DiamondBack .38 I have a conflict

[BozemanMT]

So, I'm BS'ing with my neighbor and I know he's a collector. He says Oh i'm cutting back (he's older, I think he's financing his retirement). What do you want?
First he hauls out a Python Hunter, Colt case, everything. from teh factory scope, 8 inch barrel. Pretty cool, but not really what I "need".
I say, do you have any diamondback's? Really looking for a nice .22 DiamondBack.
He goes and rummages around and comes back out with a (are you sitting down?)
In the box, brand new, never fired, 1979 .38spl 6inch barrel DiamondBack.
Beautiful.
I now own it.
But, here's the questioins? Do I shoot it?
That first shot is 200 bucks. (more or less teh difference in prices). But I only own shooters.
I have a couple days to think on this, opinions valued.

Oh, the owners manual has the list of revolvers it's good for. (Dect. special, diamondback, etc) then at the end it says "Viper"
What the heck is a viper? never heard of that.

thanks

 

[Erich]

Viper - It's basically an alloy-framed Police Positive Special. Here's a site with a photo:

http://centralfloridapawn.com/coltcollectrevolver.html


(They also have a nice case on sale for your 6" Diamondback.)

Hey, did you buy it to collect it or to shoot it? None of us can tell you the answer. Personally, I shoot my guns - and I drive my cars. I also read my books and play my LPs. But there are people who collect (and do not use - to ensure continued perfect condition) all of those things. They're not wrong, and neither am I. Neither will you be, no matter what you decide. (But shoot it! )

 

[RON in PA]

I don't buy a gun unless I can shoot it. Some I shoot frquently and some I shoot once in a blue moon, but they are shot. Now if I had an engraved Colt Patterson I might refrain.

 

[saltydog452]

A 'shot' Diamondback

Shoot it..Wanna sell it after you shoot it? I'll offer about two hundred less than you paid.

salty.

 

[nbkky71]

From what I've seen lately, Colts have been commanding higher prices. Perhaps it might be wise to leave it in the safe for a while and see what happens. If the prices stay the same, then go ahead and shoot away. If you see that the prices are going up, the less you shoot the better.

I do like to shoot the guns that I own too. However, I have made an exception to this rule lately. I picked up a S&W model 52-2 for a STEAL of a price. I've shot a buddy's 52-1 and absolutely love it, which is why I bought mine. However, this gun is a mint safe-queen. I'd love to pull the trigger on it, but this one is going to sit in the safe as an investment.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'm in the market for a Diamondback .38 special, blued, with a six-inch barrel in minty condition.

 

[stans]

Tough call. A real live never been fired since it left the factory still in the box with all the papers Diamondback. Really kind of rare these days and a die hard collector would likely be willing to part with certain parts of his anatomy for such a find. If I had something like that, I think I would keep it well oiled and in the box. There are plenty of shooter grade Diamondbacks out there, you just have to watch for them.

 

[sendec]

Hate to sound like a hippy...

...but I dont believe its a gun 'til its been shot. Tell ya what - send it to me I'll shoot it, relieving you of the burden of the decision. After all, DBs are pieces of junk and I would'nt want anybody to be stuck with one.

 

[russlate]

I'd use it as a lead bullet only gun. Wadcutters, LRN or SWC standard pressure.

Yes, Colt says it'll handle +P, so get a box ( make it 2 boxes - 100 rounds ) of 158 SWCHP +P and verify where it shoots. Should be close enough to standard pressure lead it'll be close enough.

If you keep it loaded, use the +P's. If not, keep the speedloaders filled with +P's. But do your shooting with standard pressure. Baby it. Pamper it. Treat it gently so when you go, your son gets it in the same shape it's in now except for a better trigger.

 

[Golddog]

Diamondback

Suppose it doubles in value by the time you retire? (It won't.) Will the gun pull in enough money to let you live off it? If not, it's just taking up space. Why have unused stuff locked up out of sight? Use it.

 

[Gunrunner]

I don't like owning guns that I don't shoot. I can understand the collector value in keeping them new, but it's not for me. If I can't shoot it I don't want it.

If you do end up shooting that Diamondback let us all know how it does.

 

[asa]

shoot 'em?

I'm a Colt collector and normally purchase only those I can shoot. Of my 12 Colts I do, however, have two NIB specimens I don't fire: a 2 1/2 in. blued Python, and an early 3rd gen. SAA (with the SA suffix serial #) 4 3/4 in. .357. Even though they're not all that valuable-and probably won't increase in value appreciably-I sort of look upon them as works of art: nice examples of discontinued objects that should remain as pristine as possible. Plus, I have SAA and Python shooters! Shoot it if you wish, but as a previous post said, why not just look for a shooter and save the 6 in. Diamondback-at least for a while?

 

[BozemanMT]

So, still haven't decided what to do, but leaning towards shooting it.

But today, at the THR Colorado gathering, SmokeRizen let me shoot his 2.5" DiamondBack 38spl
Ohhhhhh my
20 yards, DA
4 on the 6 inch target,
out of a 2.5 inch revolver.
I want one.
Thanks SmokeRizen.

 

[Preacherman]

Why not post it for sale on a swap-out basis? Your NIB unfired Diamondback in exchange for a good-condition shooter plus $200. If I were a Colt collector (which I'm not) that would sound like a pretty attractive deal to me...

 

[BozemanMT]

But why woudl I want to trade?
i was thinking just buying more
That is the american way isn't it?

1 2.5 inch, 1 4inch, 1 6 inch
in both 38 and 22

See, i have a plan.
unless something else gets in the way. (you know, as in "cooolll, i need one")
happens a lot.

 

[Smoke Rizen]

Take your time, no hurry,unless the heathens are at your door!(then you could always use the King Cobra). I,m glad you liked the Diamondback.It's the only thing I have at 2.5" which makes it a nice little ccw.I'm curious about the Python. If you have any info on it drop me a PM.
Thank's, S.R.

 

[4v50 Gary]

No don't shoot it. It belongs in a museum. Guess what, I'm starting one up now and yours can be item #1 with an acquisition number 2004.1.1

Think about it.

Escuse me, some men with white suits are knocking on my door.