bob
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I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457 
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Jan 14, 2018 11:23:37 GMT -5
My (friend) LGS gave me the opportunity to buy a never fired NIB 12 ga. model 12 at a reasonable price. My quandary is, whether or not to accept the challenge of having an unfired gun and not shooting it or doing what I normally do  . I'm not a museum so I may pass on this opportunity. Any thoughts! |
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poohzilla
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Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
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Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Jan 14, 2018 18:06:36 GMT -5
Bob, to my mind, it's sort of like the Velveteen Rabbit. It won't be Real gun until it is loved, and for that, it needs to be shot. It will then become Real, although comparatively old and tattered. Do that, and to truly enjoy the experience, put that first shot downrange in front of a hardcore Winchester collector !  Did I actually write that ? Nice quandary, but I think an unfired gun is sort of a sad thing, in a way. Personally, I think I'd grab a decent used one and shoot it. I'll be interested to hear what the rest of the crew comes up with ! |
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Post by hacker54 on Jan 14, 2018 20:32:38 GMT -5
Well decisions decisions what to do. If the price is very reasonable to me I would buy it keep it in NIB condition and see what value it would become. It could be used as a barging chip for something in the future. Would shooting it bring down the value yes but I don't think by much. I've see old used guns go for a very pretty penny. Those pennies by the way are way too shiny for me.
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SnapShot
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Jeep & Mocha "Remembering Patches, always"
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Location: Finally free from the Republic of Kalifornia!
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Post by SnapShot on Jan 15, 2018 11:42:54 GMT -5
Bob ~ I think I’d look at it as an investment opportunity. If your budget is such that you can make the investment go for it. It’s the way I buy some precious metals or coins. However, I have had poor luck in buying guns this way. I’m a shooter; not a collector. Don’t get me wrong, I have some safe queens but they are there because I just can’t bring myself to let them go and yet don’t seem to shoot them anymore. I just re-read this . . . it doesn’t look like I have any good advise for you  . ~ SnapShot |
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gws
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Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Jan 15, 2018 12:17:17 GMT -5
The "investment" isn't worth a damn (to you) you will most likely never see outcome. I'm too old for such investments......unless I'm investing for my children, who when I die, will probably sell ignorantly.  Therefore, if you were me, you'd pass and get something with the $ you can enjoy selfishly....or better invest forward on purpose.....in your kids ... realizing there are more sure and now ways of helping your kids. There are exceptions.................... I just read about a bellhop who was "tipped" by Einstein who was short of pocket change. He gave him a note with some good advice on it, and signed it. The bellhop died, but passed it down to a grandson ... who auctioned the "tip" off for over a million dollars! Bellhop didn't see the outcome of that investment....but his grandson was ecstatic after thinking the auction might bring him a thousand dollars if he was lucky.  Was Einstein cheap.....no. Wise!...he was already famous......He told the bellhop he had no money, but his written "tip" it might be worth something someday.  One more real story: A friend of mine was a gun collector.....he had guns stashed everywhere, in the attic, behind the couch hidden between wall studs.....every where, all were unopened NIB. 90% were one offs....special editions....of all kinds. After he died his wife called Cabelas and they sent a "buyer" to make an offer. She took it.........a small sickening offer....ten thou. It was worth 10 times that probably more. The wife put it in the bank in a regular savings account. When she died the kids split the money.....probably 2 thou a piece. |
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Jan 27, 2018 15:49:44 GMT -5
Conclusion to quandary. I was at my LGS today and while I was there a gentleman who is a collector came saw the gun and wanted it. After "interviewing" him I let him buy that model 12 without remorse on my part!
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gws
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Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Jan 27, 2018 20:36:23 GMT -5
That was easy. Had something like that to go through once, only worse......there was remorse: Bought a brand new Series 70 Colt Gold Cup 1911....Beautiful of Beautifuls, with a six mile deep, perfect blued finish! Kept it for 8 years, (loving tender care) then, one day I thought this is nuts! I cringed every time I shot it. Yes it was accurate, yes, it was the smoothest slide to pull back of any 1911, yes it was perfect in every way......and I felt guilty! ...like I was shooting a museum piece! ...on every outing with it!......and so I never shot it enough to satisfy the hunger. So then I finally listed it for sale........one week later I got my (high teeth gritting) price..... and the guy went whistling and skipping out the door and to his car! Bought a stainless Kimber Target II with the money.......and I've shot the hell out of it since...... but it never was the same. Never got over it either. Moral? If you got a museum piece that you LOVE to shoot, keep it and destroy the "museum" (what good is a good gun in a museum) out of it by shooting the hell out of it. If you can't do that then....be glad you passed. No attachment. Go shooting tomorrow... with guns you don't feel bad about shooting! |
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poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Jan 29, 2018 12:27:36 GMT -5
Bob, I think that all resolved itself in a happily ever after manner ! I don't know if I should start a new thread, but what about firearms as an investment ? I'm not sure the long-term market is that great. Guys our age are one thing, but younger folks are being drawn to the plastic stuff. Guns are becoming more a box-store commodity. Even gunstores are turning into bright, airy, places full of blister packs. Some of the popular stuff is so cheap that even if you can find a gunsmith these days, it's almost cheaper to toss it and buy new.
The theory goes on, but how am I doing so far ? ( I promised to stir the pot in 2018 !  |
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SnapShot
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Jeep & Mocha "Remembering Patches, always"
Posts: 699
Location: Finally free from the Republic of Kalifornia!
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Post by SnapShot on Jan 29, 2018 13:35:52 GMT -5
Well stated Poo ~
I have always said that the small amount of gold and silver in the gun safe AND the guns are my EMERGENCY funds. If it ever really hits the fan I still think I could turn some quick cash. It's not my retirement investment, just my Oh, S#*T exit plan. I'm not so sure that any gun wouldn't work in those cases but when the kids have to decide what to do after I'm gone . . . the old "metal" guns should bring them much more than today's throw-a-ways.
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Jan 29, 2018 16:37:58 GMT -5
Well fact of the matter is, I agree with y'all. |
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Jan 30, 2018 18:04:09 GMT -5
Snapshot....about your s#*T exit plan. You already wisely did that..... California is the scariest place in the west. I get really scared for people I know who live there, thinking about how the freeways will vomit to a halt in about an hour after a big gitaway emergency hits. Now you just have to head north a little ways, and hide in the Grand Canyon. Me, I will hide in the Colorado mountains....and if I can't get there....the res....... Who would escape to the res?......exactly. (Navajo Reservation) My son is in Firestone North of Denver......he would have the same problem as Californians.....only he can run East to nowhere....let's hope none of this ever happens........I'm for a quick ending......a big bright....flash! Kidding.... Bob.....at least you are in Northern.....C. Where's a tongue-in-cheek icon? I need a tongue-in-cheek icon!  |
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. I'm not a museum so I may pass on this opportunity.
Did I actually write that ? Nice quandary, but I think an unfired gun is sort of a sad thing, in a way. Personally, I think I'd grab a decent used one and shoot it. I'll be interested to hear what the rest of the crew comes up with !
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Therefore, if you were me, you'd pass and get something with the $ you can enjoy selfishly....or better invest forward on purpose.....in your kids ... realizing there are more sure and now ways of helping your kids.
Was Einstein cheap.....no. Wise!...he was already famous......He told the bellhop he had no money, but his written "tip" it might be worth something someday. 
My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 