Firing collectables

[k3new]

I have a 1936 S/42 Luger that I am getting ready to take out for its periodical dusting off. I fire only US factory ball ammo, and really don't fire it that much, but believe I wouldn't purchase a weapon that I won't fire. Like having a car you don't drive. Why???

Anyhow, it is probably > 95 percent finish intact and all matching numbers. I am sure some would recommend against this. I don't see myself ever selling or trading it (voluntarily), and hope to pass it down one day.

Question is, Do you occasionally fire your collectible firearms?

 

[Skans]

I voted "no". But, I'm really not all that opposed to shooting antique or collectable firearms.

I only own one true antique firearm - Remington NMA 1858 .44. I've never fired a percussion revolver, so I'd have to school up on this if I ever intended on firing it. It's in pretty good shape - bore is ok and the cylinder indexes ok. Maybe I'll try firing it some time. I even have a new cylinder I purchased some time ago that actually fits perfectly - I'd probably use that if I were to fire it.

I've never fired my HAC-7. It's still basically NIB. I just can't bring myself to shoot it. Same goes with an SBL Izzy FAL import - never shot that either. And, an FNC that I rarely shoot.

I kept my USAS-12 a long time without ever firing it. Prices on those have stabalized and I'm not hurting anything by firing it occasionally. Plus, it's fun as heck to shoot!!

I've got a COP 357 I've never shot - no reason....just never got around to shooting it.

So, I guess I've got lots of guns that I don't shoot. In fact, I only have about 4 handguns that I like to shoot one of which I shoot quite regularly. And, only 3-4 rifles that I shoot. Excluding my USAS-12, I only have one shotgun, and I do shoot that. Everything else, for the most part, usually just sits in my safe....but I love them all the same.

 

[44 AMP]

I shoot mine, I just don't shoot them alot...

Including my 1936 Luger. I do have several guns haven't shot, simply because I haven't gotten around to shooting them yet.

And I have a couple collector's pieces that I will not shoot, simply because that they are not in safe firing condition.

Shooting a collectible gun (one that is already used) does no harm to the value, as long as it does no harm to the gun. If you break something, scratch the finish, etc., then yes, the monetary collector's value is affected. But just putting a few rounds through it does not.

Shooting an unfired collector gun (like a commemorative model) is a different thing all together. Shooting one of those reduces its collector value tremendously, down to just a small bit over the value of a used non-commemorative model of the same gun. If you don't ever plan to sell or trade it,then who cares? But if you do, you have reduced the value you can get out of it by a huge percentage.

 

[Claude Clay]

Skans--the longer you do not fire the COP the better you will like it.
and if you do fire it; aim in the general area of the target as the bullets seldom strike on or near your point of aim you will increase your chances of a hit on target this way. i bought one when they first hit the market [1979?] and traded it rather quickly. today they are selling for almost 3x what i paid. good luck.
and if you do master the trigger pull of the COP you will wonder why people comlain about the 'horrible' trigger pull of the 1895 Nagant.

i voted occasionally cause except for my very early bearcat [unfired w/all original box & sales slip [ $37.04 inc tax] i enjoy everything else.

 

[raftman]

I would never buy a gun if weren't ok with shooting it and I was worried it couldn't take a lot of shooting. Even my "historical" guns are very inexpensive and I have no problem whatsoever shooting the heck out them. I only voted for the "occasionally for fun..." option because one of my "historic" guns is a Nagant revolver, and the only reason I don't shoot it often is because the ammo is so expensive. But that's not an issue of the gun itself. If the ammo was as cheap as some of the other pistol calibers I own, that thing would have a lot more than 250 rounds through it by now.

 

[Old Grump]

Only own two guns I won't shoot and that is for safety reasons. The rest get shot sometime during the year, if they worked for Great Grandpa and they are in good shape they will work for me too. Can't stand to have a shootable gun in the house and not shoot it.

 

[gyvel]

I have a 1936 S/42 Luger that I am getting ready to take out for its periodical dusting off. I fire only US factory ball ammo, and really don't fire it that much, but believe I wouldn't purchase a weapon that I won't fire. Like having a car you don't drive. Why???

Because if you take your all original 1936 Ford out on the highway and blow the motor, fry the tranny or get in a wreck, you're screwed.

