Do You Actually Use Your Expensive Custom Guns or Keep Them as Safe Queens?

I shoot them....I own NØ safe queens..

I shoot all that I own. Have encountered some valuable rifles/handguns over the years that were beautiful. If I felt they were to nice to shoot I sold them and bought something else.

I have a GRRW Hawken that fits me better than any other one I own. You could make the point it is somewhat collectible. It gets shot a lot. Goes to the Woodswalk at Friendship as often as possible. In/out of the rain, hunting or just goofing off.

Don

I have had several custom muzzleloading pieces over the years as well as various production moderns. Every one was a shooter/ user/ hunter.

Splitear said:

Boy, now here’s a problem that I wish I had…

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I don't have this problem either, in the strict sense of the question. I do however have an original Snider-Enfield (I know, not strictly what we discuss here) in very nice condition which I am very proud of, and keep to all intents and purposes as a wall hanger. I shoot with it perhaps a couple of times a year, and treat it very respectfully when I do ( I LOVE those big, fat boxer cartridges!). If I had a high four figure or five figure sum to spend on a new custom gun, I would probably use it for the purpose it was intended. I would only keep it as a wall hanger if eight or nine thousand Euros was sort of equivalent to what three or four hundred Euros is to me right now.

Mine see weekly use an get hunted with. If i cant use it an have to worry about a scratch or dent then its got no business here. I recently received a 40 cal about a month ago an it has about 200 rounds thru it now. No matter how much curl carving or engraving they have they are still just a gun an they were made to be used

TrailWalker said:

I’ve noticed a divide among gun enthusiasts when it comes to high-end, custom firearms. Some people take pride in using their expensive pieces regularly, while others prefer to keep them pristine as safe queens or wall hangers.

I’m curious—what’s your approach? If you own a high-dollar custom firearm, do you take it out to the range, hunt with it, or use it in the field? Or do you reserve it as a display piece, appreciating its craftsmanship from a distance?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on why you choose to use or not use your custom guns. Does it come down to the potential wear and tear, the value, or perhaps the sentimental aspect? And for those who do use them, how do you balance enjoying your investment with maintaining its condition?

I just acquired this Armstrong rifle below and I’ve already had people treat me like I’m nuts for wanting to use it in the manner I described.

Looking forward to hearing your perspectives!

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that is one fine looking rifle!

billraby said:

I have a few of the $10,000+ guns. I am not going to spend that much money on a gun unless I intend to get a lot of use out of it. Spending money on a gun then putting it in a safe and never shooting it makes no sense. Easier to put a pile of cash in a safe and look at it every now and then instead.

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There isn't a firearm in existence IMHO that I would ever pay $10K for. Just me. I can not see the point to it when there are so many other firearms that will do the job and bring you 'joy" for a lot less$. Just one man's opinion.

#blackpowderbill said:

Reload

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I've got (literally, by actual count) three dozen different cartridge calibers. Can you imagine what dies for all those would cost? I only reload 45-70 and that's because I can reload with black powder and lead bullets and shoot as original in my vintage Trapdoors.

TrailWalker said:

I’ve noticed a divide among gun enthusiasts when it comes to high-end, custom firearms. Some people take pride in using their expensive pieces regularly, while others prefer to keep them pristine as safe queens or wall hangers.

I’m curious—what’s your approach? If you own a high-dollar custom firearm, do you take it out to the range, hunt with it, or use it in the field? Or do you reserve it as a display piece, appreciating its craftsmanship from a distance?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on why you choose to use or not use your custom guns. Does it come down to the potential wear and tear, the value, or perhaps the sentimental aspect? And for those who do use them, how do you balance enjoying your investment with maintaining its condition?

I just acquired this Armstrong rifle below and I’ve already had people treat me like I’m nuts for wanting to use it in the manner I described.

Looking forward to hearing your perspectives!

Click to expand...

It's like me going out buying a new car do you drive it or have put in your garage and keep it

I use and plan to use the custom guns I build at the range and in the woods. If someone asked me to build them a gun so they could put it in their safe and look at it once and a while I'd say "Pass!".

