I never buy a gun that I don’t shoot.

[tmd17]

Classic gun forum threads:

Shoot it -vs- don't shoot it
refinish it -vs- leave it alone
S&W -vs- Colt
Wheel gun -vs- Autoloader
45 -vs- 9
Steel -vs- plastic
It's not plastic! It's Polymer
Gun guys love to play these games. Like we never got past the bar room brawls of our youth.

 

[dave1918a2]

I have had several that I bought for investment purposes and sold them as I needed extra cash. Just wish I had the hindsight, or foresight to see 40 years into the future. At the time Browning Diana grade were $ 2300 -$ 2500. Had 2. Traded one for a Lynton McKenzie engraved 29 in 78 I think. Sold that one to Roger Joseph for $5K the next year. Shudder to think what it's worth today. Now I have only shooters left as age catches up and no Heirs.

 

[pawncop]

I would say I rarely buy a firearm I wouldn't shoot. I have my commemorative Springfield celebrating the 150 year anniversary of my agency that has not been shot.

What I do realize is I have a number of firearms that I have not shot in a good while.

As I am not a collector but rather an accumulator so while I appreciate firearms that would be considered collectible I will leave those for my true collector friends.

 

[GF]

Some people are collectors of fine art of days gone by.
I have unfired guns that will stay that way.
I also have silver dollars that won't get spent and Randall knives that won't get sharpened!

Sometimes owning something old that is new is satisfying in itself.

 

[pmanton]

Now I have this Trophy Wife and-------------

 

[rwsmith]

No safe queens.....

....in this house.

 

[Mark8]

The owner decides what kind of gun it is. If it's a collector's item that needs to remain in the best possible condition, both for your enjoyment and for retaining or increasing its value, you don't shoot it at all, or rarely on special occasions. If it's a gun meant to go to the range and give you joy shooting it, you shoot it, very well knowing that doing so will likely lessen its condition and lower its value. Simple as that.

 

[Miracle Man]

Love to hear this from people. Or , how does it shoot? I shoot every gun I have , that's what they are made for. Well my response to that is I've bought many guns that I never have and never will, shoot. And as far as what it was made for , good thing you're not a stamp collector. It would be a shame to take that 1847 Benjamin Franklin stamp and use it for 5 cents worth of postage.

I understand what you're saying. But in the same breath I understand what they're saying as well.

The bulk of my firearms purchases, the vast majority, has been and always will be as shooters. I'm a hunter first and foremost. Reloader 2nd, and firearms collector 3rd.

I have a couple guns right now that would get the "safe queen" label, kinda. But I'll still shoot them.

Should I run or luck into a vintage S&W or Colt in excellent shape, it would be a struggle for sure. But I might not shoot it. OK maybe once, LOL

 

[glenwolde]

I understand what you're saying. But in the same breath I understand what they're saying as well.

The bulk of my firearms purchases, the vast majority, has been and always will be as shooters. I'm a hunter first and foremost. Reloader 2nd, and firearms collector 3rd.

I have a couple guns right now that would get the "safe queen" label, kinda. But I'll still shoot them.

Should I run or luck into a vintage S&W or Colt in excellent shape, it would be a struggle for sure. But I might not shoot it. OK maybe once, LOL

If it's been shot already, I'd shoot it. I ain't gonna hurt it none. If it hadn't been fired, I'd ask myself which is more rare? That unfired Triple-Lock, or a guy who has fired a previously unfired Triple-Lock? Great guns don't get harmed by firing, only their value does.

 

[xfarfuldog]

I have had several that I bought for investment purposes and sold them as I needed extra cash. Just wish I had the hindsight, or foresight to see 40 years into the future. At the time Browning Diana grade were $ 2300 -$ 2500. Had 2. Traded one for a Lynton McKenzie engraved 29 in 78 I think. Sold that one to Roger Joseph for $5K the next year. Shudder to think what it's worth today. Now I have only shooters left as age catches up and no Heirs.

Totally agree. I can bore you with stories of my Z/28s, GTOs, Turbo Regals, Trans Ams, Corvettes etc. Not to mention my P7M13, Triple P7M8 Jubilees, Wilson Combat, Springfield Professional, Pythons, and my Rolex Submariner.

All gone as well as the money. Still have many great guns. Most fired and many never to be fired. To each their own.

 

[CH4]

All mine get shot, some far more than others. The exception are guns that I buy to flip or sell before I get a chance. However, in the end I do what I want.

