[Zamo]

When I started this thread, in my "careless nonchelance" and "naivete", (I'll hand it to you Jerry, I've never been accused of those traits before), I assumed there would be divergent oppinions on the issue, but I never suspected I'd be stirring quit this level of hornets nest.
I have resisted responding during this thread, because I really wanted to see how it shook out.
Mr. Burney has repeated his request for a "good reason" to shoot a valuable Luger. I can only speak for myself, but, as I started this tirade, I'll give it a straight from the heart answer.
There is no such thing as a valuable Luger. The true value of any and all Lugers is exactly the same as a shooter. Any inflated value is an artificial value created and perpetuated by a very small segment of the shooting community, namely "The Collecting Community", as you named it. Pistol values may climb ridiculously high within this "Community", but that does not mean that is the real value of an item, any more than my taking a rare and unmolested chicken sandwich and putting a $5000 price tag on it. Few indeed are the (fools) who will rush out and pay that price, yet once Chicken sandwich collecting takes off, more and more people will be hood winked into paying top dollar for the one with Kraft mayonaise instead of Miracle Whip, and Heaven help the collector whose sandwich has had a bite taken out of it, or whose crust has begun to peel...The value of the sandwich remains $1.49 to the great masses, and rather than paying $5000 for one, they will go next door and buy a burger for $2.49. Or maybe some Pizza...
Oh, I realize that for the six people who truly value that one of a kind, historically significant "all original" sandwich, the likes of which will never be offered again (After all, the particular bird carved for that sandwich has long since expired), it's scarcity and value will be high, and ever climb higher as they continue to expound and celebrate the merits of that one sandwich.
What was it P.T. Barnum said?
OK, Now that I've pissed off a few folks to a great extreme, and hopefully made a few chuckle, and even more hopefully made one or two pause and think about things, let me say that I do value History, I hold a B.A. in History, and have 70 some odd collectable firearms (only half of which I have ever shot), I think Mr. Burney's argument against shooting a collectable firearm is sane and valid.
It is also completely dull, boring, and not a formulae I plan on adopting.
Like it or not, there is a romance to old firearms, in particular the Luger. A "mystique".
If you ever saw the movie "Toy Story" you might know what I'm talking about (Maybe it was "Toy Story II?). "If" your Luger had a conscience, do you think it would like to be a shooter? Or a Safe Queen? I'm not saying a piece of metal is sentient, or has feelings or anything like that, but I am saying that each and every one of them is unique and should be "realized".
The story is the same as the beautiful prom queen who stands by the wall because everybody is afraid to ask her to dance...
Maybe these analogies don't ring true to you, but that's the best I can do as to "why" it's important to shoot them: It is what they were made for.
Shooting a Frankensteinian parts assemblage may very closely approximate shooting a pristine example, indeed, for all quantifiable purposes it is the same. However, it's that unquantifiable element that I am trying very hard, and very poorly to illustrate: It's not the same.
In the end, did you shoot Rommel's Luger, or "one just like it"?
When I started this thread, I never meant to suggest a significantly valuable piece should have the heck shot out of it, but as a few others have weighed in, one magazine does not a shooter make.
As to the risk of breaking parts, well, in 30 years of shooting, the only part I've ever broken was on a cheap $90 EAA .22 revolver. These things were designed to be fired. In COMBAT for crying out loud. I'm not saying parts don't break, but I think you are using that as an excuse. If these things were that brittle, few would have made it through two world wars "all matching". Granted I am simplifying things, that is my perogative. I know all about metal fatigue, and stress, and hairline cracks, and over powered cartridges, and what not.
You're right, in the end, it's the OWNERS call. I fully respect anyones decision not to shoot their pistols, for what ever reason. I believe I even said as much in my initial post. If I were into it enough to spend $6000 on a Navy Luger when it seems my family could have used the money better, or in an investment with a greater percentage of return, I might be reluctant to compromise it's value either. But then again, even while Luger prices have done some amazing skyrocketing, buying high is never a wise idea financially, and therefore I wonder if even those using that excuse aren't actually secumbing to the same "romance", "mystique", and "allure" that prompts some of us to want to shoot these grand ol' dames?
The only Luger I currently own cost me about $1600, and is not that impressive of a piece to a collecting grognard, but it's pretty neat to me. I have no intention of ever selling it, so it will always have the same value I spent on it to me. I have no interest in worrying about what shape it will be in in 100 years, as I can guarantee I won't be here to worry about it. I also have no intention of treating with any less admiration and dilligent care as I treat all my antique firearms. It will have a reasonably good chance of passing on to it's next owner in exactly the same shape it's in now, assuming it doesn't undergo one of these freakish breakages you reference, and if it should break, than it will be a shooter, I will get more entertainment out of it, and the next owner will too. I will be out maybe $800. That is a risk I am willing to take for one or maybe two magazines. If it seems extreme to you, might I suggest you never play poker with me, and find a nice quiet corner to cowardly while away your remaining years in. I will be out shooting.
PS:
I apologize if I have angered anyone with my ramblings, but that is how I feel...and you asked!