monkeyfist
New member
I know, a newbie question, but I don't know jack about guns at the moment. Does firing a gun really make it lose its value that much?
Does firing a gun substantially lessen it's value?
- Thread starter monkeyfist
- Start date
hardworker
New member
An unfired gun will lose value if fired. How much value depends on many things. Manufacturer, age, options, condition, etc.
YARDDOG(1)
New member
Most New guns are fired at factory ; )
Y/D
Y/D
A mint, new in box gun that is either a limited/collectors edition, antique, or has some other unique reason to be worth a large amount of money then the value may be significantly affected if it is shot. As a general guideline, if it was just some production-model gun (maybe that somebody's Uncle Jim bought in the 70s and never shot), depending on the current market value and demand it might bring around $100 to a few hundred extra in unfired condition (assuming it is currently worth a decent amount of money). It really kind of varies for each make and model of gun though.
If you are talking about buying a modern gun that is still in production, then IMO it doesn't matter that much to most people. If it is not from the dealer in a manufacturer's box than it is "used" and the price drops whether it has been fired or not. You might still get a little extra for unfired condition, but probably not much. If you bought a car then tried to trade it back in to the dealer without ever driving it, you wouldn't get what you paid. But if in the future that car happened to become a classic and go up in value, you'd get more for it if it had low miles.
If you are talking about buying a modern gun that is still in production, then IMO it doesn't matter that much to most people. If it is not from the dealer in a manufacturer's box than it is "used" and the price drops whether it has been fired or not. You might still get a little extra for unfired condition, but probably not much. If you bought a car then tried to trade it back in to the dealer without ever driving it, you wouldn't get what you paid. But if in the future that car happened to become a classic and go up in value, you'd get more for it if it had low miles.
Some folks buy a new gun and leave it in the box, never firing it and thinking that it will, in the future, be worth big bucks. Generally, they are disappointed. That is almost certainly true of guns made as "collectible" and advertised as such. A decent period (say 20 years) later they rarely bring as much money as they cost, allowing for inflation.
Guns become especially valuable for many reasons, includng limited production, special enhancements (e.g., engraving), association with a past owner or event, or simply age. The association claim is meaningless without solid documentary proof. Anyone can claim to own Billy the Kid's gun, and unless the gun was not in existence in the Kid's lifetime, it is hard to prove or disprove the claim. But no experienced collector will pay a dime more for "a story" unless there is near absolute proof to back it up.
Jim
Guns become especially valuable for many reasons, includng limited production, special enhancements (e.g., engraving), association with a past owner or event, or simply age. The association claim is meaningless without solid documentary proof. Anyone can claim to own Billy the Kid's gun, and unless the gun was not in existence in the Kid's lifetime, it is hard to prove or disprove the claim. But no experienced collector will pay a dime more for "a story" unless there is near absolute proof to back it up.
Jim
Kreyzhorse
New member
Yes, firing it will cause the gun to lose some value. With that said, unless the gun is very rare or has historical value attached to it there really isn't much reason to keep unfired. Most modern production guns just aren't something that are going to greatly increase in value.
Fire your gun, take care of it and most importantly enjoy it.
Fire your gun, take care of it and most importantly enjoy it.
It depends on what is Value.
Dollar wise a top quality commemorative will loose value.
Shooting a top quality weapon is worth the monetary lose.
I once saw a beautiful Win 94 commemorative in a pawn shop. It had been drilled and tapped for a scope. I thought what a waste.
The shop owner allowed me to test fire the rifle. I then understood why the previous owner had used it to hunt. The action, trigger and balance were superb. In fact the shop owner removed it from the shop and hunted with it for the next 20 years.
this brings me back to my original point. Value is what you place on your weapon.
Dollar wise a top quality commemorative will loose value.
Shooting a top quality weapon is worth the monetary lose.
I once saw a beautiful Win 94 commemorative in a pawn shop. It had been drilled and tapped for a scope. I thought what a waste.
The shop owner allowed me to test fire the rifle. I then understood why the previous owner had used it to hunt. The action, trigger and balance were superb. In fact the shop owner removed it from the shop and hunted with it for the next 20 years.
this brings me back to my original point. Value is what you place on your weapon.
Let me throw this out there.
