I guess if your talking about some low end common stuff blast away, but when your Miskitos are $2500 ++ and investment grade, a bit more thought goes into it. Cause odds are a buyer for high end stuff isn’t going to shoot it either.....
Shooting Super Mint Milsurps
- Thread starter albertacowboy
- Start date
I took some of my "safe queens" to the Regina Gun Show this year and put up a display. I paid for two "No sales" tables and displayed 17 rifles that aren't readily available in every gun shop. I had a lot of people stop and look those rifles over very carefully. The odd person would ask if they could pick a certain rifle up, and I always agreed to it, asking that they be careful not to bang them into another one. Next year, I'll probably dig a few different ones out of the pile and display them. There were only two or three real mint ones and we placed them where we could keep a strict eye on them. I received a lot of compliments on the display.
I know some "collectors" woudn't think of bringing their stuff and displaying it at a gun show. Heck, some wouldn't even consider letting anybody see their guns, period. I guess we aren't all thinking quite along the exact same lines, are we. I am thankful for that.
I know some "collectors" woudn't think of bringing their stuff and displaying it at a gun show. Heck, some wouldn't even consider letting anybody see their guns, period. I guess we aren't all thinking quite along the exact same lines, are we. I am thankful for that.
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
If they've been fired, limited use should be no problem.
When the value of a firearm rests in it's un fired status (ie. "Irish contract no4mk2") why strip it out of the wrap when you can buy a new condition no4mk1 or mk2 for considerably less that someone already stripped and decided that they really weren't that interested...
Thereby saving the premium on a varified un fired rifle.
Alternately I've fired REALLY rare guns which are carefully maintained by their owners for occasional and carefully conservative use.
When the value of a firearm rests in it's un fired status (ie. "Irish contract no4mk2") why strip it out of the wrap when you can buy a new condition no4mk1 or mk2 for considerably less that someone already stripped and decided that they really weren't that interested...
Thereby saving the premium on a varified un fired rifle.
Alternately I've fired REALLY rare guns which are carefully maintained by their owners for occasional and carefully conservative use.
I took some of my "safe queens" to the Regina Gun Show this year and put up a display. I paid for two "No sales" tables and displayed 17 rifles that aren't readily available in every gun shop. I had a lot of people stop and look those rifles over very carefully. The odd person would ask if they could pick a certain rifle up, and I always agreed to it, asking that they be careful not to bang them into another one. Next year, I'll probably dig a few different ones out of the pile and display them. There were only two or three real mint ones and we placed them where we could keep a strict eye on them. I received a lot of compliments on the display.
I know some "collectors" woudn't think of bringing their stuff and displaying it at a gun show. Heck, some wouldn't even consider letting anybody see their guns, period. I guess we aren't all thinking quite along the exact same lines, are we. I am thankful for that.
I also haul my collectibles out about once a year or 18 months. Allow people to handle carefully and learn a bit. Of course, every other guy has two or three of my rarest type at home or “just” sold all his. Lol. Bit most can’t tell mausers apart.
Ah yes, the experts. Or the "what's so special about that rifle?" guy, who just can't fathom that one of "them old army rifles" could possibly be worth x amount of $$. There must have been thousands upon thousands of snipers in WW2. Some shows, it seems everyone's grandpa or uncle was a sniper.
I took a really rare, as in 3 or 4 in North America (known), to a gun club monthly meeting one time. After all the business was over, I played a little show and tell and guess what it is. Once I explained what the rifle was, a couple of fellows asked if they could simply hold the rifle. One asked if he could dry fire it. I told him to go ahead, that it would be as close to being fired while I owned it. I am truly the "curator" of that rifle.
I've never understood the mentality that every gun has to be shot to be enjoyed. I'll use matching K98k's as an example since that's what I collect. If you take a highly collectible and valuable rifle to the range and something breaks, especially if it's a numbered part, you've now seriously devalued your rifle and damaged a hard to find piece of history.
You can have the exact same experience with a m/m or refurbed K98k of some sort without the big risk in financial or historical damage. I love shooting guns of all types but I think the preservation of some of them is also important. As mentioned before the minty unfired examples of any type of milsurp are getting few and far between.
You can have the exact same experience with a m/m or refurbed K98k of some sort without the big risk in financial or historical damage. I love shooting guns of all types but I think the preservation of some of them is also important. As mentioned before the minty unfired examples of any type of milsurp are getting few and far between.
