Does anyone shoot an "unfired" gun??

[Class III]

I've got a few that will not get the pleasure of having a round run through them, 4 pistols, 2 revolvers, 2 shotguns and 1 rifle. All the others, regardless if they were NIB or previously owned get shot on a pretty much regular basis.

Class III

 

[Brian41]

I've shot some NIB guns but didn't buy them as they were NIB but happened to be that wasy. I also didn't shoot a couple Anniversary guns but traded them off later for shooters.
I also have some rarely fired guns that have sisters I do shoot and carry on a regular basis.

My only existing gun unfired is a Backpacker 629 3 inch but I carry and shoot it's twin. It's mainly a spare and will get used some day if needed.

 

[TDC]

You guys just keep shootin' and shootin' them all. I'm all for it 100%. I've had the good fortune to collect and shoot um both and have never regretted doing either.

I had to laugh at the comment, "would you buy a new car and not drive it" analogy. Dang right I would! If I had a proper place to store it.

Can anyone imagine having bought a new '56 Mercedes Gull Wing Coupe? They were $10,000 in '56 and now old "beaters" bring over a million at auction... Can anyone imagine what a brand new one would bring today? How about three or four times that amount!

How about a new '63 Ferrari GT 250? A fairly low milege one sold at auction last month for $11 million (not a typo). New they were $10k. Would you have invested a whole years pay to have one and put it away? If you had it would have been the best investment you have ever made and you'd be a multi-millionaire today...

It's all a matter of desire, preference, timing, selection, and above all, sacrifice. If you don't have a collectors foresight and desire don't collect anything. If you do collect enjoy what you accumulate. I happen to have collected S&W's and I'm proud of it.

I shoot many and have collected NIB S&Ws for decades. I'd also compare my shooting line-up with many others....

For the record, here are my current shooters....

 

[bubbajoe45]

just remember that first shooting session could reduce the value of that gun 15% to 25% or more. once it's gone you can't get it back.

This why the 'new car' analogy IS valid. When you drive (or tow) a new car off the lot, it loses 20% of it's value regardless. There is no economy of scale with fired or unfired, driven or undriven - it either is or it ain't. One difference is that a car is much easier to wear out than an old Smith! In 1956, most folks would have bought the gull wing Benz to drive! to have a Ferrari and not drive it? what's the point? I guess some people think it would be cool to have a Lone Ranger lunchbox from the 50s that had never had a Bologna sandwich placed in it - I'd rather have one that I knew was used by Clint Eastwood as a kid (for example), but I wouldn't really care either way.

One thing this forum has taught me - a great deal more value in an old gun is the history (esp. when there is a story that accompanies the gun) as well as the craftsmanship. I actually like to think about the who, what, where of a scratched up, worn old revolver. Sure it's nice to have a pristine example, but a really, really good example has more intrinsic value to me. As someone else said, you know it works. I'd also like to think that maybe someday one of my guns will be cherished by another owner and they'll wonder where I carried it, what loads I shot in it, or if it got me out a scrape.

IMHO, as SW357 said in another thread awhile back, 'it's a gun, shoot it'.

 

[stantheman86]

Shooters

I don't buy any "high dollar" collectibles anyway, and the only NIB gun I would probably ever pay for would be something like a 70's or 80's era Model 10.

I am a shooter who collects, or say a a collector of shooters. Nothing I have will appreciate enough in my lifetime for me to be able to retire on it!

The only guns I have that I shoot "rarely" ar those that are too hard to obtain other examples of, usually because of the provenance (to me) or their history. I have a Colt Police Positive from the 1930's marked for the sheriff's dept. of where I live, and to me that's pretty cool so I don't shoot this one more than maybe a cylinder or two of very light target .38's every so often.

Someday even the beater "common" Model 10's, 64's, 67's etc. will be worth thousands, but that day ain't coming any time soon. I care not about the "worth" or value of any of my guns, I take care of them and enjoy shooting them, and those that I sell the funds go for other gun purchases. I have accumulated enough shooters that now I am thinking of starting to actually "collect" mainly higher condition guns. I would be in the poorhouse trying to afford enough .38 and .357 and would be at the range every single day shooting hundreds of round before I "shot out" my collection of S&W and Ruger regular shooters. I wish I had the ammo and time to worry about shooting any one of my guns too much, I would welcome the chance to actually find time to put more than 1,000 rounds a year on any of my revolvers, none of them has even approached that yet while in my ownership.

