Would you feel guilty shooting a "collectible"?

seeker073180 · June 25, 2013, 01:14 PM

I'm not a collector, but an accumulator. All of my new guns go home, get cleaned, then taken out for a dance. However, I recently celebrated a BIG birthday and thought about getting a gun from my era and most of the ones I come across are mint NIB with papers, 99% no box, etc. Smiths, Colts, revolvers, semis, etc.

So, would you feel guilty taking a collector out of collector status (NIB/unfired)?
How about a LNIB?
How about a no box, no papers 99%er, >95%, >90%?
Thoughts?

P5 Guy · June 25, 2013, 01:32 PM

Guns are for shooting not, in my opinion not for looking at while wearing cotton gloves.
Possibly an old historic piece from a museum shouldn't be shot, but nothing such as that will be in my gun locker.

Bluestarlizzard · June 25, 2013, 01:50 PM

At first I was gonna make a stink, but then I reread your post and since you can't be THAT old...

NIB and never been fired, I might say no, since, with most collectibles, that's not as much a gun as it is a collectible and the longer it stays in the box, the more it will depreciate instantly the moment you take it out and start farting with it.

Everything else, well, it's your birthday present, buy something you want and shoot till you're smiling like a loon.

MR.G · June 25, 2013, 01:50 PM

Have shot some unfired collectables over the years. Still feel guilty for doing it. Just me.

guy sajer · June 25, 2013, 02:02 PM

Guilt is when you do something wrong you are sorry for .

For me , shooting is part of the joy of ownership . But , I don't knock people that won't shoot for fear of diminishing the value . It's their call .

lee n. field · June 25, 2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

I'm not a collector, but an accumulator. All of my new guns go home, get cleaned, then taken out for a dance. However, I recently celebrated a BIG birthday and thought about getting a gun from my era and most of the ones I come across are mint NIB with papers, 99% no box, etc. Smiths, Colts, revolvers, semis, etc.

So, would you feel guilty taking a collector out of collector status (NIB/unfired)?
How about a LNIB?
How about a no box, no papers 99%er, >95%, >90%?
Thoughts?

If it had already been shot, I wouldn't worry about it.

NIB or LNIB? Well, are you trying to preserve value?

Magnum Wheel Man · June 25, 2013, 02:22 PM

I have some unfired guns NIB, etc. that I've yet to shoot... a couple safe queens, but I have a whole lot I have & do, on a nice sunny day shoot...

to me, they are guns... meant to be shot... the deciding factor between shooting something nice, & waiting till later are...

can I share this experience with someone???
can I shoot it without causing it any abnormal wear & tare???
do I have time to properly clean it & put it away afterwards???
do I plan on profiting by selling it as unfired???
do I have the urge to shoot it today???

I've never felt guilty shooting anything nice yet, using that criteria...

seeker073180 · June 25, 2013, 02:23 PM

A no box should be considered, non-collectible tho, right? (I'm 40 btw). I wouldn't mind locating a "vintage" shooter, but the ones that take the time to list a year are usually finer examples.

Again, I'm not a collector.

Bluestarlizzard · June 25, 2013, 02:28 PM

Quote:

A no box should be considered, non-collectible tho, right? (I'm 40 btw). I wouldn't mind locating a "vintage" shooter, but the ones that take the time to list a year are usually finer examples

Yeah, I wouldn't see that shooting a 40 year old safe queen as all that messed up.
In fact, I'd be think "'bout time you earned your keep."

FrankenMauser · June 25, 2013, 02:31 PM

I won't own a firearm I don't intend to shoot (a lot).

And, I don't care about its history. If I am considering buying it, it's because I want to shoot the thing.

Besides, it helps "collectors" out, by making everything else more valuable. (Yet another one of XXX removed from the 'collectors' market.)

Grant D · June 25, 2013, 03:19 PM

I have a NIB Ruger LCP " True Texan Coyote Special" that is unfired, but also have a LCP that I shoot.
I also have some WW 1 and WW II German autos I don't fire, but I could go to the range five days a week for a month, and not shoot the same handgun twice, so it's not like I don't have other handguns to shoot.

