papers I keep thinking that I should keep it that way, but me being me, I'm sure that I will shoot the heck out of it, maybe crown the bbl. and maybe even pick up an extra cylinder and cut it for .357 Max just for gits and shiggles.

__________________
Son of a Gun...Smith

Don't shoot it! It is a very limited distributor ordered gun. I think about 3000 made. You got a excellent price on it and you will be able to make a nice profit in a few short years. we are headed towards a time of inflation. You make see that particular gun double in value in a very short time.

I had a 627-0 and shot it some. They are nothing special in my book in the shooting dept. Shoot the others. I went through the inflation after Jimmy Carter was pres. I wish I had done thing differently then.

They are a very fine gun and beginning to be collectable now and you have a unfired version that "collectors" will pay a Premium for in the very short future.

John

Shoot it, its a gun, enjoy it. Would you buy a screwdriver and not use it because it's new?

There was at least 5,000 627-0's made not 3,000 and there is no way that gun will double in value soon, maybe in 20 years yes. It is also far from being anything close to a collector's gun.
Eric

Again Eric, we will have to agree to disgree. 3000 is the number. They are desirable. They are beginning to be collectable. Figure it out!

John

Well I guess the standard catalog of Smith and Wesson is wrong then, because it cleary states there were 4998 627-0 models produced . You are telling me this book's info is wrong????
Eric

So if in 5 or 10 years he doubles his money to $1600.00 . Big deal . You can't even buy a decent used car for that . And in the mean time while he's waiting to maybe make a whopping 800 bucks he has a 3 1/2 lb paper weight .
Some of you guys need to just get out and shoot your paper weights while you're still breathing .

Might as well shoot it. It will only get sold to in your estate sale at some point and that is of no benefit to you!

It's always worth noting, that everyone enjoys the sport of shooting and gun-collecting, differently. Personally, I very much appreciate having BOTH shooters and safe queens. Whenever possible, I buy two of what I like. Shoot one & keep one. It's not relevant whether the unfired one accrues in value. It's simply nice to know that you have a pristine version to look at, keep to sell, or hand-off to the kids some day.

Also, and it's well worth stressing this point, you never know what's around the corner. I always contemplated buying a Python years ago, then guess what? Colt stops making 'em. Look at the absolute preponderance of interest in pre-lock S&W Revolvers. In hindsight, I sure wish I had bought more brand new Smith's years ago, before they become hard to get second hand, now.

I am not a collector. I am a shooter. But I also know the Value of an unfired gun. Guns are not for just blasting away a boat load of ammo with. Nothing wrong with that. But as said there are other things that guns can and are used for.

John

Yea sitting on a shelf or in a safe just getting fondled and owners wondering huh wonder how it shoots. I will never know because I just let them sit there and look at them and hope it turns into a good investment. You want a good investment firearm, buy a 40,000 colt that only 2 in the world known to exist from 1890 or etc, not a 700 gun that maybe in 20 years will be worth a whopping 2000, big deal. Collectors of post 1970 firearms are a disgrace. They prevent someone else by getting a gun that another shooter would love to have so he could shoot and enjoy the gun instead of someone just letting it collect dust and looking at it occasionally.
Eric

As said in many ways... guns are not good investments. They wont pay off the house, buy a new car or send the kid to college. Put the same amount of cash in the bank for the same amount of years you would leave the safe queen hidden away and then compare the values. There are just too many guns made even in a short run to demand the prices collectors dream about. If those dream values were there, the manufacturer would be making the lion's share. After all, why would they sell something worth a grand for less than half price?

Gee I don't know why you are so negative gumpys. Try and lighten up a little and enjoy life. Just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean you have to jump on my back.
The OP wanted opinions. I gave mine and you gave yours. I am not wrong just because you don't agree with me. But your negativity is just unecessary to this forum and thread.

I have seen what I have done by shooting a NIB gun that if I had not shot it I would have gotten more out of it when I resold it.

I have never felt that I needed to shoot each gun just because I have it. NOR have I felt I wanted to own a gun just to look at it in the safe every once in a while. To each his own.

John

Really? And how much are you getting on your saving account? LOL

John