Thinking about a Wheel "Spoon", thoughts?

[tabs]

I have been doing this since 1979. So I have seen or owned most of this stuff at one time or another. So for the most part I am nonplussed at what is posted in this Thread.

For the most part Rugers are robust shooters. Colts and Smiths have more finesse, Korth is just plain virtual hand made quality with an out of this world price to match.

Pre war Smiths are probably the finest revolvers ever made with the Register Magnums and Triple Locks being the pinnacle of the DA's. Colts are no slouches either with the Officer Models and big New Services..and lest we forget the SA's.

[flipper35]

I shot a friends Raging Bull and it was actually a pretty good shooter if you are looking for a .44 magnum.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by KC911

Extremely hard to find, and they are mighty proud of them when you do

To make matters worse, the big ammo makers sometimes get horribly bound by tradition and simply do not keep certain calibers up to date with the latest developments. The .44 Special is about the worst offender, with the traditional old 246 grain round nose lumbering along often at under 700 fps. A joy to shoot - wonderfully accurate with almost no recoil, so it makes great (if not expensive) plinking ammo. Pretty ineffective on game, or if it ever came to that, bad guys.

It's really too bad. With the old Lyman #429421 "Keith" bullet, or the new RCBS .44-250K over about 17 to 18 grains of 2400, it will meet or beat many modern .44 mag factory loads. And, in some cases, from a smaller, handier gun. The original Blackhawk was such a gun, as is the Colt SAA (if you don't mind a .44 Special Colt ...).

Yeah, like I said, pretty much a hand loaders' gig these days. But, then again, so is the grand old .45 Colt, my personal favorite.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tabs

I have been doing this since 1979. So I have seen or owned most of this stuff at one time or another. ....

How many did you shoot...some, many, most?

May 1979....M-27, then every summer at home from college, I'd snag another, Combat Conmander, Diamondback, then I quit coming home and basically didn't buy another for years. Don't know what it's like to sell one either. You, Higgy, and a few others are into spoons way more than I ever was though....When E.F Tabby, or E.F. Higgins speaks....I listen

Would like your take on my NIB question....test fired at factory, she ain't a virgin no mo'...where is the premuum applied then?

[tabs]

A car is new until it is driven off the lot.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tabs

A car is new until it is driven off the lot.

How can a collector tell if someone "test drives" their Python a few rounds before paying a premium for NIB?

[Taz's Master]

NIB isn't "unfired", it's New In the Box. It signifies a condition which collectors are willing to pay a premium for. And that is all it signifies. The firearm may well be defective, it has nothing whatsoever to do with utility, and it isn't unfired, it is simply in the condition in which it was originally sold.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Taz's Master

NIB isn't "unfired", it's New In the Box. It signifies a condition which collectors are willing to pay a premium for. And that is all it signifies. The firearm may well be defective, it has nothing whatsoever to do with utility, and it isn't unfired, it is simply in the condition in which it was originally sold.

I get that...but when collectors drive up the prices to rediculous levels, how can one tell before paying the premium?

[tabs]

Originally Posted by KC911

I get that...but when collectors drive up the prices to rediculous levels, how can one tell before paying the premium?

Experience of looking at the stuff. Every spoon tells a story.

[Taz's Master]

Originally Posted by KC911

I get that...but when collectors drive up the prices to rediculous levels, how can one tell before paying the premium?

Lots of collectors really know their stuff. Some have picked up rare and valuable pieces for far below market value by being more knowledgeable than the seller. But people have overpaid for pieces that were not what they thought.

I don't know enough to be a collector. Quite frankly that doesn't interest me. A NIB Python, with box and tags etc. isn't worth a premium to me. I'm going to shoot it, and keeping up with the box and accouterments, and worrying about degrading the value isn't worth it. But that's me. I can shoot at my house, and enjoy reloading, shooting and hunting, and live so that I can indulge myself. Others don't want to sit in the cold and wet, and be bored, just to not shoot a deer (most of what hunting is). Some people hate cleaning guns, it is a hassle to go to a range and they need to buy factory ammunition. Searching for collectible and valuable firearms and knowing when they make a good deal is stimulating and profitable. They can tell the difference between LNIB and NIB, and know what that difference does to a gun's value. Not me though, I'm in a different market.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Taz's Master

Lots of collectors really know their stuff. Some have picked up rare and valuable pieces for far below market value by being more knowledgeable than the seller. But people have overpaid for pieces that were not what they thought.

I don't know enough to be a collector. Quite frankly that doesn't interest me. A NIB Python, with box and tags etc. isn't worth a premium to me. I'm going to shoot it, and keeping up with the box and accouterments, and worrying about degrading the value isn't worth it. But that's me. I can shoot at my house, and enjoy reloading, shooting and hunting, and live so that I can indulge myself. Others don't want to sit in the cold and wet, and be bored, just to not shoot a deer (most of what hunting is). Some people hate cleaning guns, it is a hassle to go to a range and they need to buy factory ammunition. Searching for collectible and valuable firearms and knowing when they make a good deal is stimulating and profitable. They can tell the difference between LNIB and NIB, and know what that difference does to a gun's value. Not me though, I'm in a different market.