What's that you say? Put in a new motor or tranny? Then it's not original anymore, is it?

 

[RonC]

I originally voted for treating my historical weapons like my other guns. After thinking about it, I must change that to "it depends on which gun." I frequently fire my Swiss K31's and M1 Garand, but never shoot my Arisaka or Springfield 1973 model trapdoor. I rarely fire my 1903A3 but occasionally take the Lee Enfield Mk4 NO 1 to the range.

So, my answer is: "It depends on which gun we are speaking about."

Ron

 

[Chris_B]

My 1944 M1 rifle? I shoot it as often as ammo and time allows

My 1944 P.38 pistol? I shoot it as often as I want to, which is fairly often, several times a year

My 1920 Colt Model 1903 pistol? I'd like to shoot it more often but keeping .32ACP on hand is a small PITA

 

[Chris_B]

but never shoot my Arisaka or Springfield 1973 model trapdoor

We know you mean '1873'

My Pop and I shoot his 1873 trapdoor every 4th of July. It's a lot of fun, but you want to do it in small doses unless you like pain

 

[RonC]

Oh, you haven't heard about the 1973 Trapdoor?

Thanks for the correction.

Ron

 

[James K]

Well, I went to the range last week with a Japanese Type 26, a British Revolver No.2 Mk1, a Husqvarna M1907, a Webley Mk I, and an M1934 Beretta. Collectibles? I guess so, but they are all good, sturdy guns and they were made to be fired, and none was in such pristine condition that firing would do any damage.

Jim

 

[30-30remchester]

I dont know why a person wouldnt shoot any firearm in good condition. This is what they were designed to do. At our range you often see original Sharps, Spencers, Trapdoors, 1903 Springfields, Bertiers, ect and have never had seen any problems as long as proper ammo was used.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Shooting an unfired collector gun (like a commemorative model) is a different thing all together. Shooting one of those reduces its collector value tremendously, down to just a small bit over the value of a used non-commemorative model of the same gun. If you don't ever plan to sell or trade it,then who cares? But if you do, you have reduced the value you can get out of it by a huge percentage.

An unfired collectible is generally MUCH more in demand by collectors than one in good shape, but with obvious wear and tear. And for these guns with numbered parts (like Lugers), break something with a number...

(I've not seen that commemorative models have much collector value, except for the original buyer...) They seldom seem to ge much of a premium over a similar PLAIN model in the same shape.

 

[Crankylove]

Any firearm I own gets shot. If I am not willing to shoot one, it will be traded/sold to finance ones I will shoot. I work hard for the money I spend on my guns, and they are gonna get used and enjoyed. I can understand those who may have firearms they collect but don't shoot, and if it works for them thats great, but its not for me.

 

[Tom2]

I had two identical 36 Parabellums once. One was a very high percentage nice looking bringback gun. The other was a reworked Russian. I shot the Russian and left the original condition gun alone. Both are gone, I guess I got the Luger fever out of my system. I have a small Mauser vet bringback that looks unfired and I have not fired it. I previously had a well worn example and got to fire that one. Then I have other old guns that I have not gotten round to test firing yet. With limited range time I just have to concentrate on working the most useful items. If your gun is not unfired, and you baby it when firing and lubing and cleaning, it may not lose any value to speak of. How will anyone know what the Germans fired thru it versus what you did?

 

[vostracker]

collectables

All my guns are shooters, from my luger to my 1928A1 Thompson SMG. Just not as much now as ammo costs have increased!!!!!!

 

[P5 Guy]

Sell or Shoot

P'08s I have barely made it a full mag before they jam. I only want fully functional firearms. There are no queens in my safe.

 

[BigJimP]

I guess it depends on what you mean by "collectable" .... I have a number of "collectable" S&W revolvers / post 1935 or so .....and they've all been fired ( model 10's, 19's, 27's, 28's, 29's primarily ).

I have a few "historically collectable rifles" - but I fire those as well ...

I have a number of high end custom handguns - valued at $2,000 plus - but I shoot all of those as well ...( Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Sig, etc )..

 

[tipoc]

I have a few older guns of collector interest that I shoot only occasionally, once or twice a year. I have none that I don't shoot. If I had more money likely I'd have a few investor pieces that I did not shoot. But my interest is more towards the shooting than the collecting per se.

tipoc