Shooting commemoratives

[Hair Trigger]

Most commemoratives are marketing gimmicks for generating sales. There are certainly collectors who appreciate them, but the added value is generally negligible.

I agree that the ones you see advertised in magazines, like The Bradford Mint and others put out (including most the NRA does), are worth no more than what you can get unadorned from your LGS, especially when their numbers are in the 5- and 6- digit numbers made. But, as sigp mentions below, there are commemoratives made in small numbers with limited distribution. I feel that limiting a particular commemorative to a select group eligible to buy one should make it worth more, once it passes from that original owner.

I've got both FBI Commemoratives - the 27-3 and the Glock 22 - only sold to Agents and with FBI in the serial number. I shoot them both.

While I wouldn't give any more for a plastic commemorative than I would for a standard released version, one like the M27-3 ought to have a fair amount of collectibility, depending on how many were made and if the commemorative is specific to an anniversary and not just a generic salute. I also think the age of the commemorative should play into its value; one released, say 50 years ago in very limited numbers would be worth much more than a recent release.

Maybe I'm trying in my mind to inflate the value of my only commemorative, which is similar to the ones sigp has, at least his M27-3. Mine is a nickel plated 6" M29-2, number 0835 of 1080, made for the 50th anniversary of the NC Highway Patrol, and released in 1979 (which is the manufacture year of the revolver as well). The Model 29 was chosen because the NCHP was established in 1929. It was unfired (as best I can tell) when I bought it, and has remained so in the 3-1/2 years I've had it. I don't plan to sell it. It was a limited availability sale, only present or retired NCHP Troopers at the time of the release were eligible to buy one. It also has a few "firsts" or "only" features; it was the first time the M29 was used as a commemorative, and the only commemorative to have the designs acid etched instead of roll stamped on the side plate and barrel. I have no real desire to shoot it, I've shot .44M many times in the past, and own two .41M's I frequently take to the range.

Even if it were not a commemorative, what would an unfired, nickel plated, 6" M29-2 be worth on the open market today, with the original presentation case and paperwork? I believe it would be more than I paid for it 3-1/2 years ago.

 

[biku324]

An unfired commemorative is an opportunity to own and use new, old stock of your favorite pistol/revolver/rifle of yore, IMO.

 

[03hemi]

Anything "limited" or "commemorative" is usually made in the bazillions fwiw.

 

[mauser9]

That's right 03Hemi. Found that out with the Nascar Diecast my son and I blew money on. Be lucky to get half what we paid for em and that is doubtful. Again those Commemorative Winnys should have made on the 1873 model platform. Too bad Winchester quit making that model around 1919!

 

[Countrycuz]

Almost bought a Win 94 commerative a few years ago, it wasn't a bad price for a "shooter" in 38-55. In the end decided I had enough big bores already and passed.

 

[Sevens]

For a while I had the Texas Rangers commemorative S&W Model 19-3 in the box with the big gangly knife. I got it for a song, not sure if it had been shot before or not but the gold inlay was extremely faded.

Shot it for a few years and sent it on down the road. The irrationally wide trigger was not at all my taste in a S&W revolver.

I'm never going to be a Model 19 guy. It's one of the most iconic of all S&W models ever and it absolutely has it's place in history but for my tastes and my shooting, perhaps nothing is as over rated as the Model 19. Jack of all trades and the worst choice for most of them.

 

[Wyo]

I have two Colt Single Action commemoratives. One is a Pony Express .45, nickel plated, and the other is a Peacemaker Centennial 44-40, also nickel. The 44-40 is one of the more sought after Colt commemoratives being the only 2nd generation 44-40 that they made and a true copy of the original with black powder frame, bullseye ejector, etc. Both guns are second generation. I don't shoot either of them much as I have others, but I have shot both of them and will do so again. If I can't shoot 'em I don't want 'em.

 

[Echo40]

Granted that it's a "Tupperware Gun" (at least according to those who don't know the origin of the whole "Tupperware" thing) but I actually EDC a Ruger LCP 10th Anniversary Edition.

It's not super fancy or anything, (in fact they make an otherwise identical model sans engraving) nor was it very expensive, and it's doubtful that it will ever be worth any substantial amount of money, but that's all besides the point...

I own other firearms which are rare, expensive, and are likely to appreciate in value, yet I shoot them all whenever I get the opportunity. Otherwise, I take them out of the safe whenever the mood takes me, just to admire them.

Guns are meant to be fired, not used as fancy show pieces and certainly not to be purchased as financial investments then locked away inside of a safe, never to see the light of day.
If you want a fancy show piece, the buy a replica. If you want a financial investment, then play the stock market or get into precious metals.

Firearms Enthusiasts SHOOT their guns. Miserly Collectors use them as show pieces or lock them away as financial investments.

Having a gorgeous firearm that you never take to the range is like having a gorgeous women that you never take to the wedding chapel. No proper man does it.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Having a gorgeous firearm that you never take to the range is like having a gorgeous women that you never take to the wedding chapel. No proper man does it.

So, eloping is not an option?

 

[Echo40]

So, eloping is not an option?

I repeat: No. Proper. Man. Does. It.

 

[GypsmJim]

If you are going to keep it and have no intention for selling for a profit, shooting a commemorative is fine. But, if you ever have thought of selling, only new in the box will bring a good price.

Good price? What is that?

If my commemorative would bring me $100,000 and allow me to buy a new car...OK.

If I could triple my money and get a $3000 profit, what's the sense?

I say shoot the **** out of it and enjoy it. Putting it in service and enjoying the holes in the target trumps any profit.

JMHO.

 

[Faulkner]

Anything "limited" or "commemorative" is usually made in the bazillions fwiw.

Not necessarily. I downloaded a copy of the list of commemorative rifles made by Winchester and although they did release a good number of different commemoratives, they didn't necessarily produce a lot of each model.

The "Buffalo Bill" commemorative was produced with the highest number at 112,823, but they only produced 17 of the "U.S. Constitution" model. Going down the list it looks like most were only produced in the few hundreds and only a few over 10,000.

 

[Puller]

Granted that it's a "Tupperware Gun" (at least according to those who don't know the origin of the whole "Tupperware" thing) . . . . {snip}

Most don't know.

 

[S-W4EVER]

I don't shoot my Commemoratives (to include my Legendary Lawmen) mostly because I have similar non-Commemoratives to shoot. I didn't buy any of them as investments though, I just like looking at them.

 

[Golddollar]

No, I do not plan to shoot my Punxsutawney Phil Commemorative Smith & Wesson Model 629 revolver or my Winchester 94 Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Centennial Commemorative rifle.

 

[biku324]

I forgot - I sent a Zane Grey Marlin 336 off to JESS for a rebore/rechamber to 405 JESS (essentially a 41/444). It is now a big bore levergun with a Zane Grey medallion and the reason I sent it off, an octagon barrel.

Bad me.

 

[quikdraw67]

I had a 25-5 and a 27-3 commemorative revolvers, and I sold both, since I had no desire to shoot either.

No remorse selling either. Some regret buying them, especially the 27-3.

 

[Echo40]

Most don't know.

Yep, based on common usage, most seem to think it's a reference to polymer frames in general.

It's weird too, because it's not like it's extremely dated or obscure information, so it's especially embarrassing that the majority of folks who use the term "Tupperware Guns" or "Tactical Tupperware" seem to be older fellows who ought to know better, but then again, I'm expecting something more than ignorance from those who routinely make generally ignorant statements.

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[Sevens]

Off the meds, not the first time.