I bought a blued S&W 19-3. It was in very good condition, possibly unfired or fired very little condition. It had a few. . .very few. . . handling scars, but had lmost no cylinder turn mark. I paid like $500 when all was said and done.
I think unfired, I would have paid like another $50. Flawless another $100.
That said, firing 100 rounds through it was wonderful! I would hate to let price deprive me of that!
I bought a blued S&W 19-3. It was in very good condition, possibly unfired or fired very little condition. It had a few. . .very few. . . handling scars, but had lmost no cylinder turn mark. I paid like $500 when all was said and done.
I think unfired, I would have paid like another $50. Flawless another $100.
That said, firing 100 rounds through it was wonderful! I would hate to let price deprive me of that!
22-rimfire
New member
Any gun that has been shot (other than at the factory) is now "used" with a condition qualification. There is value in shooting a gun.
It all depends on what you paid for it, the gun, and luck of the draw in many cases.
I will use the Colt Diamondback as an example. They were made for about 20 years. Colt made a lot of them and they were very popular. Even after they stopped production in 1986, you could easily buy one for $400-$450 in as new condition until the mid-1990's (or about retail price at the close of production). Starting around 2000-2005 (or 10 years later), collector interest in that particular gun started and now that $450 gun may be worth $1200 in 2012. You might have made money if you sold that $450 gun for $1200 (after 20 years of ownership). If you bought one early in the production period at $125 > $200, you probably made some money relatively speaking after owning it for as much as 50 years. There are some particular variations that are of more interest to collectors, but overall, you had to wait a long time "to make money" and the nicely maintained and shot ones sell for a very good price today.
I say shoot them if they are currently manufactured!
If you really like a particular gun, I would suggest that you buy one to shoot and buy a spare to tuck away if that is the kind of thing you might do.
It all depends on what you paid for it, the gun, and luck of the draw in many cases.
I will use the Colt Diamondback as an example. They were made for about 20 years. Colt made a lot of them and they were very popular. Even after they stopped production in 1986, you could easily buy one for $400-$450 in as new condition until the mid-1990's (or about retail price at the close of production). Starting around 2000-2005 (or 10 years later), collector interest in that particular gun started and now that $450 gun may be worth $1200 in 2012. You might have made money if you sold that $450 gun for $1200 (after 20 years of ownership). If you bought one early in the production period at $125 > $200, you probably made some money relatively speaking after owning it for as much as 50 years. There are some particular variations that are of more interest to collectors, but overall, you had to wait a long time "to make money" and the nicely maintained and shot ones sell for a very good price today.
I say shoot them if they are currently manufactured!
If you really like a particular gun, I would suggest that you buy one to shoot and buy a spare to tuck away if that is the kind of thing you might do.
Rifleman1776
New member
You question has been well answered.
Basically, is yours a shooter or a collectors piece?
In my opinion, many good guns are still good guns after being used. Even extensively. My Ruger Redhawk, after about 30 years and tens of thousands of rounds is still as good a gun as the day it was new.
Guns do hold value but do not always become collectors pieces.
Basically, is yours a shooter or a collectors piece?
In my opinion, many good guns are still good guns after being used. Even extensively. My Ruger Redhawk, after about 30 years and tens of thousands of rounds is still as good a gun as the day it was new.
Guns do hold value but do not always become collectors pieces.
22-rimfire
New member
That generally is true. Try buying a new Glock 17 today at market price and sell it tomorrow for the same price you paid?
357autoloader
New member
Only if you intend to sell it.
Used is not worth as much as new in the sense of dollars. Value can be in other terms than dollars.
Used is not worth as much as new in the sense of dollars. Value can be in other terms than dollars.
Chuckusaret
Moderator
Why have a gun, not a collectible, if you don't fire it. I fire all my guns with the exception of one, a Colt Model 1901 .38LC.
American Eagle
New member
There is nothing wrong with a used gun. I've bought half my guns pre-used. They have been some of the most fun and reliable guns I have ever bought. As long as you don't smash it around, or beat the hell out of it, it will still have value to someone else down the line.
Personally, I would never buy a gun that I would never fire, so that rules out priceless antiques for me. I'm not much of a collector. I prefer to use my guns, practice with them often, and get proficient with them.
Personally, I would never buy a gun that I would never fire, so that rules out priceless antiques for me. I'm not much of a collector. I prefer to use my guns, practice with them often, and get proficient with them.