+1 to Bob A. I have no use for collector firearms of the type that you can't shoot because they'll depreciate in value, although I realize that there are many people who do like to collect them. So, to each his own, I say. Personally, I prefer practical, useful and pre-owned guns that can be bought dirt cheap and can be counted upon to hold their value and maybe even appreciate in value in the future beyond what I paid. I particularly like the old 1917-1970 era 38 Special or 45 ACP service revolvers. Some of the best bargains in the world can be found when a Police Department somewhere turns in their old service revolvers and rearms with modern autos. Many of the revolvers that come up for sale like that have been carried a lot, but shot very little. If you can find one like that, they're usually solid and dependable guns, and they have - for want of a better word - character. They don't look evil. They don't look sexy. They look like what they are - solid performance police/military style weapons that are simple to operate and of an effective caliber. My 1965 Colt Official Police service revolver with it's 6" tapered barrel is a fine-looking gun that will handle the most potent modern 38 Special +P loads., and it will do exactly the same job as a modern $800 357 revolver that's loaded with 38 Special +p's (as most 357's are). In fact, if that expensive modern 357 that's loaded with 38 Special +P's has a 2" or 4" barrel, my old 6" Colt OP is a bigger hitter. And I'm satisfied that my Colt OP, shooting the 38 Special ammo it was built to shoot, is intrinsically more accurate than a modern 357 loaded with 38 Special ammo, even if the 357 has a 6" barrel. Why? Because of the long jump that a 38 Special Round has to make from the chamber of a 357 to the 357 forcing cone which does cost some degree of accuracy.
). Early on, everyone has their own idea as to how something should work, so there are lots of different designs. The older guns may not be better, but they are a lot more interesting, especially when you figure in any historical significance.
. But it works out for me sometimes 
