New In Box.. Unfired!! We have all heard discription..BUT!

[Göring's S&W]

I too see no need to shoot it. While its true that it was made to be shot, after you shoot it, it will become just another very clean gun thats been fired. But as is, its UNFIRED or at least looks to be. Its cooler to have unfired. How many people have an UNFIRED 28-2 thats also mint and in the box? Plus, you could fire it anytime. I'd leave it the way it is for now. You could get a crazy offer for it in the future, accept it, and buy 3 shooters with the $$$. Shooters will never understand the collector standpoint. I buy some guns just to shoot, some guns I might shoot once in a while, and some that I know I will never shoot for various reasons and you know what? I have enough shooters where I don't feel I'm missing out at all. Its largely personal, there is no right answer I suppose.

 

[rags]

Wow! That's a nice specimen Sal!. I ran across a very similar deal on a 28-2 6" (1974 ver.). Hell, The box was crisp!! My decision was to clean it up and put it back in the safe. It has remained that way since.....Until, who knows!!

Good luck making your choice...If you don't want to clean the grease off right now, It would look like this if you did!

rags

 

[Ga Johnny]

I see a drag line on the cylinder, 12 or 18 more rounds won't hurt anything

 

[bgrafsr]

Put it back in the box and back in the safe. Buy another one to shoot. That is beautiful, as is Rags24's.

 

[Harrison]

I would clean, then shoot and enjoy it, but thats just me. I don't own guns that I cannot shoot, or will not shoot. Guns were made for shooting and seem happier when they get to go to the range, or field.

 

[deadin]

But I believe guns were built to be shot.

and cars were made to be driven. But if I had a "0" mile '50's Corvette, I don't think I would be putting anything on the odometer...

 

[SaberOne]

If I could find one like that in a 4-inch (NIB) I would spend quite a bit for it. It was my primary carry as a LEO in 1974 and I'm very nostalgic.

 

[drhenzler]

I have been told the factory tests every other chamber when test firing. Thus an "unfired" gun will have a slight residue only on alternating chamber fronts, and no more. For what it's worth, I have noted this on two of my recent purchases

 

[indiuckian]

If it were me I would paint some red nail polish on the front sight, put some pachmyers on it, and engrave your social security number on the sideplate just in case it gets stolen. Then put it back in the safe and that way it is ready to shoot when you are.

Seriously, I would put it up. The 28 was a working mans gun and as such will be much more scarce in the future LNIB than a LNIB Python or a model 27. Just my 2 cents.

 

[yankee7809]

I think I would leave it unshot, but in someone else's ownership. A collector of things model 28ish would no doubt trade you a model 28 that is perfect but previously shot for it. Maybe with a little to boot, who knows? That way you can shoot and care for a really nice gun without feeling like you ruined a piece of history. I want to shoot everything that I own yet I see the fruit of preserving history also. That way you could do both. And both is best.

 

[Richard Simmons]

There are only so many "unfired" examples left. If you own or have owned and fired other 6", N frame S&W revolvers what are you accomplishing by shooting this one other than degrading it's collectible status which is hardly an accomplishment?

 

[DGNY]

Unfired!!..BUT!

For a lot of years I believed in shooting everything I bought. And many fine people believe that.

After many years of consideration, I now think a pristine gun with original packaging should not be shot, assuming it is not needed for a shooting role. Therefore, I'd clean/oil it lightly, wipe it down and put away, after taking some pix, except to take out occasionally to show friends.

This putting away is another stage in accumulating/collecting and a worthy one. One which will allow others in the future to see and study the fit, finish, details and precision of the older manufacturing processes, otherwise to be blurred by use.

YMMV.

Best,

Dyson

 

[okie john]

I'd sell it to someone willing to pay through the nose for such a clean Model 28, then use that money to buy 2-3 beaters and shoot them.


Okie John

 

[29aholic]

Ditto

I'd sell it to someone willing to pay through the nose for such a clean Model 28, then use that money to buy 2-3 beaters and shoot them.


Okie John

I am with John, at what people are willing to pay for these I'd sell it and buy a couple that are near new and shoot them. Maybe you could get a 4" and a 6"

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

I would clean it up, wipe down with breakfree, then put it in the safe next to my 3 unfired 27 5 inch barreled guns and the unfired 6 inch nickel 27!!

 

[tocohillsguy]

If you do decide to shoot it you may want to put a copy of this ad in the box for the next guy (with apologies to our female forum members)...

 

[gbw]

NIB holds no premium for me over mint in the box. I'm not a serious collector and these guns are not good as investments.

If I were a wealthy genuine collector, or a museum, with a large or growing themed collection of NIB guns, and I bought this with the intention of adding it to my NIB collection, then I wouldn't shoot it.

Otherwise I'd shoot it. I'd keep it in the best condition possible, but I'd shoot it. That enjoyment is worth far more to me than simply knowing I possessed it NIB for some part of my life.

 

[semperfi71]

I wouldn't shoot it.

I'd send it off and have it re-built into a .44 Special.

And maybe re-nickeled too. By a pawnshop.

 

[Ky Bob]

It only stays NIB once.

Yep. And thats the way I would keep it.

 

[Ky Bob]

I'd sell it to someone willing to pay through the nose for such a clean Model 28, then use that money to buy 2-3 beaters and shoot them.

That sounds like a good plan also..........