I understand how rare and collectable guns can be kept as safe queens. However, my thought is what happens to them when you pass on unless you hand them down to someone who appreciates them as much as you do? You buy them, fondle them, clean them, coddle them and put them out of sight in a dark safe. You never get the pleasure of shooting them. You get old, frail, forgetful but you still admire these beautiful guns. You pass on to the gun range in the sky and these gems now move along to someone who will sell them in an estate sale or traded in to a gun dealer for the latest black marvel. Unless your heirs appreciate them as you do, their legacy will mean nothing once you move on. Yeah, maybe if you shoot them they won't be worth as much when your heirs sell them but at least you got to enjoy them for what they were made to do. Be shot. Fragile guns are different.
I knew a guy who bought a brand new 1996 Chevy Impala SS when they came out. He put maybe 500 miles on it and parked it in his garage. He refused to drive it because he didn't want to put any miles on it. He knew it would be worth twice or three times what he paid for it in 20-30 years if he did not drive it. Of course, he had to start it and run it once a month or so to keep the gaskets moist and the fluids moving. He washed it, waxed it and showed it to his buddies. 10 years later it still looked and smelled brand new because it was. Maybe he'll live long enough to sell it and get his triple original cost (less after inflation). Maybe he'll have to sell it when his nursing home takes all his retirement cash and now wants his assets liquidated and maybe his kids will get it and drive it and enjoy it. All I know is he never really did what it was meant to do, be driven. Yes, he got his joy in looking at it and washing and waxing it. However, I see it as having a wife so beautiful that you never wanted to touch her. What fun is that? If you wanted it bad enough to buy it then you should at least get to enjoy it.
I have a good friend who got a Colt Delta Elite from his wife as a wedding gift. 30 years later it is still unfired. He takes it out every now and then to show it off but it goes back into his safe for the next year or two. Never shot. He says it will take away from the value if he shoots it. Well, it may, but he found out a few months ago that he has stage 4 cancer. It's a shame. He's a great guy. Too bad he never got to shoot his Colt. He's going thru treatment and we haven't buried him yet but I can't help but think of him not enjoying his Colt and now what? Who benefitted from his desire to not shoot it? He may have to sell it to pay for his treatments. He'll get top dollar for it because it is unfired. I'm sure his doctors will appreciate it. They'll get the money. Sad, very sad. We don't live long enough to enjoy life's little things. Shoot the darn gun. That's why it was made. That's what makes it happy. That's what will make you happy. Who are you saving it for?
