I recently acquired a like new 4" 586-3. It appears to be unfired since the factory test firing, only 3 very light rings on the front face of the cylinder, no flame cutting, and the bluing is 100% save for a very slight turn line.

Now the question is, shoot it or keep it in the safe? Thoughts?

Shoot it, Enjoy it, Don't abuse it.....Life is short

With the cost of anything S&W going up, up, up, it aint getting any cheaper to find a nice 586. Shoot it, the value won't be hurt and you can enjoy it. The L frames are some of the best for 357 shooting.

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

Shoot it ! One day you will be older and not able to see the sights any longer or hit the broad side of a barn and will kick yourself for not enjoying it when you could. Some things don't improve with age. I really miss not being able to shoot 6 shot groups that I could cover with a quarter. Nowdays hitting a beer can once out of 6 shots is an accomplishment.

She's a pretty girl...dance with her while you can.
gary

Shoot it or----option #3. Sell it to me so i can.
They are great guns that are incredibly accurate
and reliable. Have fun with it and keep it in good
shape. Regular cleaning after shooting but don't
over do it.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Need to see pictures first, but I tend to save it.

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Jorge

Once you shoot it you'll never regret the decision. You'll wonder whatever possessed you to ask us first!

SAVE IT

Now, go buy another one that you can shoot.

This question comes up a lot on the forum and you get answers that vary but in th end it's all up to you. There are buyers willing to pay a premium for guns in mint condition that are unfired and the size of the premium varies by model and age. On a Model 586-3 I don't think the premium is that great when compared to a 27-2 or 29-2 as these get sizable premiums.

Again the final decision is yours and yours only.

Shoot it! It is a 586 -- it is just BEGGING to be shot.

Get a rag and get it all oily with FP-10 or BreakfreeCLP. Everytime someone touches the gun, wipe it down. If it sits for more than a week in the safe, wipe it down. It will continue to look brand new for a long time. I have a later model 586 that I have shot the hell out of and it looks minty. In fact, if you want to trade, you can have mine and fire it guilt free.

Why safe queen it? Do you have the original box, paperwork and cleaning tools? If so, are you ready to sit on it for a few years or more to see a healthy return on investment?

Collectors will want a complete package. Shooters want a good gun. If you have the complete package and other guns to hold you over, consider saving it.

Otherwise, shoot it and take good care of it.

I plan on shooting all my new and used collectable guns anyway. I will becareful with the new ones so they stay in the new condition But i have others that i will take in the woods too. I'm careful with those too. My S&W's won't see the woods but my rugers will.

If it was one-of-a-hundred, I would say keep it. It is not. Shoot it and be safe. Enjoy.

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GA Carry member
Vietnam Vet

I won't make any gun a safe queen, I don't care how valuable it is. I want to shoot everything! So I'd shoot it if I were you.

Shoot it. If you want to save something start with stamps. Have fun

I'd shoot it. It's a great gun, but not a particularly rare gun, and if you take good care of it, it's resale will hold, especially if you have box, papers, tools, etc.

Thanks for all the replies. Y'all make some good points.

The thing is, I do have another 586 4", it's a no dash and was carried by a LEO in Houston for years before I came across it. The finish has a good bit of wear on it, but it's still in excellent shape overall.

Back to the unfired 586-3, it is unique in that it is believed to have been intended for use by a Texas LE agency, either a local police force or by the state troopers. I still need to call S&W to see if they can confirm this, but that's what I've been told.

Pictures of both to come shortly, when I get home tonight.

Now that you mentioned you already have a shooter I would keep the NIB gun a safe queen. If you have been perusing gunbroker or similar sites lately than you have seen the outrageous prices some of these guns have been selling for. A NIB gun will draw top dollar. Probably get a better return than the stock market.

....blast 'er; save your chastity......naw, blast that too !

What would you be saving it from???

Brings Me To A Question. I Just Picked Up A Minty Smith 586 No Dash 4" With AAB31Xx Serial #. The Smith Logo Is On The Side Plate. Made In 1980. Shoot It Or Safe Queen It??? Oh Who Am I Kidding, Its Getting Shot But Seriously How Rare Are The Early Ones With The Logo On The Side Plate?

