Guns you will never shoot, what % of your collection?

I couldn't possibley shoot all the guns I own. There wouldn't be time for anything else... Then there are the antiques, obsolete, projects, the ones leaning in the corner, the super-rare, etc.
The gun room of one shotgun collector friend. This guy has shot most of them...That is about 1/3 in the pic, all vintage doubles and some single barrel trap guns. Another friend has that many (or more) Griffin & Howe sporters.


Like I said...it's all relative.
 
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No reason for me to have a gun I wouldn't shoot. Don't think I could refrain myself anyways!
 
Really

SDH said:
Whenever I hear, "I shoot every gun I own".
My response is, "You must not own very many guns".
Click to expand...

Not all of us are equal in terms of financial weight/guns, and some of us have raised a gaggle of kids and others have not. Some of us are into Lionel Trains and grandkids. All I'm saying is I have owned quite a few guns during my 64 years here and if I had held on to all of them I would have a large collection as well. The principal is the same, if you got it, shoot it and if you have to many to do that, then this old Army dude would say, you have too many.

Reb
 
90%. That's how many correct answers I could get guessing the age +/-10 yrs on all the responders.


Charlie
 
0%......I even carry guns most people would only take to the range. My philosophy is that The more I spend on a gun the more use I expect to get from it...I do have a few lesser expensive guns but nothing that doesn't get shot at leaset every two months or so. 2 Shotguns, 8 rifles and 8 handguns....
 
I had no idea this would be such a hot topic. I find it very interesting the responses.

Let me address a few points. I don't own a single gun today that is not capable of firing. They all could be shot but will not be.

I view my "guns I would never shoot" as collector pieces that I am just a steward for this generation. It is my job to get them another say 50 years down the line to the next collector so he can make his decision if he will steward them another 50 years or shoot it.

In general when I buy a gun I already know if I will shoot it or park it.

I started buying guns I would never shoot early. My first was my 44 Automag I bought NIB. It was/is an unfired Pasadena "A" series and I was only 23 when I bought it. There have been many 38/44 Heavy Duty's and 38/44 Outdoorsman's that were bought knowing full well that they would never be shot and just archived for the next generation.

I think Charlie (2 posts above) has it accurately picked. If you are like me, within 10 years or less of retirement, I expect many are buying as investments or to be stewards like me.
 
Peter M. Eick said:
I had no idea this would be such a hot topic. I find it very interesting the responses.

Let me address a few points. I don't own a single gun today that is not capable of firing. They all could be shot but will not be.

I view my "guns I would never shoot" as collector pieces that I am just a steward for this generation. It is my job to get them another say 50 years down the line to the next collector so he can make his decision if he will steward them another 50 years or shoot it.

In general when I buy a gun I already know if I will shoot it or park it.

I started buying guns I would never shoot early. My first was my 44 Automag I bought NIB. It was/is an unfired Pasadena "A" series and I was only 23 when I bought it. There have been many 38/44 Heavy Duty's and 38/44 Outdoorsman's that were bought knowing full well that they would never be shot and just archived for the next generation.

I think Charlie (2 posts above) has it accurately picked. If you are like me, within 10 years or less of retirement, I expect many are buying as investments or to be stewards like me.
Click to expand...
I really like that guys like you are doing that. The beauty and mechanicl wizardry of many guns really needs preserved. But as for me..and I am only 7 years from retirement I only buy what I will shoot. Just a practical sort i guess...Not to say what you do is Not practical...Just that I am.
 
I have recently sold quite a few in my collection to appease my wife for a whim purchase (I admit it was a crazy buy) and now find that most of the remaining pistols fall into the never fired category. I bought them because I liked them and felt they would be a good investment. Now I wonder why I have so many that I have never fired.
 
Dutchs,

I also have picked up a few collectibles but shooters. Right now I am splitting my gun funds about 80% for "not to be shot" and 20% for shooters. I am actually waiting for another Ruger Redhawk 357 Magnum to come by as it would be a shooter. I am buying guns (non-shooters) that are investments for when I am dead. By then they will have appreciated and others will get the fun of collecting them like I did and I can use it as a means to take care of my family after I have passed.

I enjoy the handling, the study and the careful protection of my non-shooters. It is the pride of ownership and the feeling that I protected them for another generation which keeps me buying more and more of the same thing (38/44's).
 
Peter,
Please do leave explicit instructions for understanding you collection for the following generation. I keep a complete inventory with description, purchase date and price, and some indication if I think value has, or should appreciate.

I don't buy any gun solely because I think it will gain in value, but on there other hand, I think every gun I buy has room too appreciate in value. Likewise, I plan on the possibility of shooting most all guns I buy, but don't always get around to it.
Guns, and associated endeavors have provided my sole means of financial support for several decades.

Thanks for starting this thread, it Has been interesting…
Best,
Steve
 
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I accumulate rather than hardcore collect and have some I haven't shot but that is mostly not having time to take them shooting. I am trying to remedy that situation !
 
I will shoot everything I have. From 18th century flintlocks to modern handguns. That being said, there are several I have that I can't get ammo for, but I'm working on it.
 
robertrwalsh said:
1%. I have one safe queen, everything else I shoot. Even some of the seriously odd stuff (i.e. 8mm Lebel revolver).
Click to expand...

About the same here. One safe queen and numerous others that only get shot rarely due to rarity, etc. Then, there's a group that get taken out whenever possible. I've found that I can just about tolerate one safe queen.
 
I'm no heavy hitter in the gun collecting world. I have maybe 60 or so and out of those there are maybe five that I will never shoot. But, I seldom shoot nearly all of them in favor of a few favorites that go out with me all the time.

I shoot just a few Smiths on a semi regular basis, there is my 6" Model 66-2 and my 4" model 29 four screw and now the ugliest M15 I have ever seen is my new desert gun. For rifle fun I have a Russian SKS, a couple AK's and my M1A. The rest of the kids just hang out in my safe.

I don't feel that I HAVE to shoot a gun just because I own it.
 
None. Zero percent. I purchase guns to shoot. I do have some favorites that I shoot very little, the best being a previous one owner Model 18-0 in near mint. I passed up purchasing a very old Colt 22 single action because it was a semi-rare gun and I knew I would never want to shoot it. I know some folks purchase as investments, but I guess I want my pleasure while I'm still able. Besides, being retired the gun budget has shrunk more than somewhat, and I don't have that many to begin with. Well....there is no such thing as having enough guns although my bride of thirty years says one was enough. And that one is her's!!
 
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SDH,

I have very explicit instructions written up on each gun. I am writing an article with a coauthor for the S&W Journal on exactly this topic. How you deal with your collection when you pass especially with all of the addon things like the histories that we have developed on the guns.
 
Looks like 15% for me. Most of my old S&W iron is used, even those in matching/correct boxes. I have shooter grades to mess with so the pretty ones stay clean. "One for show and one to go." The early 1903's, Garands, 1911's, and others are well used but have long since earned a comfortable retirement from active duty.
 
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