Winchester_73 · June 25, 2013, 03:31 PM

If a gun appears unfired, I leave it alone. It doesn't bother me to have one I don't shoot. I also don't shoot when the pieces are hard if not impossible to replace. I have a japanese type 14 nambu with matching grips and a matching firing pin. Most are not matching today, so for me, owning one that is all correct is cooler than firing a gun which was not that well designed to begin with. I have one luger with one mismatched piece (I accept it because its a scarce luger) but my other 4 lugers are all matching. I wouldn't take a chance on breaking something due to what they're worth as is. I don't feel I'm missing out either, because often times (not always) later guns are more enjoyable to shoot.

Some of this depends on the value of the gun. Most of you don't own or fire guns worth $5k or more. Some of you do. Most of the people who have a $5k gun have one that is modern. However, what if it was a collectible gun, in high condition and pretty old? Would you take the risk, for little to no gain? For example, I have a 1956 44 magnum which is one of the first 100 S&W ever made. Its 98% and all correct. I also have a 29-2 that is nice, but much more common, and worth a lot less. Why shoot the first year gun? It feels the same, looks nearly the same. No point in my mind. Most people aren't in that position to say what they would do, so they instead assume what they would do if they had such a gun. I have some safe queens and I have some shooters. One thing about guns is that you can almost never have enough collectibles, but from a practical sense, you can have enough shooter guns. I have both in my collection.

rclark · June 25, 2013, 03:39 PM

There are 'obvious' guns that one would set aside.... Only I haven't run into one yet

. I do have some old .22 rifles that I don't shoot because they chamber a .22 cartridge no longer made. But say a NIB Ruger Flattop .44 that I ran into for a fair price? You bet your bippy I would. The value of a gun, to me, is in shooting it, otherwise I might as well go by a couple pounds of steel for a paper weight and accomplish the same thing. Just as 'useful'.

Quote:

Why shoot the first year gun?

If you are not going to shoot it then ...why own it?

flight954 · June 25, 2013, 03:41 PM

Nope

Jim243 · June 25, 2013, 03:43 PM

I am not a collector, so I could not say one way or the other.

Jim

WV_gunner · June 25, 2013, 04:01 PM

I'm not a collecter, I enjoy shooting guns too much to buy a gun I'd never shoot. No way I'd ever buy a gun with the intention of never shooting it unless it had some historicle significance.

Winchester_73 · June 25, 2013, 04:09 PM

Quote:

If you are not going to shoot it then ...why own it?

You said there are "obvious" ones that should be set aside, and this gun certainly qualifies. In case you are not aware, there is a strong market in rare, antique, and collectible firearms. Many of these guns are not shot, or very seldom shot. Not every gun owner shoots all of their guns, as you should already know. My 5 screw 44 mag is a scarce collectible gun which I bought as an investment. Its worth a fair sum of money, and it offers no tangible shooting advantages to a later 44 magnum. In addition, all pieces are serial numbered to the gun. I wish to preserve its value and collectibility, and not take any chances.

You don't own such a gun (based on what you said) so of course you can't understand my position on the issue. A 5 year old Ruger Redhawk can be shot literally to pieces or to where it doesn't work (I know Rugers last forever, it was only an example), and then sent back for a repair or replacement. The 44 I have is a different animal. It really doesn't matter what you would do verses me because its unlikely for someone like you to ever own such a gun. I don't mean that to be insulting, but would you pay what they retail for, just to shoot it? You can have a 29-5 or something and shoot it all you want. If you intend on being a shooter, and I intend on being a collector, which is different, there isn't a need for us to understand each other. Some people get a bunch of guns to shoot, which are all very similar. That is something I never understood. I don't see a need to have 5 different Remington 700s, all in 30-06, but some people do. It doesn't matter to me what they do, but I wouldn't do it.

RickB · June 25, 2013, 05:15 PM

Since an unfired collectible might be worth hundreds of dollars more than a nearly-pristine version that has been fired, there is no good reason to buy the former if you want a gun to shoot.
I bought a really nice Colt Army Special, in 99% condition, with only the barest hint of finish wear at the muzzle. When I realized that there wasn't any finish wear on the front of the cylinder either, I suspected the gun had remained unfired for 100 years. Since my palms don't get sweaty at the prospect of "deflowering" a previously unfired collectible, I sold the gun to a collector and bought something else to shoot.

