Commemorative pistols, shoot or safe queen?

[mousegunner]

If you bought a commemorative pistol would you shoot it?

It's like this, a pistol that's issued to certain people only, no commercial version available, not a limited run (2000+) not gold filled or fancy engraving, yes special markings but no fancy box with letter of authenticity (well maybe). Oh and it's a Glock.

Me yes I'd shoot it. I have a special run of a Sig 250 but it's nothing super special. I've heard the guys with low SNs have asked for more when reselling but in the end its only worth more to the person who wants one.

Sometime back McMillan made an exact copy of a USMC sniper rifle. In that case I'd buy 2, one for shooting and one queen for the safe.

 

[Ray123]

If you bought a commemorative pistol would you shoot it?

It's like this, a pistol that's issued to certain people only, no commercial version available, not a limited run (2000+) not gold filled or fancy engraving, yes special markings but no fancy box with letter of authenticity (well maybe). Oh and it's a Glock.

Me yes I'd shoot it. I have a special run of a Sig 250 but it's nothing super special. I've heard the guys with low SNs have asked for more when reselling but in the end its only worth more to the person who wants one.

Sometime back McMillan made an exact copy of a USMC sniper rifle. In that case I'd buy 2, one for shooting and one queen for the safe.

Yes,... I'd shoot it ...it's a Glock. I shoot collector Colts,..But that's me...So...like Aces in 22, SAA 45, old gold cup, old colt python, if it's one of 2000, or one of 450, fancy crap on the cylinder. They all get shot...alot. They are guns for shootin and I ain't savin em for someone else to shoot, or collect. Ya only live once..
Besides it will improve the price of others who don't shoot their collector firearm. Almost bought a 1903 Colt SAA but it needed to be shootable in good condition, so I could put thousands of rds through it. Collector don't mean much to me... if I can't shoot it, I don't want it. Just my take, and I'm glad some have hardly used their old forearms, so I can get one in shootable condition.

 

[1shot]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What @Ray123 said.

Lloyd

 

[Toolbreaker]

I think a person either collects for the enjoyment of the collection, or collects for the enjoyment of the items themselves. Doesn't really matter if its cars, firearms or anything else. I'd shoot it. Alot if I really liked it.

 

[6BRA]

My experience comemoratives pull premium prices to the original buyer, and then the novelty wheres off. Never got a big return on reselling. Shoot it.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

You can't take it with you. Would you rather someone else shoot it?

 

[NorCalMikie]

Kinda like collecting cars. If I have it, I'll be driving it. Maybe not much but at least it's go down the road.
Anybody with a "collection" isn't in the same group. Drive it if you've got it.
IMHO, no use having a car if you can't drive it or a gun if you can't shoot it.
Might Just as well have pictures of both. No loss in value that way.

 

[nmkid]

I think it depends on what you have. I for one would never buy a gun I wasn't planning on shooting. On the other hand, my brother-in-law has 2 Colt Pythons in .38 Target Special. One is blued and the other is nickel. The pistols have never been shot, (except at the factory I guess) and he has the original boxes they came in. He says when he kicks the bucket his son can do whatever he wants with them. But, for now, they are just for looking at.

 

[K22]

There is no right or wrong answer to your question - it depends on your purpose for purchasing said firearm.

I know a few that are collectors / investors that merely collect and sale firearms. They won't even turn the cylinder on a rare revolver to avoid the chance of scaring the cylinder. That's their game.

Personally, I shoot everything I own. For me a firearm is a tool, to be used. While certainly the prescribed and sensible maintenance / cleaning / handling needs to be observed, I've never been one to "baby" a firearm - I use shoot them and they see heavy field duty.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I have lots of guns I never shoot. Doesn't mean I couldn't. They are more to look at, fondle, and hopefully an investment that increases in value.

 

[SSL]

My experience comemoratives pull premium prices to the original buyer, and then the novelty wheres off. Never got a big return on reselling. Shoot it.

I agree. My uncle collected every Winchester commemorative he could find. He always called his collection his retirement plan. When he died, we could hardly give them away. Most sold for less than a comparable 'plain' firearm. The reason? Most didn't want all that gaudy, shiny, fancy stuff on a 'using' rifle. What few 'collectors' showed up already had what they wanted and were just looking for a deal or just a specific firearm that they didn't have. Even then, they weren't interested in paying a premium just because they were commemoratives. Most admitted that they would barely break even, if that, on their own collections.

 

[SSL]

If you bought a commemorative pistol would you shoot it?

It's like this, a pistol that's issued to certain people only, no commercial version available, not a limited run (2000+) not gold filled or fancy engraving, yes special markings but no fancy box with letter of authenticity (well maybe). Oh and it's a Glock.

Me yes I'd shoot it. I have a special run of a Sig 250 but it's nothing super special. I've heard the guys with low SNs have asked for more when reselling but in the end its only worth more to the person who wants one.

Sometime back McMillan made an exact copy of a USMC sniper rifle. In that case I'd buy 2, one for shooting and one queen for the safe.

Unless you can find the correct documentation, it's just another pistol. Even with the documentation, you would need to find just the right person who was willing to pay the extra for such a firearm. My advice...shoot it and have fun!

 

[mousegunner]

My wife got into the Beanie Babies craze years ago, they're sitting in a box in the garage waiting for a trip to Goodwill.

I'll get the Glock and shoot it. Not a Glock fan but I have a need for one as a trainer pistol so it will get used.

 

[jackieschmidt]

The only two “collector Firearms” I own are these two Texas Battleship Commemorative 45 Government models. I did not buy them for investment purposes, I bought them to donate to the Battleship Texas Commision.

I want to shoot them, but my wife won’t let me.

 

[Knotwild]

I have a S&W Model 19 Texas Ranger Commemorative and knife. It's not worth much more than I paid for it and I've never shot it. Also, a 70's Interarms Luger, I have shot and it's not worth much more either. In fact based on the value of the dollar, I lost money. Than again, flowery stuff means nothing to me.

 

[drop_point]

This isn't one of the Mariner editions dumped on the market is it?

 

[mousegunner]

This isn't one of the Mariner editions dumped on the market is it?

If you're asking me, no.

 

[joshb]

I only own one gun I haven’t shot....yet. It’s a 1903 A3. That steel butt plate is going to hurt. I know it! Someday I’m going to work up some lite lead bullet loads for it.

 

[Lone Hunter]

Same here. Don’t/ Can’t take the recoil anymore. Maybe light loads , then again, maybe not..

 

[Ray123]

Yeah, recoil is harder to deal with when you're old.
That said yesterday I shot 35 rounds of 500 gr bullets at 1810 fps from a Winchester 1886 45-90 20" 8 lb short rifle with the curved steel butt plate, about 44 ft/lb of recoil from each shot...and I was thinking of increasing the powder charge, to see how fast I could shoot 500 gr bullets before pressure set in...but changed my mind about half way through... fired a few high velocity 300 gr and definitely tell the difference. My shoulder is bruised today...so I'll still see whats possible with 500 gr. I've already ran 400gr to 2200 fps 50ft/lbs of recoil but that's not going to be my plinking load, especially with the curved steel butt plate.