 

[RobertJ.]

If I bought a gun strictly as an investment, I would probably not shoot it.

But I'd recognize also that I would be keeping it pristine for someone who did want to shoot it.

The closest thing I have to a "safe queen" is a 1933 Colt DS, a true 1st issue. I tested it out with 158 gr. LSWCHP, and it shoots to the point of aim at 10 yards. I haven't shot it since, but I had to find out!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Actually, this is very funny to me. While I have several guns that I don't shoot but have at least once I also have several that I will never shoot. I didn't buy them to shoot, I bought them because they're special in various ways and I like them but it is unlikely they'll ever make it to the range.

Examples:

1.

Walther PPK S Interarms 1984 NIB

2.

Mauser HSc .32

This one was probably shot a long time ago but it's a safe queen now.

3.

Remington .41 rimfire derringer Illion NY

4.

HS 22 magnum derringer black grips

5.

NAA Mini Revolver .22 Short

1. As tempting as it is to shoot that gun it's just so pristine and gorgeous I have decided to keep it that way.

2. This was given to me and I see no reason to shoot it.

3. Again, this was given to me and I see no reason to shoot it. Besides, it's NIB; why mess that up? Besides, derringers are so, so hard to shoot, why bother?

4. It's NIB and I have another one to shoot if I'm of a mind to play with this type of derringer.

5. Seriously, is that a gun or is it jewelry?

 

[ladder13]

Classic gun forum threads:

Shoot it -vs- don't shoot it
refinish it -vs- leave it alone
S&W -vs- Colt
Wheel gun -vs- Autoloader
45 -vs- 9
Steel -vs- plastic
It's not plastic! It's Polymer
Gun guys love to play these games. Like we never got past the bar room brawls of our youth.

There would be no forum otherwise.

Oh, and without thread drift.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

"I will never own a gun I won't shoot" is the same as saying "I'll never be able to afford a collectible firearm."

This is just snarky elitism. I can afford a lot of things I choose not to buy. Some people enjoy collecting, others do not, both are fine choices. I just do not see a need to trash people who do not collect to make yourself feel better about collecting.

 

[BE Mike]

As stated earlier by another member, I can afford to own any firearm I choose. And I love the stories and history of collectible guns. The recent post about the RM being brought home to America was great. I just compare it to a split window big block Vette. I didn't buy it to look at. I bought it to drive. I have some guns I don't shoot often but I still shoot them.

Too bad that you can afford any gun you choose to own, but that New York won't let you!

 

[DGNY]

An enjoyable and informative thread. Like so many objects of inherent richness of purpose, a firearm is multicharactered, both a tool and an artifact. It can protect, teach, inspire admiration by its beauty, utility, historicity, provenance, and ingenuity and artistry in design, manufacture and materials. It can be owned or have been owned by a famous person at a notable time or place.

All these factors enter into whether at a particular time in its life, new or old, it serves the felicities of a given owner's/custodian's needs, emphases, preferences, which often evolve over time.

May we continue to live in a time and place when our several views can be embraced and enjoyed in freedom and peace.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

I buy guns to shoot. Therefore, I'm not into paying top dollar for a pristine firearm. Not to say that I won't pass up a good buy on anything that interests me. My favorite hunting rifle is a beat up old Swedish Mauser that most would cring at. But it shoots straight.

John

 

[IAM Rand]

I do shoot everything I own, including my Nazi Issue P-38, my wheel guns and my derringer.
Any firearm that hasn't been shot in a Year gets a new home.

've had lots of nice stuff in my life, including a 1962 MGB MkII that I restored, a 1953 HD FLH (Panhead) that I rebuilt from the ground up, a 1974 MGB-GT, Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4, a Goldwing, several RVs and a couple dive boats. When I stopped using them, they found a new home.

At 70, with no kids to will them to, Things that don't get used are simply cluttering my life.

Don't snark at people who don't have Safe Queens and I won't look down at people who do.

No kids you say, P38 you say. You can adopt me.

 

[TheTinMan]

This thread is funny. So are people. I just realized that I don't own a rifle I'd never shoot. There are a couple of old shotguns I won't shoot, but that's because of their age. Pistols? I used to shoot everything I bought. Never have shot the Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless or Mauser C-96 pistols I inherited though. As I collected more, and more expensive, revolvers, some are nearly unfired and I want to keep them that way.

I do have an urge to shoot the 1940 Colt Shooting Master 357 I picked up recently. Which probably is silly but…