PawPaw · June 25, 2013, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeker073180

I wouldn't mind locating a "vintage" shooter, but the ones that take the time to list a year are usually finer examples.

I have picked up a few vintage shooters, but mine normally come from the House of Hock. Like this one that came home with me recently.

That's a Colt Pocket Positive, and the serial number puts it in 1922. It's chambered in .32 New Colt (.32 SW Long) It's not collectible by any stretch of the word, but it's a fine little shooter. Not only did it not have a box, nor papers, someone had polished it to the point where most of the barrel markings are gone forever. Still, it's a great little shooter and a wonderful example of how Colt made revolvers in the 1920s.

Hawg · June 25, 2013, 05:40 PM

There's not been a gun made I wouldn't shoot. Something like say a 73 Colt 1st gen with provenance it had never been turned much less fired. Oh yeah I'd heat that puppy up.

BigJimP · June 25, 2013, 05:42 PM

No, I don't feel guilty shooting a "collectable" gun if its new in box with papers and all that.....

Its value in my collection is relevant only to how I perceive it....and I shoot it, and take care of it, and enjoy it. I wouldn't enjoy just having it ...and letting it sit in the safe.

In the last several years I've purchased a number of older guns, S&W revolvers new in box with papers, etc...model 66's, model 27's and 29's...and while they may not go to the range every week...they go reasonably often. I know its blasphemy to a lot of guys ...but I don't keep the boxes and papers either.../ but then resale value isn't my concern....its a hassle to keep all those boxes --and I have no interest in the presentation boxes, cardboard boxes, etc...

and I don't care if I paid $1,000 or $ 1,500 ....or $ 3,000 plus for the gun....I treat them well ....but I shoot them. If I didn't do that, I would not enjoy them.

I'm heading to the range later this afternoon...and in my bag is a Wilson Combat 1911 I had made about 7 yrs ago in 9mm ...nice gun -- and I'll run a bunch of tactical and reload drills with it in and out of a good horsehide leather holster - I shoot it a lot ( about 6 boxes a week as a rule )......and I have a Freedom Arms, 4 3/4" octagaonal barrel single action revolver, 5 shot, large frame in .357 Mag that I had made for my birthday about 18 months ago ...../ combined insured replacement value on the 2 guns is around $8,000....but I love shooting them every week !

http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...0&d=1339790943

http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...7&d=1341002367

Wilson all stainless Protector 9mm.jpg

Old Stony · June 25, 2013, 05:44 PM

I own a goodly number of firearms...some very collectible old Winchesters, etc....I would shoot any of them. But I'm too old to not enjoy my firearms and to keep them as just investment. Shoot them all and have fun while you can !!

JWT · June 25, 2013, 05:46 PM

If I buy it, I gotta shoot it.

seeker073180 · June 25, 2013, 06:44 PM

So would you guys pass on a an as NIB, leave/save it for the collectorrder and then wait on a "regular" that might be cheaper? I mean a box and papers would pay for a good bit of ammo. I mean, if I buy, I'm shooting it also...

SaxonPig · June 25, 2013, 07:13 PM

I'm laughing at this one. Over the past 45 years I have shot so many guns that were unfired when I bought them that I have lost count. I never looked for safe queens but sometimes one fell into my grubby paws and it was immediately put to work. I shoot my guns.

Hell, I used to pack a S&W Registered Magnum as my carry piece. How's THAT for using a collectible?

June 25, 2013, 01:14 PM	#1
seeker073180 Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Posts: 99	Would you feel guilty shooting a "collectible"? I'm not a collector, but an accumulator. All of my new guns go home, get cleaned, then taken out for a dance. However, I recently celebrated a BIG birthday and thought about getting a gun from my era and most of the ones I come across are mint NIB with papers, 99% no box, etc. Smiths, Colts, revolvers, semis, etc. So, would you feel guilty taking a collector out of collector status (NIB/unfired)? How about a LNIB? How about a no box, no papers 99%er, >95%, >90%? Thoughts? __________________ -seeker- *IAaGO*

June 25, 2013, 01:32 PM	#2
P5 Guy Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2005 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,804	I did Guns are for shooting not, in my opinion not for looking at while wearing cotton gloves. Possibly an old historic piece from a museum shouldn't be shot, but nothing such as that will be in my gun locker.

