Collecting vs shooting
 

Do you shoot your collectibles?

Do you never shoot?

I don't shoot my collectibles. I do shoot a Luger that I think is the least valuable. It is a 36 that was sold to me as having blood on it. I have read several comments about blood on pistols and to my untrained eyes the patterns fit blood patterns as opposed to water. Also the substance wiped tight off and was left no rusty spot. That pistol may be more valuable than I think but I treat it as a shooter; because I don't have a shooter - except for an old war horse artillery that looks pretty bad. But still shoots extremely well.
Jack

C vs S
 

I would never shoot a collectable.
My shooting varies, some years quite frequently others only a few times.
If I could afford to buy collectors I would happily own at least a couple. I'd buy duplicate models to shoot though. As it stands I will just be collecting well refinished shooters in different configurations whenever possible.

Hi all,
I am fairly new here, and have carefully examined this question, here's the thread: http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=36411

I decided not to shoot a "collectible" (defined as a numbers matching gun, good original finish, i.e., a gun attractive to a collector-- i.e. If I broke a SN'd part, I would kick myself for having taken the chance)

I have 1 collectible, and 1 shooter. As time goes on, the number of collectibles can only decrease, while the number of shooters will stay constant, or more slowly decrease. Once a true collectible is gone... it's gone. I'm taking my time saving some $... and then looking for other collectibles, and maybe a special shooter... No hurry :)

In the meantime, I'm out at the range with my P38 shooter (have to wait until August to try my 1918 DWM shooter) or I'm reading my books and participating in my forums.

I couldnt live with myself if I broke a numbered piece on a pistol that survived 100+ years.
I definately wont shoot my collectible Lugers. I have one 36 S/42 that was returned to me
after being stolen. It is an old refinish and very well done. I will never part with this gun and this is
the one I shoot when I have the urge.

Well said Wayne.
Must be an interesting story, your stolen 1936 Mauser... I can imagine you are very happy to have it back! The temptation to shoot my collectible is not so hard to resist, after reading and learning more about the history of these guns. I wouldn't part with it either.

I will (and do) shoot old/matching/collectible firearms to a limited degree when I have a high level of confidence that something isn't going to break due to the design and reputation of the gun (limited moving parts, strongly built, not known to break). I also handload my rounds for these and most of my other centerfire firearms so I know exactly what I'm shooting.

Examples:

1864 Remington New Model Army
1900 Colt Bisley
1913 Colt Vest Pocket .25
1917 Colt Single Action Army
1918 Colt Model 1917
1922 Colt Hammerless .380
1922 Colt Army Special

I also have newer collectibles that I shoot on a regular basis - Colt Python, S&W Model 28, Colt Officers Model Match and Hi-Standard Supermatic Trophy among them.

Notice there aren't any Lugers on the list - for those I use mismatched or refinished "shooters" that wouldn't break my heart in the event a part broke.

I have 19 virgins, one shooter and 2 boxes of 9mm Winchester White Box's. Eric

Good point, I should add the restriction that my comments on collectibles certainly apply to Luger P08's, and other similar weapons which are complex and incur a higher risk of parts breakage. I had a Colt SAA which would now be a collectible- but which I thoroughly enjoyed shooting- with, as you say as well, my own reloads. (Sadly- I had to sell that gun, and a pre-'64 Winchester Model 94 lever action 30-30 when I moved here.)

Hi Eric, yes I remember your pics.... beautiful collection :)

I would say, that no matter what, the collectible models will slowly decrease due to damage (fire, people shooting, other events), while the shootable ones would also decrease via damage, I see them increasing faster due to the damage to collectibles. :)

Cash has a shelf life of ten minutes!! Lugers lasts several generations and much harder to lose!

I buy guns to shoot! Therefore I will not buy a collectable gun!

All my guns are factory original, except for bolt-on parts such as grips, sight mounts, etc. All get shot except for the few that remain unfired ex-factory. I deal with occasional parts breakages as best I can. At least all Luger parts are available for purchase. Don’t get me started on replacing parts in handmade pistols such as Korriphila HSP701.

nothing is more fun than whipping out a 1917 artillery and drilling a target from 50 feet. That's why I bought the arty and love it.

As I have mentioned before, I shoot my "collectible" guns, but I take precautions. I remove the commonly broken numbered parts, extractor, firing pin, perhaps the holdopen, and replace them with non-matching spares BEFORE I shoot. Then, barring any catastrophic failure, I put the matching originals back in the gun when I get home and clean it. Folks have mentioned cracked frames, broken breech blocks and such, but I am willing to risk those, as I think those are rare occurances. Plus, my intuition tells me that the guns that suffer major failure were abused at some point, such as firing British machine gun ammo, or bad "hot" handloads or some other tom-foolery. But, that being said, I like to shoot old guns, and don't care if that offends a "collector". I have 40,000 dollar guns that go to the range, and I rather enjoy shooting them. It is why I buy them. If I want wall hangers, I can get those cheap. If others want to buy guns and NOT shoot them, thats OK too.

I have a couple of shooter Lugers, a byf 41 and a Commercial Navy. But I also usually shoot my collectors only one time after I buy them. That is a very rich and satisfying experience for me.

Yeesss..... would be unique for sure! Part if me is very tempted sometimes
Bit after seeing that U-tube account of a collector Erfurt
losing the slide on the 3rd round....
I think I would be really nervous. But that's just me :)

Losing a "slide" on a luger would be really amazing- since it does not have one.:confused:

Any pistol can "break"; a luger is no more nor no less prone to break than any other.:soapbox:

What would you be nervous about? Shooting, breaking, or losing money? :evilgrin:

When you buy a pistol to shoot, are you not "collecting" them for shooting ?

A"collectible" gun has no firm definition; lots of people collect what others would consider "junk".:eek:

There are probably as many definitions of "collectible" as there are collectors, JMHO.