Ysabel Kid wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 1:00 pm
So, a serious question for you Six. If it was yours, would you keep it in mint condition, or give it a couple pulls of the trigger?
OK Kid……this is how it goes….we have two motivations…..1….is to preserve perfection for a monetary gain……2….is to use it for what it was designed for.
I’ve always been an investor, demanding what I paid ,..EASILY back in return and a decent percentage every year……..there are two kinds of investment guns…old desirable guns and new desirable guns……..new ones need not apply as your kids and mine will be gone before they appreciate more than what a months electricity costs……….Old desirable guns like antique Winchesters and Colts that are new or nearly new cost a lot of money but they appreciate if left alone…..
There’s an old saying ..”Condition Sells”……..
I’m making this number up as to value…..PRETENDING HERE…..let’s pretend your gun is worth 2K…….in ten years it may be worth 2.5K or about what inflation is doing…….on the other hand, an antique 1873 in 99% condition will also gain value but is MORE desirable and will attract a smaller but more heeled clientele. That 1873 will always be an instant seller where the 1895 will also be an easy seller but the value will never approach the 1873. OLD guns in mint condition is better than money in the bank where newer guns in mint condition will also be money in the bank but on a far lesser premium……say…..STILL PRETENDING…….3K vs 20K………a loss on shooting the 1895 will be minimal ….pretending 10-15% and the same on the 1873….10-15%…..IF you keep the gun or guns in excellent+ condition….BUT….a $500 loss is a lot less than the $5,000 loss than what you would have with the 1873…….
As an example, commemorative Winchesters built in the 1960’s-1970-s will only have a slight loss if fired or hunted with a few times vs, NIB but will retain 60-70% even if fired a lot and are not all beat up…….
Another example…….a ‘62 Corvette with 5,000 miles on it will retain the value and desirability MUCH MORE than a ‘72 Plymouth Fury with 5,000 miles on it so drive the s,hit out of the Plymouth and baby the Vette with a back and forth down the driveway and back.
As your 1895 is a top notch quality gun, you will never see any appreciable gain in value if kept NIB vs. shooting and hunting with it……
SHOOT IT…….I only have a few Winchesters & Colts that stay unfired and it’s all investment based…..
These 2 do not get fired….they remain new from 1891 and 1917…….along with a handful of others…..everything else gets shot…gently.
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