 

[ab4ka]

if I get an unfired gun, it won't say that way long

 

[DCWilson]

I can't be sure that my "unfired" guns are really unfired after leaving the factory, but there are only two or three of them anyway. I mostly think of them as guns that I haven't shot yet, and may never shoot.

In theory, there is a kind of inverse proportion between age and shootability, or between limited production and shootability. I have a spectacular long tube Pre-27 that I will probably NOT shoot. But if I got my hands on a new-in-the-box example of a recently discontinued model with a large production run -- well, that just wouldn't feel that special to me under the circumstnces. I'd probably shoot that one.

I'm kind of on the fence about my Lew Horton 24-3. Fifty-fifty on that one.

I don't know if my collection is like a black hole, but it has definitely been a Hotel California for handguns since I started serious collecting a couple of years ago. Of all the guns that have checked in, not one has ever checked out.

 

[ken158]

Another way to think about those "safe queens". Say you purchased a S&W for $400. What would the value be now? Of course, it would depend on the model but maybe $800 - $1000 if it was the right model. Now, if you had put $400 in the bank for 20 years at 6% interest, you would now have $1283, 30 years would be $2297. Safe queens are nice to keep and hand down, but someone is gonna shoot it sooner or later. I have a model 60 that has not been fired that was purchased new in 1976 for $210. At 6%, it would be $1522. Any offers?

 

[rollin_hot]

Value

My memories of actually shooting my firearms with my friends and family are worth far more than any forcasted estimate of what they would be worth if I did'nt shoot them.

Owning firearms is one thing, enjoying them to their full capacity is another.

Guns are tools, I have never bought a hammer that I have'nt used.

 

[Scrapper]

The last gun I bought New (460XVR 8') I went in looked it over real good. Looked at all the important places, Cycled the action looking at timing, closed the Cylinder and said lets do it. The next weekend I took it out and ran my Hand-loads thru it and found it was accurate enough for me.

I do realize your talking collectors items here but I'm not a collector of things I don't use.

 

[TDC]

Another way to think about those "safe queens". Say you purchased a S&W for $400. What would the value be now? Of course, it would depend on the model but maybe $800 - $1000 if it was the right model. Now, if you had put $400 in the bank for 20 years at 6% interest, you would now have $1283, 30 years would be $2297. Safe queens are nice to keep and hand down, but someone is gonna shoot it sooner or later. I have a model 60 that has not been fired that was purchased new in 1976 for $210. At 6%, it would be $1522. Any offers?

And gee, guys! Don't forget what inflation will have done to the dollar if you keep that Mod 60, too! That $1522 would be like nothing anymore...... Shoot them daily... all of them. Throw them under the seat of your PU or SUV. If any remain unfired in your possession, give it to a neighbor or the kid at the car wash to shoot for a week or two... They've gotta be shot -- they've gotta be used or they have no meaning -- no purpose!

Heck... when the time comes to sell it you can always waffle the condition a bit and claim your gun is 85% when it's really about 60%... Who's going to know the difference?.... Who's going to care? And you can always compare your asking price as being compatible in value with a NIB gun you saw sell last week on GB... New condition is meaningless! That's why we see so few people asking what their guns are worth each week...

Just keep shootin' them all and shootin' them all.. That's what everybody is doin', right? I'll just keep doing both.....

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

I have many unfired. The ones that I buy 'new' and fire are the new ones with the external lock. The old ones I have kept NIB are guns I have a shooter gun in. For example; I have a shooter 27-2 6 inch nickel and a 3.5 inch blue that I bought already fired. These I shoot. I have other nib 27's in 6 inch nickel, 5 inch nickel, 5 inch blue, 4 inch blue and the 50th anniversary. These are unfired and I see no good reason to shoot them.

 

[colt_saa]

Would you buy a brand spanking new car and never drive it?

Not a fair comparison. You can not purchase a car and tuck it under your arm as you leave the showroom. Usually you have to drive it to it's destination. You also have to drive it a bit to move around and do routine maintenance. However, mileage can be kept extremely low.

I do have cars that were purchased with the express intent to preserve them for the enjoyment of future generations.

There is a 1991 Miata Limited Edition British Racing Green with 341 miles on it. (there were also two other BRGs for driving)

There is a 2003 50th Anniversary Corvette with under 500 miles on it.