I like to look at the top-of-the-line rifles at the M/L shows but would never buy one, for me it would be like driving a Ferrari to a mud bog race. I am rough on guns or I should say, the places I hunt are rough on guns, fighting my way through a privet hedge infested swamp, lowering them to the ground out of a tree stand (they always find a sharp rock to bounce off of under the leaves), just coming out of the thick woods after dark with a light in one hand and my gun in the other guarantees a few more dings in the stock wood.

My typical bottom land hunting grounds look like this, privet on the left, swamp on the right. The ridge tops a much clearer.





My plain, dinged up guns shoot just fine, I made most of them, a few others were gifted to me, my pride in ownership is in the making, not the buying.

I too have had a bunch of non-traditional archery shooters want to buy one of my bows to hang on the wall for decoration in their man cave, I won't sell a bow that isn't going to be used.

Each and everyone of mine are shooters. No safe queens here.

If they can be shot, I shoot them! I have a couple that may not safe, otherwise let's go shooting. There is a joy carrying an old gun in the woods. It seems to like it and has a thirst for a kill. Even if only a squirrel!

But I missed!

John Armstrong built a fine looking rifle, he was from Maryland and I think it was around 1820 if I remember the town was Edmonton I think. It has nice looking lines to the proportion of the stock with a nice drop in the wrist and but section, very sexy rifle and I would shoot the hell out of it and keep her clean.

TrailWalker said:

I’ve noticed a divide among gun enthusiasts when it comes to high-end, custom firearms. Some people take pride in using their expensive pieces regularly, while others prefer to keep them pristine as safe queens or wall hangers.

I’m curious—what’s your approach? If you own a high-dollar custom firearm, do you take it out to the range, hunt with it, or use it in the field? Or do you reserve it as a display piece, appreciating its craftsmanship from a distance?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on why you choose to use or not use your custom guns. Does it come down to the potential wear and tear, the value, or perhaps the sentimental aspect? And for those who do use them, how do you balance enjoying your investment with maintaining its condition?

I just acquired this Armstrong rifle below and I’ve already had people treat me like I’m nuts for wanting to use it in the manner I described.

Looking forward to hearing your perspectives!

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Beautiful rifle….I have three custom built flintlocks. They are beautiful to look at. Pieces of art yes, but I had them built so I could shoot them and shoot them I do…

Jedidiah said:

that is one fine looking rifle!

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Thank you! The president of my local muzzleloading club claims “it belongs in an art gallery— not the range.”

Shortfingers said:

Beautiful rifle….I have three custom built flintlocks. They are beautiful to look at. Pieces of art yes, but I had them built so I could shoot them and shoot them I do…

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Right on!

I have about 250 firearms, been collecting for 50+ years. Some of them very fine antiques. I shoot the **** out of all of them. Don’t have a one I haven’t fire at the range at least once. Never saw any sense in looking at a firearm hanging on the wall. Got to ask yourself a question. Why did you buy it in the first place. I want to shoot those historic babies. My only problem is deciding which to take to the range and enjoy. Bottomline you can shoot them, enjoy that, and still take pristine care of them. Just an old gun guys 2 cents.

I have only one that even comes close to being a high end custom (a Chambers) and some might say it is not. The previous owner carried and used it a lot just like I do. I only hope I can shoot it enough to wear it out.

TrailWalker said:

I’ve noticed a divide among gun enthusiasts when it comes to high-end, custom firearms. Some people take pride in using their expensive pieces regularly, while others prefer to keep them pristine as safe queens or wall hangers.

I’m curious—what’s your approach? If you own a high-dollar custom firearm, do you take it out to the range, hunt with it, or use it in the field? Or do you reserve it as a display piece, appreciating its craftsmanship from a distance?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on why you choose to use or not use your custom guns. Does it come down to the potential wear and tear, the value, or perhaps the sentimental aspect? And for those who do use them, how do you balance enjoying your investment with maintaining its condition?

I just acquired this Armstrong rifle below and I’ve already had people treat me like I’m nuts for wanting to use it in the manner I described.

Looking forward to hearing your perspectives!

Click to expand...

They are made to use.