MSgt G
US Veteran
Looks great. Shoot it or send it to me and I'll take care of it for you!
To shoot or not to shoot
- Thread starter Elroy
- Start date
If you decide to shoot it, one thing I would check is to see if either the hammer or the trigger is rubbing slightly on the frame/sideplate and might make bright drag marks on either part. Now the pre-war revolvers were MUCH better at having their hammers/triggers "centered" than more recent guns (always wondered why--guess earlier guns received more attention or maybe those internal bosses were better) but I do see pre-war guns with drag marks. So if you have any rubbing starting you might want to pass on shooting or dry firing.
If you only want to shoot a few rounds to see how it groups or how well the sights are aligned, you might want to "paint" a little grease--like RIG or some such--in between the cylinder notches every six rounds. Also grease the front of the cylinder, around the barrel protrusion and where it meets the frame inside the opening. This, I admit, is pretty anal but will prevent or minimize formation of a turn line or blast marks. Then shoot, as others have mentioned, light loads like factory wadcutters or standard round nose lead load(what the gun should be sighted for from the factory). By the way, some of you purists may wince at this, but careful application of cold blue--CAREFUL, I said--can blend down turn lines and muzzle edge brightening without looking "worked on". Only try it if your lines/edge wear are very minimal. Clean the metal, heat it some, and use a Q-tip barely moist with the cold blue solution. Works great on S&W's black; don't try it on the pale blue of pre-war Colts!
I had a 7" Registered Magnum w/certificate and box for years until the prices got crazy and people pushed so much $ at me that I sold it. It was unfired as far as I could tell, or close, and had sat in my display case for years. Every time I'd look at it I wondered how it shot. Finally after about ten years I could stand it no longer and took it out to the range. Shot 12 rounds through it at targets from a sandbag taking the above precautions. No deterioration resulted. But as an aside, it didn't shoot as accurately as my long 14 or even my 6" 586 (tried factory wadcutters and a particularly accurate handload of my own in the test) so I was kinda disappointed--and that made it easier for me to let go of it later.
If you only want to shoot a few rounds to see how it groups or how well the sights are aligned, you might want to "paint" a little grease--like RIG or some such--in between the cylinder notches every six rounds. Also grease the front of the cylinder, around the barrel protrusion and where it meets the frame inside the opening. This, I admit, is pretty anal but will prevent or minimize formation of a turn line or blast marks. Then shoot, as others have mentioned, light loads like factory wadcutters or standard round nose lead load(what the gun should be sighted for from the factory). By the way, some of you purists may wince at this, but careful application of cold blue--CAREFUL, I said--can blend down turn lines and muzzle edge brightening without looking "worked on". Only try it if your lines/edge wear are very minimal. Clean the metal, heat it some, and use a Q-tip barely moist with the cold blue solution. Works great on S&W's black; don't try it on the pale blue of pre-war Colts!
I had a 7" Registered Magnum w/certificate and box for years until the prices got crazy and people pushed so much $ at me that I sold it. It was unfired as far as I could tell, or close, and had sat in my display case for years. Every time I'd look at it I wondered how it shot. Finally after about ten years I could stand it no longer and took it out to the range. Shot 12 rounds through it at targets from a sandbag taking the above precautions. No deterioration resulted. But as an aside, it didn't shoot as accurately as my long 14 or even my 6" 586 (tried factory wadcutters and a particularly accurate handload of my own in the test) so I was kinda disappointed--and that made it easier for me to let go of it later.
Here's my standard. I don't have any guns I WON'T shoot. I do have a number of them I don't shoot.
I just don't rule it out.
I just don't rule it out.
gunnut44
Member
Nice one there. Me I would try to find a mint condition box which will not be easy and try to put it all back as the way it left the factory though not original to the gun it deserves a box. I have some nice guns imo that I do not shoot not saying they have never been shot I just dont want to take a chance of damaging the stocks or putting a scratch on it then it becomes just another model ??. Your gun looks to be very mint so I would keep it that way, you can find M&P's all day long to shoot for not that much money but it is your gun and you can do as you please. Congrats on a nice find.
Andy Taylor
Member
I'd shoot it. 158 grain LRN would be the load. Maybe 148 gr wadcutters, but I bet the sights are regulated for the 158 gr loads.
alabamabarry
Member
shoot it...but i would replace the grips. the way those look will bring a good price.
And what are a pair of grips like these worth??
It doesn't really matter as we're not about to part these out
w10085
Member
If it were mine, I would not shoot it only becvuase it does not have a turn ring on the cylinder. The suggestion about greasing the notiches may keep it from wearing but I don't know. If it had the turn ring I would shoot it. It does appear to be at such a nice condition that you can make it look worse.