June 25, 2013, 01:50 PM	#3
Bluestarlizzard Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2013 Location: Virginia Posts: 347	At first I was gonna make a stink, but then I reread your post and since you can't be THAT old... NIB and never been fired, I might say no, since, with most collectibles, that's not as much a gun as it is a collectible and the longer it stays in the box, the more it will depreciate instantly the moment you take it out and start farting with it. Everything else, well, it's your birthday present, buy something you want and shoot till you're smiling like a loon. __________________ Mal: "If anyone gets nosy, just...you know... shoot 'em. " Zoe: "Shoot 'em?" Mal: "Politely."

June 25, 2013, 02:02 PM	#5
guy sajer Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 329	No guilt . Guilt is when you do something wrong you are sorry for . For me , shooting is part of the joy of ownership . But , I don't knock people that won't shoot for fear of diminishing the value . It's their call . __________________ Mitch Please support Crimson Trace Grips , Mossberg and Beretta . They support our troops .

June 25, 2013, 02:22 PM	#7
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I have some unfired guns NIB, etc. that I've yet to shoot... a couple safe queens, but I have a whole lot I have & do, on a nice sunny day shoot... to me, they are guns... meant to be shot... the deciding factor between shooting something nice, & waiting till later are... can I share this experience with someone??? can I shoot it without causing it any abnormal wear & tare??? do I have time to properly clean it & put it away afterwards??? do I plan on profiting by selling it as unfired??? do I have the urge to shoot it today??? I've never felt guilty shooting anything nice yet, using that criteria... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

June 25, 2013, 01:50 PM	#4
MR.G Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2001 Posts: 641	Have shot some unfired collectables over the years. Still feel guilty for doing it. Just me.

June 25, 2013, 02:23 PM	#8
seeker073180 Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Posts: 99	A no box should be considered, non-collectible tho, right? (I'm 40 btw). I wouldn't mind locating a "vintage" shooter, but the ones that take the time to list a year are usually finer examples. Again, I'm not a collector. __________________ -seeker- *IAaGO*

June 25, 2013, 02:31 PM	#10
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,421	I won't own a firearm I don't intend to shoot (a lot). And, I don't care about its history. If I am considering buying it, it's because I want to shoot the thing. Besides, it helps "collectors" out, by making everything else more valuable. (Yet another one of XXX removed from the 'collectors' market.) __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

June 25, 2013, 03:19 PM	#11
Grant D Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2011 Location: Brazos County, Texas Posts: 1,038	I have a NIB Ruger LCP " True Texan Coyote Special" that is unfired, but also have a LCP that I shoot. I also have some WW 1 and WW II German autos I don't fire, but I could go to the range five days a week for a month, and not shoot the same handgun twice, so it's not like I don't have other handguns to shoot.

June 25, 2013, 03:31 PM	#12
Winchester_73 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 2,863	If a gun appears unfired, I leave it alone. It doesn't bother me to have one I don't shoot. I also don't shoot when the pieces are hard if not impossible to replace. I have a japanese type 14 nambu with matching grips and a matching firing pin. Most are not matching today, so for me, owning one that is all correct is cooler than firing a gun which was not that well designed to begin with. I have one luger with one mismatched piece (I accept it because its a scarce luger) but my other 4 lugers are all matching. I wouldn't take a chance on breaking something due to what they're worth as is. I don't feel I'm missing out either, because often times (not always) later guns are more enjoyable to shoot. Some of this depends on the value of the gun. Most of you don't own or fire guns worth $5k or more. Some of you do. Most of the people who have a $5k gun have one that is modern. However, what if it was a collectible gun, in high condition and pretty old? Would you take the risk, for little to no gain? For example, I have a 1956 44 magnum which is one of the first 100 S&W ever made. Its 98% and all correct. I also have a 29-2 that is nice, but much more common, and worth a lot less. Why shoot the first year gun? It feels the same, looks nearly the same. No point in my mind. Most people aren't in that position to say what they would do, so they instead assume what they would do if they had such a gun. I have some safe queens and I have some shooters. One thing about guns is that you can almost never have enough collectibles, but from a practical sense, you can have enough shooter guns. I have both in my collection. __________________ Winchester 73, the TFL user that won the west

