Shoot it or Store it

[Bushytail]

I have a .32 S&W Long I frame in 98% condition. Truly, it is almost in perfect condition. It is blued, flat bottom wooden grip, 3.25 barrel, no damage to the wood or the bluing.

The serial number is 425,xxx. From what I can gather from the forums it is a pre-war dating roughly around 1940? It is a beautiful little gun.

So here is the question. Should I just go ahead and use this gun as an active part of my shooting collection. Carry it in the woods an enjoy it, or is a pistol like this, in this good shape, something that should be treasured, stored away and saved for its collectors value?

I am sure if I use it even a little, after a while it will show the wear, get a nick, wear the blue.

Thanks for your opinion.

 

[ARMinSC]

I say shoot and enjoy. That what they're for. Georgia Arms makes some great .32s&w long hollow point ammo. How about a pic? I love the S&W .32's

 

[cgt4570]

Unless you plan on selling it, enjoy it for what it was made for.

 

[MSgt G]

Shoot it! The little .32's are nothing less than fun!

 

[Bushytail]

Here is a pic.

Here is a pic. What is she worth roughly?

Do suggest some loads for woods work, porcupines, and plinking.

Thx.

 

[Floyd58523]

shoot it

It looks reblued to me, buffed out.
I would shoot it and enjoy it.

 

[H Richard]

From the one picture shown it has no indication of a reblue. That's one fine little .32 HE. One in that nice a condition I may be tempted to put back and find another to shoot. There is something to be said for preserving a piece of history.

 

[Bushytail]

What is a piece like this worth and am I correct this is 1940 +/-? I dont think it was re-blued.

 

[Muley Gil]

You have a .32 Regulation Police (Pre-War). It is serial numbered in the .32 Hand Ejector series. This range was 260000-536000, from 1917 to 1942.

I'd guessamate the shipping date to be in the late 1930s. IMHO, value of an original finish revolver would be in the $400-475 range.

 

[TACC1]

Hey Bushytail,
I'm no collector, and I shoot everything I've got. That said, if
I ever scored a pistol that nice, I would surely be tempted to put
it in storage. It'll always be there if you change your mind, and
it'll give you a nice warm feeling just knowing it's there. Leave a box
of shells with it so it won't be lonely. Nice snag. TACC1

 

[ken158]

And why would you put it in storage? What would you save it for or from? It wont pay off the house or put the kid through college... Shoot it, your heirs will!

 

[Bushytail]

Well, after all the feedback, I think I will store it for now, use the SP101 and let the old girl rest with my grandpas pre-war 3030. At least for now.

 

[fyimo]

This is always the question that comes up when someone buys a really nice revolver from the pre war period and even does with some post war revolvers. There are very few of these revolvers left in the condition of yours if the finish is original and I personally think that shooting it just degrades a worth while piece of history where there are very few in that condition left.

The decision is shoot or hold back and not shoot it is always up to the purchaser and they can't make an incorrect decison because it was bought with their money and is theirs to do with what they please. I also think it's worth a lot more then $450 to $500 to the right collector.

 

[bigmoose]

Shoot it, for crying out loud

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/195361-look-what-400-rounds-will-do.html

These pics aren't great, but the gun still looks new. Guns are fun to look at and hold, but much more fun to shoot.

 

[ar15ed]

they are cool litttle guns, and a lot of fun to shoot. that being said, they are getting pretty old. my thought is, if you find a sweet one with its original finish, i'd be fairly gentle with it. really nice original ones will bring close to 500.00. shooter grade ones are very much more affordable. i have literally seen 30-40%, perfectly functional guns at gunshows for 150.00 or 175.00, that didn't sell. i found a really nice one (with a little longer barrel!), and gave 400.00 for it. if i really wanted a shooter, i'd just find a cheaper one, and leave the nice one for posterity.

 

[hsguy]

This is always the question that comes up when someone buys a really nice revolver from the pre war period and even does with some post war revolvers. There are very few of these revolvers left in the condition of yours if the finish is original and I personally think that shooting it just degrades a worth while piece of history where there are very few in that condition left.

The decision is shoot or hold back and not shoot it is always up to the purchaser and they can't make an incorrect decison because it was bought with their money and is theirs to do with what they please. I also think it's worth a lot more then $450 to $500 to the right collector.

I agree with fyimo on this one. For example shooter grade 1905's are very common but NIB ones are few and far between. I own a LNIB 1905 that shipped in 1918 as I recall. I could shoot it and allow it to join the ranks of the many other common shooter grade guns but find it is much more interesting to me as a non-fired, like new gun with box papers etc.. I bet it wouldn't shoot a bit different than my other 1905's so I don't see any benefit to me to be gained by firing it other than perhaps taking a tax deduction for a depreciated asset.

 

[Hondo44]

Well, after all the feedback, I think I will store it for now, use the SP101 and let the old girl rest with my grandpas pre-war 3030. At least for now.

Personally and IMHO that is far two nice a gun to shoot and wouldn't be enjoyable to me at all. Owning it like it is and showing it off occasionally would be vastly MORE enjoyable!

I think you made the right decision. There's so many other guns to shoot that are enjoyable to shoot and worth nothing like yours even if in new condition. If you want to shoot a 32 like that, there's 10's of thousnads out there cheap.

 

[handejector]

The serial number is 425,xxx. From what I can gather from the forums it is a pre-war dating roughly around 1940? It is a beautiful little gun.

It has all the characteristics of a 1920's gun.

 

[JSR III]

Ahh, the shoot it or store it dilema. As a collector first and a shooter second, I would have to agree with those that say put it away or sell it to someone that will and take the money and buy a shooter if that's what you desire. In that way you make 2 gun owners happy and save a little piece of history.

As many have stated, it your gun so it's your decision.

Many guys that think of guns only as tools will say "shoot it, that's what they were made for." Of course the same can be said for uncirculated coins or uncancelled stamps. Sure you can put them in the coke machine or mail a letter as God had intended them to be used, or you can pass them along to someone that appreciates the item for its "NEW" condition and use another coin for your soda or stamp for your letter. You might even find someone with one to trade that is looking to upgrade the condition. You get your shooter and maybe some cash and the collector gets a minty safe queen.

 

[Hondo44]

It has all the characteristics of a 1920's gun.

Agreed. Large 'mushroom head' ejector rod and medallionless stocks are most often associated with pre c. 1930 production.