There is a 1995 40th Anniversary Thunderbird with under 200 miles on it.

There is a 2002 35th Anniversary Camaro SS SLP. This one I had to play with a bit and it has 5600 miles on it.

There is a 2002 35th Anniversary Trans Am with under 700 miles on it.

There is a 2006 Candy Apple Red limited edition GTO with 47 miles on it.

And the list goes on and on. There would be older low mileage cars but the collection did not get started until the 90s. So there are lots of cars with higher mileage on them as well. Plus many more not on display.

For all of those folks that say a gun was meant to be shot so I shoot it, for those folks that say someone will eventually shoot it anyway, I have to ask.

If you came across an 1883 1/2 dollar would you go buy a big gulp with it just because it was a coin and coins were meant to be spent? Or might you take it home and see if it was worth more than $.50

If you came across a batch of uncanceled stamps from your Grandfathers childhood collection, would you want to use it to mail out your electric bill because stamps were meant to be put on mail? Or might you consult a philatelic publication to see if it was worth more than the $.03 printed on it.

If you found a canvas in your attic with a weird, ugly, disfigured picture on it, would you paint over it because canvas was meant to be painted on? Or would you see if this Picasso guy's work was worth something first.

 

[rollin_hot]

Realy?

Not a fair comparison. You can not purchase a car and tuck it under your arm as you leave the showroom. Usually you have to drive it to it's destination. You also have to drive it a bit to move around and do routine maintenance. However, mileage can be kept extremely low.

I do have cars that were purchased with the express intent to preserve them for the enjoyment of future generations.

There is a 1991 Miata Limited Edition British Racing Green with 341 miles on it. (there were also two other BRGs for driving)

There is a 2003 50th Anniversary Corvette with under 500 miles on it.

There is a 1995 40th Anniversary Thunderbird with under 200 miles on it.

There is a 2002 35th Anniversary Camaro SS SLP. This one I had to play with a bit and it has 5600 miles on it.

There is a 2002 35th Anniversary Trans Am with under 700 miles on it.

There is a 2006 Candy Apple Red limited edition GTO with 47 miles on it.

And the list goes on and on. There would be older low mileage cars but the collection did not get started until the 90s. So there are lots of cars with higher mileage on them as well. Plus many more not on display.

For all of those folks that say a gun was meant to be shot so I shoot it, for those folks that say someone will eventually shoot it anyway, I have to ask.

If you came across an 1883 1/2 dollar would you go buy a big gulp with it just because it was a coin and coins were meant to be spent? Or might you take it home and see if it was worth more than $.50

If you came across a batch of uncanceled stamps from your Grandfathers childhood collection, would you want to use it to mail out your electric bill because stamps were meant to be put on mail? Or might you consult a philatelic publication to see if it was worth more than the $.03 printed on it.

If you found a canvas in your attic with a weird, ugly, disfigured picture on it, would you paint over it because canvas was meant to be painted on? Or would you see if this Picasso guy's work was worth something first.

There are certainly things in this world that would be far more valuable if not used, but the OP asked about "guns", not cars or hypethetical 1/2 dollars, stamps or Picassos.

I can imagine the enjoyment you get by owning your cars, but I bet it is nothing compared to actually driving them is it?

By your logic, an Arabian horse should not be riden. Some times beautiful things become more beautiful when enjoyed to the fullest. It would drive me crazy owning a car with only 700 miles knowing that I was too scared to put any more miles on it for fear of decreasing it's worth.

Does this mean I am going to let my son play catch with my 1953 team signed Cubs ball? No, but I am going to take it out of it's case and let him fondle it from time to time.

It's all relative to the item in question, the OP asked about guns. The reality is that "most" of us enjoy our guns by owning and shooting them. My guns were never bought as investments in terms of retirement or college funds. If they hold their value in the next few decades, anything above that, is just a bonus.

 

[rpg0123]

It is possible to shoot a firearm and not abuse it and as a bonus, keep it in excellent condition. Everyone needs a hobby. There's nothing wrong with collecting for the sake of collecting but some people like to use and enjoy the things they buy. There's nothing wrong with that either. Comparing apples to apples, if I happened upon a rare coin out of circulation ,uncanceled stamps, or a Picasso in the attic, the coin would not be spent or the canvas painted over or stamps used. If I found a Colt single action once used by John Wayne or a firearm owned by John Moses Browning it would not be fired. Now, I have to look at these things realistically. The odds do not favor my stumbling across the uncirculated coin, a Picasso, uncanceled stamps, or even a handgun used by John Wayne or owned by Browning. In the intervening time I can use and enjoy the handguns I have by shooting them. This does not make one a dolt. I believe most people can appreciate something rare or out of the ordinary.