June 25, 2013, 03:41 PM	#14
flight954 Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2006 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 933	Nope

June 25, 2013, 03:43 PM	#15
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	I am not a collector, so I could not say one way or the other. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

June 25, 2013, 04:01 PM	#16
WV_gunner Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2011 Location: WV Posts: 938	I'm not a collecter, I enjoy shooting guns too much to buy a gun I'd never shoot. No way I'd ever buy a gun with the intention of never shooting it unless it had some historicle significance.

June 25, 2013, 05:15 PM	#18
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,517	Since an unfired collectible might be worth hundreds of dollars more than a nearly-pristine version that has been fired, there is no good reason to buy the former if you want a gun to shoot. I bought a really nice Colt Army Special, in 99% condition, with only the barest hint of finish wear at the muzzle. When I realized that there wasn't any finish wear on the front of the cylinder either, I suspected the gun had remained unfired for 100 years. Since my palms don't get sweaty at the prospect of "deflowering" a previously unfired collectible, I sold the gun to a collector and bought something else to shoot.

June 25, 2013, 05:40 PM	#20
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	There's not been a gun made I wouldn't shoot. Something like say a 73 Colt 1st gen with provenance it had never been turned much less fired. Oh yeah I'd heat that puppy up.

June 25, 2013, 05:42 PM	#21
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	No, I don't feel guilty shooting a "collectable" gun if its new in box with papers and all that..... Its value in my collection is relevant only to how I perceive it....and I shoot it, and take care of it, and enjoy it. I wouldn't enjoy just having it ...and letting it sit in the safe. In the last several years I've purchased a number of older guns, S&W revolvers new in box with papers, etc...model 66's, model 27's and 29's...and while they may not go to the range every week...they go reasonably often. I know its blasphemy to a lot of guys ...but I don't keep the boxes and papers either.../ but then resale value isn't my concern....its a hassle to keep all those boxes --and I have no interest in the presentation boxes, cardboard boxes, etc... and I don't care if I paid $1,000 or $ 1,500 ....or $ 3,000 plus for the gun....I treat them well ....but I shoot them. If I didn't do that, I would not enjoy them. I'm heading to the range later this afternoon...and in my bag is a Wilson Combat 1911 I had made about 7 yrs ago in 9mm ...nice gun -- and I'll run a bunch of tactical and reload drills with it in and out of a good horsehide leather holster - I shoot it a lot ( about 6 boxes a week as a rule )......and I have a Freedom Arms, 4 3/4" octagaonal barrel single action revolver, 5 shot, large frame in .357 Mag that I had made for my birthday about 18 months ago ...../ combined insured replacement value on the 2 guns is around $8,000....but I love shooting them every week ! http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...0&d=1339790943 http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...7&d=1341002367 Wilson all stainless Protector 9mm.jpg

June 25, 2013, 05:44 PM	#22
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I own a goodly number of firearms...some very collectible old Winchesters, etc....I would shoot any of them. But I'm too old to not enjoy my firearms and to keep them as just investment. Shoot them all and have fun while you can !!

June 25, 2013, 05:46 PM	#23
JWT Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 3,888	If I buy it, I gotta shoot it.

June 25, 2013, 06:44 PM	#24
seeker073180 Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Posts: 99	So would you guys pass on a an as NIB, leave/save it for the collectorrder and then wait on a "regular" that might be cheaper? I mean a box and papers would pay for a good bit of ammo. I mean, if I buy, I'm shooting it also... __________________ -seeker- *IAaGO*

June 25, 2013, 07:13 PM	#25
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	I'm laughing at this one. Over the past 45 years I have shot so many guns that were unfired when I bought them that I have lost count. I never looked for safe queens but sometimes one fell into my grubby paws and it was immediately put to work. I shoot my guns. Hell, I used to pack a S&W Registered Magnum as my carry piece. How's THAT for using a collectible?

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