One poster may a great point though. What will eventually happen to the pistol? We are only custodians for a finite period of time. If you don't make sure somebody will eventually take care of it then you might as well enjoy it and shoot it.
I shot my original Springfield Model 1842 this week. I have no idea how long that has sat quiet but it was a blast! Congrats on having a great pistol!
One poster may a great point though. What will eventually happen to the pistol? We are only custodians for a finite period of time. If you don't make sure somebody will eventually take care of it then you might as well enjoy it and shoot it.
I shot my original Springfield Model 1842 this week. I have no idea how long that has sat quiet but it was a blast! Congrats on having a great pistol!
Its a beautiful old gun, that you or another collector appreciates for its age and condition it has survived in. WHY would you want to shoot it, just for shooting sake. If it was your only revolver, some target type model or maybe J Edgar Hoover's gun , some special reason maybe I would understand. Its not going to shoot any better than a model 14 or 15, and you risk its condition.
I think the fact that you ask others opinion,indicates that you really dont want to shoot it. I have the same guns in about 90% sitting in the safe, inherited it from the wifes side, I like looking at it occasionally, but have never been interested in how it shoots, to me its not worth the work to detail clean it after, when plenty of other models in 38 sitting there.
In my case , no kids, so the wife will probably sell everything, except the few she likes, when I go. But if you have someone you can leave that one to, after you ebjoy it , what a great collector it is. I look at guns in that type condition,if you got a deal on it , as an investment, that you can enjoy like a small art collection. My .02, Congrats, Bob
I think the fact that you ask others opinion,indicates that you really dont want to shoot it. I have the same guns in about 90% sitting in the safe, inherited it from the wifes side, I like looking at it occasionally, but have never been interested in how it shoots, to me its not worth the work to detail clean it after, when plenty of other models in 38 sitting there.
In my case , no kids, so the wife will probably sell everything, except the few she likes, when I go. But if you have someone you can leave that one to, after you ebjoy it , what a great collector it is. I look at guns in that type condition,if you got a deal on it , as an investment, that you can enjoy like a small art collection. My .02, Congrats, Bob
Actually, this is one of those rare instances in which the SCSW got it wrong. The square butt is standard on 1905s; it's the round butts that are uncommon.
Richard Simmons
Member
My two cents. Unless you've never fired a 4" S&W K frame and will never have access to another one then I say leave it as it is and take joy in the owning cause it won't shoot any different than most any other of it's kind.
I would say do not shoot it.
But, if you want to be shooting a comparable Revolver, find a less pristine example of an 'M&P' of some sort, and with proper oiling cleaning and so on, shoot it, and leave this one be.
Shooting will be just as much fun with a less pristine one, and, no loss to posterity or to this Revolver then, from the things which reliably do happen, in use.
But, if you want to be shooting a comparable Revolver, find a less pristine example of an 'M&P' of some sort, and with proper oiling cleaning and so on, shoot it, and leave this one be.
Shooting will be just as much fun with a less pristine one, and, no loss to posterity or to this Revolver then, from the things which reliably do happen, in use.
Thats a mint gun. It's going to shoot just like any other model 10 will shoot. I'd find a box and tool for it, stash it away, and wait for a shooter to come along.
Just my two cents.
Just my two cents.
Probably the smart thing to do
Have not made a decision on shooting it yet. We do note many here who advocate filling ones own desires and sure enough we want to go shot the hell out it but that's simply not going to happen
Any who we gave it a good cleaning and snapped a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure.
Its been opened and closed a bunch but there are no witness marks at the pin
we'll give up the serial number too:
Would we be accurate with our 1929 Dating ??
Nice detail of the S&W logo
Another question and we know this can really stir some debate and turns many people off. As stated we paid a "health sum" for this example. What would you consider as excessive?
We are NOT looking to sell but would simply like estimates and opinions on what this is worth on the open market??
In other words did I get screwed ???
dewey
Member
Is there powder in some ( every other ) cylinder "holes"? If there is that's means it's never even been cleaned.......DON'T shoot it !
dan
dan
Firearmsrookie
Member
I am somewhat in your same boat. I have a pristine 10-5 that has only been shot very little. I don't shoot it much. I just like to look at that beautiful bluing! I have a 617, 19 and 66 that I use a lot more. Your gun is gun porn!
Duke Aquaro
Member
In addition to shooting, I have several old cars. All work done by me. The car guys have the same issues. Drive them, or trailer them. In my case, if I have to tow it, it must be broken. If the car cannot be driven to a show, well, I don't want to own that one. HOWEVER, there are very rare cars out there and also very low mileage cars as well. I think in that case, they get trailered. BUT, not for me. I want to enjoy driving them, so I own cars that can be driven. I also own guns that can be shot. It is all up to the individual and what he wants to do with his possessions.
I would probably keep it as a safe queen and not shoot it. It's just too pretty!
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