Firing a Commemorative

[Cpo1944]

I asked this question on the 1980 to present revolver section, but I think I need wider audience. How much do you think is lost to depreciation when one shoots an un-fired rare gun?

The gun for example is a Georgia State Patrol Model 26-1 . Only 800 were made so its pretty rare, and getting expensive.
One recently sold on GB for $1300, so taking that as a current value, how much would the owner loose by shooting it?

Is there a way for us regular guys to figure out a percentage loss to a collectible,or any un-fired gun?

I know and have heard all of the arguments for and against to shoot or not, but a real dollar value would be so helpful in deciding whether or not to pull that trigger.

I an just an old artificial leg maker , so my math skills aren`t up to the job. How much will that first bullet cost???
Thanks in advance, Jack

 

[arjay]

If you only shoot a few cylinders and clean it very carefully,no one will ever know.

 

[labworm]

It may come down to whoever is buying it.

Another collector or a shooter.

 

[Big Stick]

Its purely a function of a firearms actual utility, vs its value as a safe queen. Its true value will never be more than what the market wants to pay....regardless of the condition, edition, or commemoration...... Being unfired gives it no tangible value, outside of the collectors market, and the collectors market value will be set on the highest price paid by the winning bidder..... but that will always vary by the bidders participating in any given auction... reserves, premiums.....

IMHO, unfired guns are no different than buying a brand new hammer, looking at it for years, and then hoping someone will pay you more than what you paid for it, because it never pounded a single nail......regardless of the type, edition or commemoration.....

 

[Brian41]

I was thinking a 25% loss when I owned a S&W Model 25 and 27 commemoritives. I decided not to fire them myself and sold them and got my money out of them and no more. Maybe had I waited longer I'd have done better money wise.
I have model 27 and 25 guns in nice condition that are my shooters now. I decided I wasn't really a collector anyhow and either sold or fired my unfired guns.
I have a nice model 57 I have fired a few times and carefully cleaned up. It would pass for an unfired gun I'm sure although I wouldn't try to pass it off that way.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

The market for commemorative firearms is a bit quirky. Your Georgia State Patrol commemorative might have considerable interest to active and retired GSP personnel, and perhaps to Georgia folks in general, where the sunny side of fair market value could be found. There are a few collectors specializing in commemoratives in general, and some into law enforcement collectibles. Other than those specific groups your commemorative might have less value to many potential buyers just because it is viewed as less useful than a standard production piece.

Colt made quite a few commemorative Single Action Army revolvers over the past few decades, commemorating the NRA, John Wayne, Samuel Colt, states, territories, and others. When those come on the market they almost always bring lower prices than the standard production SAA's, and there is always a good market for SAA's.

Commemorative firearms are produced to appeal to a small market share, and sold at prices higher than usual at the time of production to those whose intent is to preserve these items rather than use them. I don't think there really is any generalized rule or standard; these pieces will be worth what the buyer is willing to pay, and the seller must acknowledge that potential buyers are a small segment of the marketplace.

 

[M E Morrison]

If you only shoot a few cylinders and clean it very carefully,no one will ever know.

It would be dishonest to advertize it as NIB.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The 1 of 3000 John Wayne SAA was $3000 when they sold new in the early 80's, 20 years later they were still booking for $3000, making them the cheapest SAA on the market, I saw people shooting them at SASS shoots, if the poor laser etching and bad gold work wore off, they would be worth more. The price finally went up, but so did any SAA. Look at the Value of a 90% gun of the same model, your gun will most likely be worth that much anytime, if it isn't too ugly due to the commemoration work. Ivan

 

[Gamecock]

Generally, guns made to be collected aren't worth collecting.

 

[arjay]

It would be dishonest to advertize it as NIB.

Thats where anib comes in [emoji4]

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

The market for commemorative firearms is a bit quirky. Your Georgia State Patrol commemorative might have considerable interest to active and retired GSP personnel, and perhaps to Georgia folks in general, where the sunny side of fair market value could be found. There are a few collectors specializing in commemoratives in general, and some into law enforcement collectibles. Other than those specific groups your commemorative might have less value to many potential buyers just because it is viewed as less useful than a standard production piece.

Colt made quite a few commemorative Single Action Army revolvers over the past few decades, commemorating the NRA, John Wayne, Samuel Colt, states, territories, and others. When those come on the market they almost always bring lower prices than the standard production SAA's, and there is always a good market for SAA's.

Commemorative firearms are produced to appeal to a small market share, and sold at prices higher than usual at the time of production to those whose intent is to preserve these items rather than use them. I don't think there really is any generalized rule or standard; these pieces will be worth what the buyer is willing to pay, and the seller must acknowledge that potential buyers are a small segment of the marketplace.

Some of the best shooters I own were bought as NIB Colt Commemoratives. You are EXACTLY right about the Colt SAAs.

 

[M E Morrison]

Thats where anib comes in [emoji4]

OK, fair enough to advertize it that way...

 

[Cpo1944]

I second that about the Colt Commemoratives . I lucked into two NRA`s and paid less for them than a pair of regular stock SAA`s, and I got nice stocks, fancy wooden display cases =more stuff for less money, whats not to like about that? Also the NRA`s are some of the best looking of the commmeratives - least gussied up/uglified
I have shot the 5.5 inch, but the 7.5 is still a virgin, I can't decide about it, since I may sell it.
When I shot the 5.5 inch I mentally thought I tossed $200 down the drain, but I really want someone smarter than me to tell me how much we really loose. Thats the reason for this thread and I`m still waiting for that answer.

 

[JSR III]

As a collector, the gun would have no value to me as a collectible had it been fired more than the factory test firing.

I love hearing the shooters talk about collectible guns as if it is stupid of those folks that decide that it is what they choose to do with it.

It is like telling a stamp collector that he should take his collection and go mail some letters.

If you don't collect and choose to shoot your guns, god bless you, but please stop telling me that I am some sort of freak because I appreciate the gun for what it is and choose to keep it in original unfired condition.

If I remember, it was my money that bought my safe queen and I don't call you a moron for shooting your guns.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Generally, guns made to be collected aren't worth collecting.

SO TRUE!.....Back in the 70's & early 80's Colt & Winchester were making guns commemorating everything but dogs peeing on fire hydrants. Most were(are) gaudy and sell for considerably less than an original model. You're mileage may vary.........My $0.02.

 

[arjay]

SO TRUE!.....Back in the 70's & early 80's Colt & Winchester were making guns commemorating everything but dogs peeing on fire hydrants. .....My $0.02.

Thats a commemorative that I would buy [emoji1]

 

[Bajadoc]

With few exceptions, a NIB commemorative is worth less than a NIB regular gun. To me anyway. Shoot it.

 

[model70hunter]

I dunno. I march to my drummer and I tell him what to play.

Guys used to freak when id show up to hunt or do sporting clays with my old a grade parker or westly richards. Or deer hunt with a super grade pre war model 70. Value had nothing to do with the enjoyment I got from using them.

 

[Rastoff]

Why would you buy anything and then not use it? Would you buy a couch and not sit on it? Would you buy a car and not drive it? Would you buy a pair of pants and not wear them?

There are those who buy all those things and let them sit, unused. I'm not one of those. I'll fire any gun I own. Then again, I probably won't buy a commemorative gun anyway.

So, as long as it's a working firearm, being fired would not reduce the value to me. Along with that, being unfired won't increase the value any for me either.

 

[Cdog]

Any fired commemorative is just another firearm.

As for my own personal preference, other than what the firearm is to begin with commemorative stuff has no other appeal to me.