To Fire or Not to fire...

[precision_shooter]

Recently acquired a "collectible" firearm that has increased in value since it stopped being produced. Rifle does not appear to have ever been fired other than proof loads at the factory.
My question is, would it seriously devalue the rifle by firing a few rounds to function check it? Do firearms hold more value being unfired?
Maybe important to note, I do not have the original box or paperwork.

What say ye?

[TXAZ]

While that could be the case without it being "NIB" I don't believe most buyers would pay a premium for "maybe un-fired", since there really isn't any proof.

[Pikie]

Well, I don't have a lot of experience posting. But I do have many years of collecting firearms! That's a loaded question. If it belonged to Abe Lincoln, and you can prove it, don't shoot it! If you want a reasonably safe answer, describe the firearm. Make, model, caliber, what makes it collectible ... Good Luck

[precision_shooter]

Winchester 9422 M, mfg 1979, absolutely pristine condition on all surfaces, barrel, receiver, lever, and both stock sections are completely blemish free and look as they did the day it was made.

[Targa]

Nice rifle but isn't going to make you rich. Take care of it, enjoy it, shoot it....my .02.

[jmr40]

I don't think that rifle lightly used will ever be worth much more than if never fired. Some guns yes. If used hard it would still be worth a lot more than when it was new.

[T. O'Heir]

A Winchester 9422M isn't exactly a collector's piece. Doesn't appear on the Winchester Collectors site at all. Would be if it was still sealed in the original box. Without the box and unfired, it might be a collector's piece in 10 or 20 years.
Mind you, there's one in the same condition as yours on Gunbroker, the dealer who has it wants $900 with no bids at all. There's more of 'em at far less. One with a non-rimfire scope with a current bid of $116.88 and a minimum bid of $121.88. And 5 bids.

[JoeSixpack]

I honestly don't know enough about Winchester rifles to even hazard a guess on value.

However I agree with others, if you tried to pass a gun off as unfired it better be in the box with manual, etc

a loose gun im always gonna assume used.. The best you could say about it is "like" new.

I say go ahead and have some fun with it.

[Blindstitch]

Shoot it or sell it. As said without the box it's just another used firearm in good condition.

[COSteve]

Without the hang tags, paperwork, sales receipt, and the box; all in pristine condition, it's just a lightly used Winchester 9422. Shoot it if you want to or don't, it really doesn't matter.

[Eazyeach]

SHOOT IT!!!!!!!!! That's why it was built. If you want to look at something collect art!

[precision_shooter]

Kinda what I figured, thanks for the replies.
I've never been a collector. Always a user of what I own so I will shoot it and enjoy it while taking care not to damage it.

Thanks again.

[RC20]

There are a few guns if you get them you should not fire.

An all matching number Luger would be one of them.

I was advised not to and have not.

Shortly after that a guy wrote in about how he fired is and broke the toggle linkage. Loss of $2000 right there.

Most can be fired a bit.

I plan on shooting my K31 from time to time, just not a whole lot.

[turtlehead]

On your deathbed will you think "I sure am glad I never shot that gun"?

The answer for me is no. No, I will not think that.

[Scorch]

Recently acquired a "collectible" firearm that has increased in value since it stopped being produced

Winchester 9422 M, mfg 1979,

Am I missing something here? Unless the 9422M is in the box with all the paperwork and hang tags, I would have a hard time considering it "collectible", unless you also consider box tops collectible. Go ahead and shoot it. Or find someone who considers it collectible, and let him collect it and you take the cash and run.

[g.willikers]

1979 - Heck, that ain't even old.
There were probably so many of them made, they may never be desirable to collectors.
Shoot the danged thing and enjoy it.

RC20,
Considering how many K31s there must be out there, the only reason not to shoot it might be 'cause it hurts.
Those old WW2 bolt actions are only fun for a short while.
After about 5 rounds, that was enough for the one I tried.
Just call me wimpie.

[Pikie]

I doubt there will be any decrease in value through "normal" use. I know, that's a loaded answer. I mean firing it. Cleaning it, and handling it. Without scratching or denting it. Those rifles were expensive when new. For the day. I paid close to two hundred dollars for a new one in 1978. They sell for 600 to 900 dollars now. It will take another 30 to 50 years to really make it worth some money. It may even stay the same in value. Enjoy it!

[Bluecthomas]

In car terms Winchester can be compared to a Chevy or any other brand with a dealership in any big town.
Even their more limited production models are still very common compared to something like a Ferrari Enzo.

