Should I fire it?

[mtnmike]

Yesterday, I was treated to a retirement party at my office, and was gifted this beautiful S&W 586, INS Centennial Edition. The previous owner was my good friend who had retired from the same station a few years back, but was lost to cancer shortly afterward. We both started our careers (Border Patrol) under INS, before Homeland Security existed, although he began 15 years before me.

I am torn as to how I should treat this beautiful revolver. On one hand, it is collectible, and thus valuable. On the other hand, I don't normally keep a safe queens, and I'd like to shoot it in memory of my friend.

As fellow caretakers of all things S&W, what do you think I should do? Take it to the range? Or store it?

The first photo is of the 586, the second is an old one of my late friend with a marijuana load he had seized, a LONG time ago.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Shoot 'em.

I'll temper that with a question. Did your friend shoot it?

 

[nate-dogg]

I would take it to the range and shoot a cylinder or 2 of some light loads, clean it up, and keep it in safe and maybe just take it out once or twice a year in his memory. Call it a safe queen that occasionally gets fired.

 

[mtnmike]

I don't know if he fired it. There is a turn line, but if he did fire it, he cleaned it up well afterward.

I may do just that; shoot some wadcutters through it a few times a year, and bore my sons with legends of the Old Patrol (i.e. before I was in).

 

[ISCS Yoda]

A turn line indicates, at a minimum, dry firing, yes? I like the idea of shooting light loads in his memory, clean it, store it, take it back out again in his memory later on.

 

[stanmerrell]

Yeah, go ahead and shoot it once in a while. God gives us friends and guns. They'd both want you to shoot it.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Is there a display case?

 

[krsmith58]

i'm in the shoot it camp, but ultimately you have to decide what works for you. i have a few rifles that i gave my Dad that i got back after he passed. they weren't new or collectable but it really makes me feel good to shoot them. feels like big Daddy is right there with me. krs/smith

 

[mtnmike]

Is there a display case?

No, just the beat-up blue cardboard box.

 

[Grayfox]

I go along with shoot it every now and then to honor your friend. Keep it clean and take good care of it.

I have a Model 29 like that. It was left to me by a dear departed friend. I take it out and shoot it every couple of years and remember him.

 

[robvious]

I too suggest shooting it in his memory.. maybe the anniversary of your retirement and his birthday.

 

[mod29]

Shoot it all you want. Commemorative, special edition guns don't seem to sell nearly as well as normal production items. No need to treat it with kid gloves.
Besides, you'll probably get a lot more satisfaction out of owning a gun that you use.

 

[luvsmiths]

Shoot the snot out of it. Commemoratives are not worth it as collectibles, PLUS- You would never sell that gun. It has sentimental value. Don't let it sit in a safe unfired until you die, when someone who has no attachment to it sells it.

Shoot it hard, and often. I'll bet if your friend had to do it over again he would shoot the snot out of it!

Enjoy IT, and the memories that come along with it!

 

[jeffrefrig]

If you're asking us if you should shoot it, well, majority rules: shoot it!! Clean it, shoot it, clean it. That's a nice gun. Shoot it. Somebody is gonna shoot it some day. Might as well be you!. Your friend's gun. Shoot it in his memory if you need an excuse.

 

[Benchrest1]

I think you should shoot it. I shoot everything I have and some are very nice. However I take great care shooting the "good" ones.

 

[Krogen]

My two cents: Shoot it in his honor. Shoot it a lot. Even as a collectible, you'd realize the gain only if you sold it. I'm sure that's not going to happen. So shoot it and feel the warm grin on your face. Know your friend is looking upon you and grinning alongside you.

 

[pawncop]

I'm in the "shoot it" camp as well. That warrior was created to roar, so let him speak.

Condolences regarding the loss of your friend.

 

[ZGrand]

I say shoot it as well. Congrats on the retirement!

 

[murphydog]

Retirement, hooray!

Normally I am in the "don't shoot an unfired gun" camp...

But since you are not sure it has not been used, and you have a connection to the INS, I'd shoot it at least once. That might "scratch the itch", but if you really like range time with it, "used lovingly by a retired Border Patrol agent" sounds like a good history to me.

 

[Pointblank2U]

"A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for."

— John A. Shedd

 

[S&W-Keeper]

If you don't shoot it,your kids will let it rust when you are gone.

 

[kev74]

If you don't intend to sell it, resale value is meaningless.

Shoot it and enjoy it!

 

[CajunBass]

Shoot it if you want to. I doubt there is any real "collector's value." Even if there is, it's not like you're going to put your kids through college or finance your retirement with it. Whatever "loss" you might take is just the cost of doing business.

After all it's just a gun. It's your memories of your friend that make it special...to you. Nobody else has those memories. You can't sell them. They can't be taken from you.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

"A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for."

— John A. Shedd

This...

I know that when I pass down my 686 to my children I expect them to shoot it to their hearts content. A gun is meant to be shot, and every time you shoot it think of a fun memory of your friend. I know he will be smiling watching his trusted friend shooting his gun, I know I would.

 

[CH4]

Beautiful gift!
Shoot the heck out of it!

 

[glenwolde]

I'd shoot it. Not enough to wear it out (which would take a lot) but fairly frequently.

The Agency and State commemorative guns don't seem to attract much collector interest. The interest is too narrow and people with a connection to the subject of the commemorative tend not to be collectors willing to pay top dollar. These often go for a little less than the same gun unadorned.

 

[Krogen]

"A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for."

— John A. Shedd

And . . . .

"These cars are meant to be driven."
-- Carroll Shelby

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Pretty unanimous here on the forum…
Shoot it and enjoy it! If I gave someone a firearm I'd expect nothing different.

 

[bobcat]

Shoot some wadcutters through it in memory of the Patrol. We used to get our 50 rounds a month practice ammo allowance when I was in the Patrol, still have a few old boxes floating around here. BP 148! Congrats on making it out of the monkey house, I retired 9 years ago.

 

[hyena]

I'm in the shoot the snot out of it camp. Whoever inherits it from you will either value it because it was yours, or they'll sell it.