Would you destroy a commemorative?

[b79holmes]

I am in a state with a lot of restrictions on what I can purchase.
I found a revolver I'd be interested in, except it is a commemorative whose topic I am not interested in, and I'd want a shooter.

Would I be crazy to buy it and have it refinished?

I understand that in general commemoratives don't have much of a market and this one can't be too collectible except to people in that specific organization.

Would you do it?
Bill

 

[JoeS]

Refinishing most anything kills its value somewhat. I guess it depends on how it can be refinished and how difficult a non=commememorative would be to come by.
But in principle I'd probably do it in a heartbeat.

 

[sigp220.45]

Well, you're not really destroying it, just de-commemorating it. So I'd say go for it.

What kind of gun is it?

 

[feralmerril]

I have some thoughts on this. Overall I have seen fancy commemertives that obvisly had more work done in fitting, polishing and much better grade wood be sold as used but new cheaper than the standard grades! Espescialy in colt sa,s. On the other hand I also have heard it speculated that less work was done to the guts as the companys figuered they wouldnt be shot anyway.
Through the years I have bought three commemratives just because they turned me on and/or were cheap. For the most part I wouldnt buy one hopeing to make money on it.
If I had a idea of a fine looking but different bbq gun or whatever that stood out I say you could do it cheaper with a comm. You could buy one cheaper and it be in better shape than a standard model. Then go ahead with your customiseing from there. Winchesters have the better wood, colts in SAAs, 1911s have better polishing and blueing.
I have said this before. A lot of you guys are drooling for a 5" model 29-2. Buy yourself a 544 44/40 wagon train commemerative! Then get yourself a 29-2 clyinder, have a good smith fit it up and WALLA, you have your 5" .44 mag!! I know this, I own both and have compared them.
You would have to mill off just a little of the back of the barrel and rethroat it as the 29 clyinder is just a tad longer. The 44/40 barrel is the same dimentions as the 44 mag.
I belive many other ideas on most commeratives could be done AND if your carefull you wont be paying for a refinish, and you will have a better finish than on the generic models.

 

[DCWilson]

Inside most commemoratives is a real gun screaming to get out. Be a mensch and help the prisoner achieve its goal.

Less bombastically: Commemoratives are clearly a source of interest and pleasure to many collectors, but I am so far immune to their charms. If I found myself in your situation, with laws that block me from getting what I want but allow me to pick up something similar that I don't, I'd take the raw material available and refashion it into something more to my liking.

In short, do it.

 

[Allen-frame]

Don't destroy it.

Just buy it ,and shoot it. It's that simple.

I traded into a "Texas wagon train commemmorative" simply because it is the only modern Smith chambered in 44-40. It is a 5 inch N frame in a major caliber, and shoots as such. Excellent.

!. What are you buying?
2. How much is it?
3. Caliber?
4. Why would you have it 'De-commemmorated?' Does the logo/or etching bother you that much?

Regards , ,Allen Frame

 

[Beaver]

I had a 25-3 for awhile and I shot it a lot. It was not as accurate as I wanted nor was the cylinder long enough for my dreams. I really like the quote of "each one is a gun screaming to be let out". I agree. What would Elmer do?
He'd shoot the heck out of them.

 

[tcb4ep]

i have a Commemorative on the wall that is kept loaded for defense in the living room, it just appears to be a wall hanger,, but i'd have no problem going to the range with it,,

 

[Swissman]

What stops you to shoot that thing the way it is? Nothing! So shoot the hell out of it, leave it like it is and safe the money for another gun.

With pragmatic greetings from Switzerland

Swissman

 

[Qball]

I had a 25-3 that i modifyed for moonclips, lots of fun shooting .45ACP handloads.

 

[b79holmes]

Well, you're not really destroying it, just de-commemorating it. So I'd say go for it.

What kind of gun is it?

Model 19 (-2 I think)

 

[b79holmes]

Just buy it ,and shoot it. It's that simple.

I traded into a "Texas wagon train commemmorative" simply because it is the only modern Smith chambered in 44-40. It is a 5 inch N frame in a major caliber, and shoots as such. Excellent.

!. What are you buying?
2. How much is it?
3. Caliber?
4. Why would you have it 'De-commemmorated?' Does the logo/or etching bother you that much?

Regards , ,Allen Frame

Four of my 5 handguns are S&W.
I'd like a .357
I'd like one without the IL.

I know of two C. Pythons in Eastern MA but they are $1k or more.

Again I can't buy off the auction sites unless it is already in MA so as my checking account recovers from Christmas I started doing 'smart searches' at the auction/sales sites and came across a model 19 commemorative.

I can't find the original auction/sale but it was something about women police. If it was John Wayne then I'd be fine but this seemed like an odd duck to me, and there are no women LEO's in the family.

I think we all agree these commemoratives don't have any real historical value.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[feralmerril]

Is the one you are looking at the texas ranger? I have this one. Its nothing but a more beautifull model 19. The trigger guard is narrowed down like bill jordan recernened. Only reason I havent shot mine is I have similar that I shoot. If I didnt have another I would shoot and carry it in a heartbeat. Also am showing my texas wagon train 544 44/40. It is just like my 29-2 5". And could be converted like it.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Plus one for Swissman, shoot the snot out of it as is!

 

[Texas Roots]

Go ahead and Shoot it!

 

[shawn mccarver]

I am in a state with a lot of restrictions on what I can purchase.
I found a revolver I'd be interested in, except it is a commemorative whose topic I am not interested in, and I'd want a shooter.

Would I be crazy to buy it and have it refinished?

I understand that in general commemoratives don't have much of a market and this one can't be too collectible except to people in that specific organization.

Would you do it?
Bill

I agree with Swissman, leave it as is and shoot it extensively.

Shawn

 

[flagman1776]

No reason to refinish it, just shoot it.
Russ

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

shoot it! nothing special about a 19!!

 

[shooter7]

Shoot it; yes, refinish it; no. It's just not worth the expense. You're not going to see the engraving/writing, when you shoot it.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Shoot it. I don't worry much about how shooting them affects the guns I buy. If it was going to bother me I guess I wouldn't buy it.