I guess that depends on how you enjoy them. Im a car guy and there are plenty of collector car guys out there with restored muscle cars that get rolled or off the trailer at car shows and never fired up, or if fired up only driven on and off the trailer. They enjoy showing them and to be fair, compared to new hi-po cars, the old ones drive like poo. Then there's the street guys who build their cars to be driven and don't care to sit at car shows or enjoy them in the privacy of their own garage. Then there's the flipper and investment guys who have done nothing but drive up the price of the hobby ruining it for the rest of us.
- Location
- Leduc County, Alberta
I’m actually in both camps. In my collection, I have probably only shot maybe 10% of it. I used to use all my rare and expensive guns for hunting or blasting. But lately, I pretty much just shoot my hunting rifles when hunting, .22s with my boys, and my 7.62 guns (x39/x51/x54R) for general mayhem.
Mostly it’s because I just don’t have the time these days with the farm, and little kids, but also, I just enjoy working and fixing rifles too. My Militaria collection keeps growing so that someday, when the kids move out, my whole basement will be a museum with mannequins and complete setups!
My collection is mostly on display (legally) in my gunroom and meticulously taken care of, so I can go in there and drink a rum, oil some steel, and admire the gats...
Though you guys really need to try obliterating a hill full of gophers with a TNW MG34 sometime, or bang-flop a deer with a Gewehr43! It’s solid good fun!
To each their own, and to all a good night!
Mostly it’s because I just don’t have the time these days with the farm, and little kids, but also, I just enjoy working and fixing rifles too. My Militaria collection keeps growing so that someday, when the kids move out, my whole basement will be a museum with mannequins and complete setups!
My collection is mostly on display (legally) in my gunroom and meticulously taken care of, so I can go in there and drink a rum, oil some steel, and admire the gats...
Though you guys really need to try obliterating a hill full of gophers with a TNW MG34 sometime, or bang-flop a deer with a Gewehr43! It’s solid good fun!
To each their own, and to all a good night!
I'm a collector. I collect nice examples, and preserve them as is.
A lot of people choose to shoot them, wear them out, break parts, change parts, etc. but I'll keep mine exactly as is.
It's your own choice but there's a reason nice original guns are so rare now, particularly in Canada.
I appreciate the history behind these guns far more than actually shooting them. If I want to shoot a gun, I'll shoot a modern clone or mixmaster, the experience is the same, while the nice old collectors pieces stay in retirement.
-Steve
A lot of people choose to shoot them, wear them out, break parts, change parts, etc. but I'll keep mine exactly as is.
It's your own choice but there's a reason nice original guns are so rare now, particularly in Canada.
I appreciate the history behind these guns far more than actually shooting them. If I want to shoot a gun, I'll shoot a modern clone or mixmaster, the experience is the same, while the nice old collectors pieces stay in retirement.
-Steve
yeah the problem with collector guns is they usually breed a pair so you have a shooting version to play with and the nice one to store when your down and out and really need the cash or your child/grandchild needs to pay for (hopefully) University or licensed trade course etc...
ah not shooting a rifle because its too minty is like having a hot girlfriend and not banging her because you want to save her for the next guy
Hahaha....yeah...good point woodchopper.
Fondle too long and the blue balls set in
Coyote Ugly
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
This statement below strictly applies to the guys with a Refurbed Frankenbolt $79 91/30 Nagant and a $99 SKS! LMFAO!
ah not shooting a rifle because its too minty is like having a hot girlfriend and not banging her because you want to save her for the next guy
I shoot most of my rifles. The more beat up ones see the most range time, and even then I feed them a steady diet of cast loads so they have incurred zero bore wear since being in my collection.
I do have 1 rifle an 88/05/35 turk with matching serials on everything and a matching bayonet. The rifle looks like its unfired. That one will never see a round while I own it!!
To each their own, its your gun and therefore it's up to you.
I do have 1 rifle an 88/05/35 turk with matching serials on everything and a matching bayonet. The rifle looks like its unfired. That one will never see a round while I own it!!
To each their own, its your gun and therefore it's up to you.
Is that the old bent barrel, cracked stocked one I tricked you with?
Yes sir!!! I pull it out of rack and admire it often but like I said wont fire that one.
