OH NO! Am I becoming a collector??

[Homerboy]

I like your analysis.

But my reason for maybe not shooting it is not to save its value. I doubt I will ever sell it. I just think it’s cool to have a revolver that old in such condition, and I am reluctant to risk dinging it!

Still thinking about it, could go either way.

Me too. My son will own it one day so I’m not selling it. But it will never be this pristine again and he gets plenty of enjoyment shooting my other revolvers.

Then again, there was a guy in YouTube a few years ago who shot his dad’s unfired Model 15 after his dad died. He said he did it to honor his dad and wished they had shot it together.

 

[Pat Riot]

Joy should not come with guilt.

Years ago I worked with a guy that collected NIB Smith & Wessons but they had to be “unturned”. He would pay big bucks for them and drive many miles to make his acquisitions.
Personally, I did not fully understand his hobby and I didn’t really appreciate it until one day he invited me to his home to see his collection.
WOW! He had one beautiful collection of revolvers. He had an even dozen at the point. Eventually he had them displayed in a secure case made of heavy Lexan so that visitors could see his “babies”. He also added a security system to the case and it was tied into his home security system.
It made him happy. That’s truly all that mattered.

 

[bannockburn]

J-Bar

I have to say that is one fine looking M&P revolver! An outstanding addition to your collection!

Whether you decide to shoot it or not is up to you but the way I look at it is this: I buy a gun because I want to shoot it (accurately I hope). I don't want to relegate it to the safe, only to be taken out every now and then, lovingly admiring it, and then put back in the safe. To me that's not enjoyable enough, as compared to taking it to the range and see how it does, what ammo it likes, how smooth that 1949 era double action feels, and how nicely that 5" barrel K frame balances in your hand. Those are just a few of the things I would be missing out on if I never used it.