What do people do with NIB classic revolvers?

[Harrydale]

I have no problem at all with the "i shoot every gun I own" thinking. But think about any gun at least 100 years old. For example, lets think about a Winchester Model 1894 made in 1894 lets say it's serial number 36. Wouldn't it be cool if who ever bought ol' number 36 had carefully stored the gun away and you could now own it? Would you shoot it?

 

[TenTea]

I like nice things as well as the next guy, but if (that's a big if) I was wealthy enough to concern myself with such things, I'd be bidding on EK's revolvers and such museum-type pieces (I'd likely shoot them too).

Otherwise, I'd be into fully automatic arms (and probably cannons), have an armorer friend or two on staff at my ranch, and a bevy of talented young maidens loading ammo day and night in support of the fun.

I think I'd grow my own coffee too, right near my private, 1000 yard rifle range.

The joy of ownership is worth something...but I mostly break even.



PS: I enjoy these type threads!

 

[the ringo kid]

Id probably buy at least two of them.One for shootin and one for just fondlin. ;-))

imsoon to buy a Heritage Arms SSA .22 with 6 and 1/2 inch barrel. Ive been dying to get one o f these since I first saw one. I COULD have had one at the last show but for two things--one being--that it sold minutes before I got to the sellers table. 2)It went to my Nephew Nathan--who bought it for his son. Anyway,ill be getting one with 9 shot cylinder and spare mag/cylinder.

I want two of these--and yup--you guessed it.One for shootin-the other for feeling.

 

[Sawfish]

Awesome thread resurrection, bringing it back from 2011! Some people get all touchy/nasty about bringing back an old thread, I like it. If it's a thread that interests you, bring it back, that's why we're all here!

So, anyway, I've got a question; was it worth it? Did you really love shooting those classic LNIB guns...? Just wondering if you "got much" out of shooting those cherries...

I'm currently in the camp of some of my guns are shooters, and some are true collector pieces that have not been shot outside of the factory, and I have no plans to shoot them. I guess I'm fortunate, because if it's a model that I really like, I'll have shooters and LNIB examples of it. If I didn't go so deep into gun accumulation, I'd probably just shoot the ones I had.

I actually get enjoyment out of having some guns in a pristine condition, and I don't have any desire to ruin that condition. I also have some guns that have been fired, but they look almost unfired. I take those out on rare occasion and shoot a few through it... Because I love to shoot, those types of guns tend to be my preference to purchase these days... YMMV

I thoroughly enjoyed shooting them, and have since enjoyed shooting them even more. Fine wines are made to be drank, beautiful women are made to be loved, and pristine firearms are made to be shot. To do any less, would be an insult to their respective makers. Just my opinion.

 

[mike4sigs]

i get mine out ! about 4 times a year rub clp collectors grade on them and put them back in their silicone sock's and then back in the safe ,But i do that with the ones i shoot also!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Do whatever makes you happy-it's your gun.

 

[CajunBass]

I don't buy them. I did in the past, but always sold them off again. I think they should be saved so those who follow us, can see what a NIB gun looked like "back in the day." But I know I would want to shoot it. So, I leave them and hope a serious collector buys them and puts them up. I don't care if THEY shoot it, after all it's their property, they can do with it as they please, I just won't do it myself.

 

[redlevel]

But we need to keep the terminology straight. To the best of my limited knowledge, all S&Ws go through an inspection step where every other cylinder is loaded and fired. It might be called "proof of function". And over the years I've owned and looked at a bunch of guns. Its not at all uncommon to discover the factory didn't bother to clean the gun after firing.

OK, is the "S&W fires every-other chamber" thing documented gospel, or is it one of those things that "everybody knows," but can't cite any specific documentation of such. I'm not disputing rburg. I believe it to be true myself. I recently bought a "NIB-fired only at the factory" Model 15-3. It is nickel, and in pristine condition, except it is obvious that every other chamber has been fired.

I got the gun at what I think was a good deal. I paid maybe $125 more than what I would expect to pay for a good 90% shooter grade Model 15. The box, papers, tools, and grease paper are all in great shape. Problem is, I bought it on a spur of the moment impulse. I figured I would shoot it, and if it was the only Combat Masterpiece I owned, I would. I took it out of the safe last night intending to shoot it today. Nope. Put it back and got the old battle-scarred one instead.

For now, I'm going to leave it in the safe. I might sell or trade it later, and I might end up shooting it. I am trying to accumulate some stuff, silver US coins, silver bullion coins, etc., for my daughter. I believe a pristine Model 15-3 might fit that category of "stuff that's worth something" very well.

 

[MOONDAWG]

No Safe Queens....Chute Um!

and BTW..."I AM ENTERTAINED!"

 

[arjay]

About five years ago I bought a " mint" python off of gunbroker.I had been looking for a shooter for over a year but the prices were only $200 less than this one.I intended to shoot it,but it really was mint and I couldn't do it.So,I'd take it out and fondle it and put it back.I finally sold it last summer for almost 3x what I paid for it.That was satisfying [emoji1]

 

[Comrad]

I recently purchased a 586 laser engraved U.S. Customs Service Bicentennial (1789-1989) commemorative. I have always been a shooter but I'm going to need you guys to prod me on this one. I'm a 21 year veteran of Customs, so it's sort of like slapping my Mom.

Consider yourself prodded. Shoot it gently, then clean it. I think there's a difference in shooting it nicely and throwing it in the back of a pickup truck.

 

[the ringo kid]

So far--mine is still taking a nap in its box. Im not sure when it will wake up and speak??

 

[mac2]

This thread reminds me of those adverts in car magazines where some hyper expensive car for sale is advertised as having "garage mileage"; pathetic, the owner bought it just so's he could make some money on the thing later...however, I could understand firearms not being shot if they're 170 years old or whatever - they wouldn't last a lot longer if they were...

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I only own 2 guns that have not been fired.
26-1 Georgia Commemorative:

and a Nickle 8 3/8" 27-2 That I have not taken a photo yet.

I paid a reasonable price for them and I consider them an investment.

This 21-4 was NIB when I bought it, but I had to shoot it 6 times so far.

 

[akjaeger]

I've got two GSP 26-1's they are both excellent shooters! A bargain at the price they are going for, just look at what it would cost to buy and convert a nice 5" 27-2 to 45 Colt!

 

[Beemerguy53]

Short answer: It depends on the gun.

I have bought a number of collectible NIB S&Ws over the years that are now LNIB, and I don't regret that. But I have also bought several firearms, including one special Smith, that I will never fire.

I have an interest in WWII military weapons, and for years I looked for a Victory Model that was not severely worn or messed up or modified in some way. As we all know, those are rare indeed. Some years ago on here, I found one, made in 1942, which was sold to a defense contractor...and was apparently never fired outside of the factory. There are no signs anywhere that this gun has been fired...it is that pristine. It now sits, along with a vintage cleaning rod, as the centerpiece of a display in my sunroom.

How many new unfired Victory Model revolvers are out there? I don't know, but as long as I'm alive, there will be at least one...

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

I've only owned one nib gun that I never used.Tripled my money in 6 years [emoji4]

Lesson learned?