Each person takes satisfaction from their possessions in their own way. I have a cousin who has four garages full of cars. He never drives them but keeps them under white sheets and the garages look like operating rooms, white and bright. A couple of his friends had large toe tags made up for him to put on the cars because they claimed the cars look like they're in a morgue. No one should care because he bought the cars, and gets enjoyment from owning them even though he spends a fortune on oil, fluids, and replacing batteries, tires, gaskets, belts and hoses from non use.

It's for certain no one is taking their possessions with them when they leave this world, so I'm all for anyone enjoying what they worked and paid for in their own individualistic way.
Bob

Very well-worded.

 

[Centenniel]

Yes, every one I can get my hands on...

 

[colt_saa]

There are certainly things in this world that would be far more valuable if not used, but the OP asked about "guns", not cars or hypethetical 1/2 dollars, stamps or Picassos.

I can imagine the enjoyment you get by owning your cars, but I bet it is nothing compared to actually driving them is it?

By your logic, an Arabian horse should not be riden. Some times beautiful things become more beautiful when enjoyed to the fullest. It would drive me crazy owning a car with only 700 miles knowing that I was too scared to put any more miles on it for fear decreasing it's worth.

Does this mean I am going to let my son play catch with my 1953 team signed Cubs ball? No, but I am going to take it out of it's case and let him fondle it from time to time.

It's all relative to the item in question, the OP asked about guns. The reality is that "most" of us enjoy our guns by owning and shooting them. My guns were never bought as investments in terms of retirement or college funds, if they hold their value in the next few decades, anything above that is just a bonus.

It is a shame that you choose to take my post out of context. That post was not a reply to the OP was it. In fact it was a reply specifically to a question about cars that appeared in this thread. Neither were my three examples directed at the OP, they were specifically directed to a group of people that I can not understand. That is why I asked the questions. Ones that I notice you chose not to answer.

While it is childish to accuse me of wanting to preserve your horse, I will respond to it anyway. Even if it was possible to preserve your horse, there would be no reason to do so. There is nothing rare, unusual, historic or special about your horse. Your horse and horses like it continue to be made every day. If we were down to the last 100 of your horse, I would work to preserve the breed. We call those endangered species and many of us find it worthwhile to try and preserve them. I have put in many voluntary hours and donated many dollars at the Everglades Institute helping document various endangered species here in Florida.

Things to be preserved for the next generation are those that can not be replaced. Things that are no longer made. Things that have historical or nostalgic value (your signed Cubbie ball falls into this category). Obviously it is also important that it is possible to preserve the item in question.

The fact that you are afraid of letting your son play catch with your 1953 team signed Cubs ball for fear of decreasing it's worth, while allowing him to use a current production baseball to play with, shows that you agree with me. Are you truthfully telling me that you would not take that same thinking and apply it to a unfired 1953, 357 Magnum Model of 1950 and a current production model 27.

I do not purchase any of these items with the express intent of profiting from them. That would mean that I have the intention of selling them, which I do not. I purchase them to enjoy and to share them with others who are of like mind. These are not investments. Why you even comment on that I have no idea.

There are 193 cars in the collection, over 300 bikes and 2 live steam engines. It is not necessary to drive each and every one to enjoy them. If you read the post (obviously you did not) I specifically mentioned that there are three of the 1991 LE BRG Miata. One to preserve and two to drive.

Same goes with my firearms. If I have 5 model 27s with 3 1/2" barrels, it does not drive me crazy if I do not shoot each and everyone of them.

Go back and read this entire thread. You might get a better idea of things.

 

[Ace-3]

Picked up a M-17 with a factory 5 inch barrel Ser # to the mid 70's unfired. It has been well used and cared for and a joy to shoot.

 

[www]

Guns are for shooting. Paintings are for looking at.

 

[phils]

Col Defender, I have owned two.....

A 125th anniversary .45 with case and book. Every so often I would look at it and wipe it down. I soon sold it.
I have a very good chance to buy an unfired M29 6 1/2" bbl from 1977.
If I do, I'll be in a mess deciding to fire or not.