Treat like you may care for any Vette. Lightly driven on a nice sunny summer day.
Without all the original packaging, saying it's unfired is just smoke in the wind. That smoke might as well be gunpowder.

Get a nice gun blanket to lay it on at the range. Maybe one of them squegee gun brush cleaners. Treat it very well. But use it or sell it.

I got a serial #000001, I still fire it....

[44 AMP]

Most of the time, the term unfired also means unused, not handled, etc. But exceptions can happen. I've seen guns with some finish wear (including turn ring on the cylinder) that were, as well as could be verified, "unfired".

But they had been handled, and the action worked, (unloaded) a lot. Its rare, but it does happen.

More common is a gun that has been fired, some, but still looks pristine. Simply put, unless you PERSONALLY have owned the gun since it was first sold, there is no way to tell if it has ever been fired, outside of the factory.

A small amount of shooting leaves no trace that is detectable to anyone outside a lab, if the gun was cleaned carefully. And a lab might not be able to tell either, because the gun was test fired at the factory, once, at least. One story I heard was that once upon a time, one factory shipped their guns without cleaning after test firing. First, it saved them a bit of money (employee time) and second, it was proof the gun had been fired and did work.

Seriously, even with ALL the box, papers, hang tag, etc. there's no way to prove any gun is unfired, other then taking someone's word for it.

A previous owner could have put 6 boxes of shells through your Winchester, cleaned in well, and vacuum sealed in shrink wrap for 30 years. How would you, or anyone know?? By taking the seller word? That's all there is, really.

[Picher]

I would never own a gun that I wouldn't fire and I dislike people who collect and don't shoot modern guns because they increase cost of buying guns for those of us who enjoy shooting.

Go shoot them; they were made for it. It's kinda like never having sex and you're 75 years old! What the heck were you saving yourself for?

If you're offended by these comments, I'm sorry for you.

[K_Mac]

Picher if I buy a gun and shoot it regularly, once, or leave it untouched, how does that effect your price? I suppose if enough people are convinced that a firearm is going to increase in value as a collector's item it could have some impact on price. Of course as demand increases, price will generally follow. Whether a gun is used or not may concern collectors, but I fail to see how that impacts the rest of us.

[ShootistPRS]

Precision Shooter,
It's a nice sed gun. Shoot it if you enjoy shooting it. If you want to hang it on the wall to see if it will gain a lot of value then hang it. It's your gun so enjoy it the way that makes you the happiest.
I bought a good looking shotgun once and i knew it was old but I bought it to use. The lug that held it closed was not functioning so I took it to a gunsmith. He liked the gun, it wasn't hard to tell and he told me what it would cost to repair it. It was a lot less than a new side by side would cost me so i told him that I couldn't shoot it the way it was... he about came unglued! He told me that I couldn't use any factory loads in it because it had Damascus barrels and they would unwind like a loaded clock spring. I didn't know much but I knew I didn't want a gun to hang on the wall. I asked if he wanted to buy it and he cautiously asked what I wanted for it. (he was jumping up and down on the inside). I looked him square in the eye and said, "I've got $5 into it. You give me $5 and it's yours. WOW! he took five dollars out of his pocket and asked if I wanted a receipt. I just smiled and told him I didn't need a receipt but I would see him again and he owed me one. I did get to see the shotgun before he took it home. It looked gorgeous and locked closed. He probably had black velvet hooks in the wall over his couch to hang it on. I am glad it made someone happy. I got a Mossberg 500 ATP -8 and still have it.

[P5 Guy]

Personally I won't have a firearm I would not shoot.

Sell that rare collectable and buy something you can shoot without worries.

[Don Fischer]

Ya know, if you payed $100 for any gun brand new and kept it 20yrs and figure to make money on it, take the $100 and invest in something else! Mod 64 Winchester's are in demand but for the same money or less you can get a new weapon that I have to think work's better. So if the thing went up in value say $200 that won't o much more than help with the rent! I think very few gun's are really valuable.

[44 AMP]

I think very few gun's are really valuable.

Money is something that can be easily calculated. Value is not.

A gun that you have in your hands, when you need one, has value beyond any $ price.

Let's say, for instance that in 1982, I spent $200 on,
1) a Winchester rifle
2) a Cannon dot matrix printer
3) a bottle of vintage wine
4) Woolworth stock

Now, today, which of those if sold, would I get my $200 back from?? Which would bring more? Which would bring less?

Which of those, if I USED it, would still bring that $200 today??? Not the wine, for certain!