S&w 586

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I recently purchased a S&W 586-3 6"bbl. The gun has never been fired before, has no drag-line. I am on the fence about shooting it. I am aware of it's collectable appeal and value (basically new in box, original everything and sealed little baggie with cleaning rod, brush, etc) however since I do not plan on selling the gun anytime soon (at all honestly) I cannot help but feel like I bought a $700 paperweight. I guess I am looking for reasons to justify me firing the weapon, since I did lust after a "classic" gun on the likes of an unused colt python that I can shoot and make my own so to speak. However considering a local Gun shop owner's reaction to my gun, I also feel like I might not fully appreciate the firearm I have. Any thoughts, philosophies, further questions, and comments toward shooting/keeping unused are appreciated.
 
Your gun if it remains unfired would have a bit more value. But to what end? 586s are common and you will deprive youself of the immense pleasure of using it for its intended purpose. Your gun, You deceide.
 
While a awesome gun, keeping it unfired for 30 years won't fund your retirement and guns, even nice ones, are not considered good investments. Go shoot it, take care of it and most importantly, enjoy it.
 
I had one in the early 80s and it was an awesome shooter. I regret selling it, but needed cash at the time. Shoot it and enjoy it.
 
The problem with unfired guns is proving that they are indeed unfired. While the gun will eventually show signs of wear such as the dragline, a few cylinders can be put through it without any obvious signs of wear. Because of this, to get full value from leaving it unfired you'd have to find a buyer willing to take your word on the matter.

Firing the gun, on the other hand, won't detract from its value that much so long as it's kept in nice shape. As has also been mentioned, while a very nice gun, the 586 was originally made for nearly 20 years and has since been re-introduced by S&W, so they're not particularly rare. Because of these factors, were the gun mine I wouldn't hesitate to shoot and enjoy it.
 
I love guns, and I think guns were to use, not to put in the wall.:)

We will die as old as Adam, and our sons will shoot with our imaculate guns, or seel them to somebody that will customize to sport:mad:.

Do it you (shoot, off course):D.

My opinion...
 
My 2 cents, which is worth exactly what you paid for it. A big part of the allure of Pythons and other snake guns is the fact that they haven't been made in so long. Your S&W is not exactly a rare commodity, so while it may have an advantage at time of future sale for being unfired, that advantage may take 20 years or more to materialize. I have a 20 year old 686-4 that I refuse to ever sell because it's everything I want in a revolver. I also shoot her regularly, and because of the care I give her, you'd be hard pressed to tell there are thousands of rounds through her. One day my son will get the gun with the stipulation that he never sells her, and he shoots her regularly as well. My suggestion: enjoy your 586 as it was meant to be enjoyed. A weapon un-used is a useless weapon. Take good care of it and when the time comes you can sell it as a gently used piece or pass it along to someone else that will care for it and continue to enjoy it. Whatever you decide, good luck, be safe, and have fun!
 
If you keep it unfired for another 20 years someone will buy it from your estate and take it to the local gravel pit to shoot beer cans with it.

If it doesn't have historical value (Custers personal hand gun with Geronimo's initials carved into the grips) I'd take it out and shoot it. Give it a good cleaning after every session and it won't make a twenty dollar bills difference when it comes time to sell it.
 
I had a few safe queens but sold them all.
I couldn't justify having a beautiful gun in the safe and not using it.
I might suggest you sell the one you have and buy a shooter if there is any value in doing that at this time.
 
My "safe queens" still get fired. I won't carry them and I make sure to take extra care of them. But they all get shot. YMMV.

I believe that in the coming apocalypse loaded ammunition will become more valuable than gold or silver or guns.

But, assuming that I won't survive the apocalypse, guns aren't my investment of choice.
 
I have news for you- that "unfired" gun was test fired at the factory.

I IS a paperweight if you don't shoot it. Hey, you can get it refinished by S&W in 10 years if a scratch or two bothers you.
 
I USED to collect high-end Smiths (sold most of them to put my youngest thru college and THEN she got married 3 months later...) and can be fairly confident in saying your gun will appreciate ~10 a year. If you don't need a 6" .357 then I'd prolly do what a couple of the posts above said, sell it and buy a shooter. I have a 4 inch 586 no dash and it's been fired maybe 100 rounds and it's a dandy. I would suggest the 4" if u do sell and buy as it's handier: about the same FPS, easier to holster and accuracy will be the same. Blessings-Dan
 
Thank you for your replies. To the poster above, I did know it was fired at the factory. To every one else, thank you so much, I have decided on firing the gun. I cannot wait to use it.
 
It is not as if it were a 1903 Springfield made in 1918 that never had the bolt turned, or as I saw when I was a kid, a Springfield Flintlock musket without the frizzen ever being struck. It is a common, modern revolver. I would not think there would be collectors standing in line for this handgun during our lifetime. Shoot it.

Doug
 
I have news for you- that "unfired" gun was test fired at the factory.
Click to expand...
While this is true, you can still with complete confidence sell a firearm and bill it as "ANIB unfired" regardless of what the factory did to it. That's built in to the nature of this industry. If you are arguing semantics - you are correct, but if no consumer and nobody NOT employed by S&W has ever shot it, the market and industry refers to it as an unfired gun.

To the OP -- congrats on your decision, I believe you made the right one.

Once ever I purchase a gun and NEVER fired it. Simply, it was because I got a very pricey gun for less than half it's MSRP and I very nearly doubled my money on it after the pride of ownership of many months. I purchased it solely because of the price it was offered at and what I knew someone else might pay for it. I wanted to be able to offer it in clear conscience as an unfired gun -- even though the "factory" had obviously fired it and it hadn't even been cleaned afterward.

I have no regrets and the next owner was thrilled with it. Sure, I wish I had shot it. Yeah, I wish I still owned it. But if the same deal came to me again tomorrow, I'd likely do the same thing. :)
 
Life is short,Shoot it and enjoy it.
My 586 4" is my favorite revolver and I enjoy shooting it,when the time comes mine will be passed on to the kids.
 
I recently got a pristine, 6" 586 no-dash at a surprisingly low price. It quickly became my favorite revolver and I prefer to shoot it even over my Pythons. Whether to shoot it or just admire it is a personal decision, and I'm glad every time I shoot it that I chose the former course.
 
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