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Still got the shovel

I don't buy collectors items. I buy tools. Tools are meant to be used...

That being said, I treat tools with respect and try to keep them in the best shape for as long as I can. I have guns that I have shot for years and look nearly the same as the day I got them.

There are guns out there that you don't shoot. Fancy engraved revolvers... I would probably not shoot. As has been mentioned, low volume, series guns, like that unfired Secret Service revolver that was up for sale not too long ago... It was a good price, but I did not buy as I had no real personal attachment, and it would never be shot.

Here are some ****** pictures. I'm definitely not a photographer and these don't do either justice.
First is the shooter:




And the -3:

Looks like the -3 has a pretty healthy turn line for being unfired.Have you been dry firing the gun or cocking the hammer? Both of those actions will deepen the turn line.What is up with the serial number under the cylinder? Looks like a LE gun to me.

This is a great statement. Sums it up in very few words.

Never seen one with the serial # like that either. VERY nice though. Love it. I'll post pics of my 586 no dash soon as I have it in hand. It's on it's way. Has the Smith logo on the side plate and by the serial # it's made in 1980, first year of production. I feel like a kid on Christmas eve...... hurry up post office. Mine's 4" bbl also. I love them, they just look, idk, perfectly balanced I guess is how I would describe em. Congats on a couple nice guns.

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Still got the shovel

I am not one who likes to have a gun I don't shoot, but I do have a 2 1/2" 19 that, although it isn't unfired, it is unfired by me. I have 66's and others to shoot.

If you really like the 586-3 as mint example and since you have one to shoot...you could make a case either way.

I, personally, have decided not to buy another gun I won't shoot but many others get great satisfaction from safe queens and I think that's fine, too. Try telling a coin collector that their coins were "meant to be spent"!

Put it in the safe and buy another one that is a little used already to shoot.

The pristine one will appreciate in value much quicker than if it is used, and you should be able to get a good shooter for a lot less than you have to pay for one in pristine condition.

Now if you just have a ton of money and finding good investments is not important then shoot it by all means. But these pristine old Smiths will most likely continue to escalate at a very fast pace, and the better the condition the more they will appreciate. In five or ten years they will be even more rare than today and the nicer it is the higher the resale will be.

These pre-lock revolvers will probably be one of the few items that out pace inflation, and again the better the condition the faster they will go up in value.

And good shooters with some cosmetic wear on them are not too difficult to find.

Guns need to be shot - otherwise they feel useless and develop self esteem issues... But seriously, shoot it enjoy it and keep it clean and it will look as good as it does now for years.

Shoot it. What would you be saving it for? Why save your stuff for someone else after you are dead?

Shoot it and enjoy it.

The had me laughing as I can relate!! I just went shooting a few days ago and that is EXACTLY what I was doing, shooting beer cans, and yes, one out of six was a good day! Hard to hit them when you cant even make out the front of the gun much less the sights!

And yes, I agree shoot that sweet 586!!

Good call. It was manufactured to be put into service with a Texas Law Enforcement Agency, either a local police force or state. For whatever reason, it was never issued and the gentleman I purchased it from never shot it. The turn line may be accentuated by the lighting in the picture, but you're correct, it does appear to have been dry fired a 'few' times. I still need to contact S&W to get an official history!

As to the shoot it save it debate. I am on the save it side. You own more than one of the same model, there is no reson to be wearing both of them out.

As one of the poster mentioned, if it were 100 years old he would save it. Well if you shoot it, it will not get to be 100 years old and unfired since leaving the factory.

I have several Kenedy half dollars from the 1960s. I will not go into the McDonalds and buy a Coke and fry with them just because they are money and money was manufactured to be spent.

Perhaps my attitude comes from my love of museums and the fact that I have been curator of a rather large public collection myself.

That is a Texas DPS revovler. The 405 number is part of their inventory control system.

Below you will notice the 405 number on my Texas Department of Publis Safety SIG P239 chambered in what has to be the greatest modern cartridge to come along for Highway Patrol use, the 357SIG.

I gave up on beer cans I now use gal milk jugs. Not sure what I will use next.