I have NO doubt that Tabby is a collector extrordinaire and really knows his stuff, but I don't tick like that either . A spoon, once fired however, I dunno....My M-629 for example, test fired "at least" 6 times at the factory....if all tags, etc. are left intact, I doubt seriously if one could tell if another few rounds fired by a buyer, then meticuluously cleaned could be detected...unless cleaning a NIB one "ruins" it's value too . Doesn't matter to me really...I'm shootin'em...

Paraphrasing Harry C: Did my M-629 fire 7 shots or only 6 (NIB)?

I just don't view things like a collector might...don't care about $ that much.

Yep, I'd shoot both Pythons if I had two NIB...just because I can.... then sell one

[tabs]

Originally Posted by KC911

I have NO doubt that Tabby is a collector extrordinaire and really knows his stuff, but I don't tick like that either . A spoon, once fired however, I dunno....My M-629 for example, test fired "at least" 6 times at the factory....if all tags, etc. are left intact, I doubt seriously if one could tell if another few rounds fired by a buyer, then meticuluously cleaned could be detected...unless cleaning a NIB one "ruins" it's value too . Doesn't matter to me really...I'm shootin'em...

Paraphrasing Harry C: Did my M-629 fire 7 shots or only 6 (NIB)?

I just don't view things like a collector might...don't care about $ that much.

Yep, I'd shoot both Pythons if I had two NIB...just because I can.... then sell one

If pulling the trigger would devalue a spoon by five figures you would think twice about pulling that trigger.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tabs

If pulling the trigger would devalue a spoon by five figures you would think twice about pulling that trigger.

Yep, at 5 figures, I'd think twice, then squeeze the damn thing . We really operate on different levels Tabs...I truly do NOT focus on $ like you do...you can't take it with ya when you go...

And I might be FOS, but I've certainly left much larger amounts than that lying in the table as I left corporate america a few years back. I absolutely realize that you don't understand me....nor I you ....we are just different, that's all.

Could you really tell if a spoon has been fired 6 times or 7...serious question, no bs. I respect your knowledge as a collector, and am intrigued about that aspect however...

[onewhippedpuppy]

This is collector vs enthusiast. I don't really think about value, I like to enjoy what I own and hope some of it will be worth passing down to my kids someday.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

This is my dad's Ruger GP100 357mag.
Dunno if it's any good but I like shooting it. (but I'm no expert)

Edit: I see some people already recommended it.

Oh yeah, that is what I'm talking about!

[tabs]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

This is collector vs enthusiast. I don't really think about value, I like to enjoy what I own and hope some of it will be worth passing down to my kids someday.

I know guys with multi million $$$ collections, when you are dealing in that kind of money the $$$ become important because it becomes an investment. So if you pay $92K for a Singer 1911 automatic you don't pull the trigger because it is fun. Or if you drop $675K on Henry #6 you don't pull the trigger either. Your dealing in history, rarity and condition. Generally condition is what is collected, and anything that might effect condition is to be avoided.

I talked to a guy who collected nothing but Colt 2nd gen SA's in the box he wouldn't buy it if the cylinder was turned...and left a cylinder ring. Everything he had was pristine. His prices were to match.

With a lot of stuff if you pull the rigger what does it matter, as they have been shot. That is most of what is collected. So this NIB is just the rarefied air of a few collectors and or pieces. I have a couple of NIB pieces whose value would be effected by shooting and as such I will not shoot them, what is the point. Shooting one Python is as good as shooting the next..

I just consider this whole train of thought rather silly.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tabs

I know guys with multi million $$$ collections, when you are dealing in that kind of money the $$$ become important because it becomes an investment. So if you pay $92K for a Singer 1911 automatic you don't pull the trigger because it is fun. Or if you drop $675K on Henry #6 you don't pull the trigger either. Your dealing in history, rarity and condition. Generally condition is what is collected, and anything that might effect condition is to be avoided.

.....

I just consider this whole train of thought rather silly.

You are talking about a different league than mass produced Pythons imo....

And speaking of silly....how ARE those draggin' azz jeans ?

[tabs]

Originally Posted by KC911

You are talking about a different league than mass produced Pythons imo....

And speaking of silly....how ARE those draggin' azz jeans ?

Sometimes age and being unfired in the box is quite rare even though mass produced, especially in the older stuff as nobody thought of collecting before WW2. So if you had a pre war Colt National Match 1911 NIB you would not want to shoot that as you virtually would not be able to find that again.

[KFC911]

I hear ya Tabs, but Pythons didn't fly under anyone's radar. Lots of folks in this thread have 'em NIB...and Byron hasn't posted a pic of the half-dozen or so he has....yet

Release them snakes!!!!

[tabs]

If ya wanted to shoot one why not buy one that has already had the trigger pulled and save some cash. If ya pull the trigger on one of the safe queens then you lose that cash. Simple really.