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Scenario: a reputed gun manufacture comes out with a new model/design of handgun. It's early in the production run, and only a limited number are available at the moment, even though the company is planning on producing a goodly number once the market has determined that sales will be worthwhile.

Your favorite gun shop receives a shipment of 6 of these new handguns, with 5 of them having 3-digit serial numbers. The grip feels good in your hand, and the trigger is smooth and not too heavy. Based on the company's reputation for other designs, it should make a good carry pistol. You grab one that has a serial number lower than 250.

Would you carry and shoot it? or keep it NIB in the safe?

Why?

If it's "better" than my current sidearm, I would carry it.

I never buy a gun to collect. I may not fire all of the ones I have but I don't buy them for looks.

I can't imagine buying a new production handgun as a collectible. I have a first gen Walther PPS, for instance, and I carry that sucker. Not often, admittedly, but not because I want to keep it pristine. If I wanted collectibles, I'd buy guns that were already collectibles at auction, I imagine.

If they plan to produce a "goodly number", there won't be any collectibility to 3 digit SN unless they're a very special number. Like, "001", "007", "009", "040", "045", "357", etc. Those are generally reserved and either put in museums or given to VIPs; you're not going to get a collectible S/N except by accident.

Hyunchback wrote:I never buy a gun to collect. I may not fire all of the ones I have but I don't buy them for looks.

Even reputable manufacturers can turn out a bad design and have initial quality problems. I would wait until they got into production and worked out the design and manufacturing bugs prior to purchasing a new model. By that time you'll have more information on reliability, ammo preferences and a choice of holsters for concealed carry. Being the "first one on the block" isn't that big of a deal to me. Sorry, I got off track a little. If I were to buy it, I certainly would shoot it.

KBCraig wrote:If they plan to produce a "goodly number", there won't be any collectibility to 3 digit SN unless they're a very special number. Like, "001", "007", "009", "040", "045", "357", etc. Those are generally reserved and either put in museums or given to VIPs; you're not going to get a collectible S/N except by accident.

But sometimes you can get really lucky. My father purchased a pistol from a friend and then asked me to check it out for him (he's not a "gun guy"). One of the first things I noticed was the serial number: 91101 (9-11-01). Dad knows I want first shot at this pistol, should he ever decide to sell it. Even with the significance of that S/N (in my mind, at least), I can't imagine not shooting it.

Back on topic, I usually let the market settle before considering a new firearm model. Let those that "have to have it now" spend the premiums for the first few. If the company decides the market isn't there for the pistol and stops production, I'll assume there is a reason why and count myself lucky not to have gotten caught up in the hoopla. If the pistol is a success and production is increased, I'll assume there is a reason why and start more seriously investigating the pistol. It also gives time for the Beta testers to find any flaws in the system, and the factory time to fix those flaws. IMHO, of course.

I think I'd shoot it too. I carry the heck out of my Raptor when I'm hunting, pretty "gloss blue" and all. Holster wear gives character. I've had more than a few people give me grief for carrying a gun in the field that has "Custom Shop" on the side. I just look over at them, and ask, "How much was that Browning over and under you're chasing pheasant through cut corn stalks with?" I'd shoot it as much as possible before I carried it if it's a totally new design. If it passes all the tests you can come up with, and shoot's with no problem, I'd carry it. I tend to wait till a design is a little older before I buy, but that's just me. If you've already bought it, you might as well get your money's worth! Good luck.

Edited to add: By the way? How hypothetical is this situation? Did you get a really cool new gun you're not sharing with us? If so, we expect pics soon! You know how we are about pics around here!

Tactical_Texan_CHL wrote:Edited to add: By the way? How hypothetical is this situation? Did you get a really cool new gun you're not sharing with us? If so, we expect pics soon! You know how we are about pics around here!

Ehrrmm.....

...only partly hypothetical? as in, I already have one with a higher serial number that is a fun and reliable shooter, and has become one of my favorite carry pieces?

And, that's high praise from me when I do NOT like polymer-framed pistols, but I do like this one! (Don't worry, LT - I'm still a die-hard 1911 fan. No way am I parting with my Colts!)

Dunno if it's a "really cool" new gun or not... it's been discussed on this forum in the recent past. It's a modular design by a SIGnificant manufacturer, and ICE agents carry one of this pistol's cousins... yeah, yeah, OK. It's a P250.

Hyunchback wrote:I never buy a gun to collect. I may not fire all of the ones I have but I don't buy them for looks.

I totally agree...I think it would be neat to have a low numbered serialized firearm as a carry piece...

I forget the make, but "Reysc" has an AR that has the number "666"...

We had some fun last year with that...

I do NOT buy early production of a new design handgun - even reputable manufacturers turn out turkeys. (Colt with their All American 2000, Kahr with their early polymer guns, Walther with their little .22 - I forget the model - etc.)

If I want a gun for shooting, I'm going to wait until there are multiple reports in forums like this with good things to say about the gun.

By two. One to keep, and one to carry.

HankB wrote:Walther with their little .22 - I forget the model

Walther TPH

Tom

quidni wrote:Scenario: a reputed gun manufacture comes out with a new model/design of handgun. It's early in the production run, and only a limited number are available at the moment, even though the company is planning on producing a goodly number once the market has determined that sales will be worthwhile.

Your favorite gun shop receives a shipment of 6 of these new handguns, with 5 of them having 3-digit serial numbers. The grip feels good in your hand, and the trigger is smooth and not too heavy. Based on the company's reputation for other designs, it should make a good carry pistol. You grab one that has a serial number lower than 250.

Would you carry and shoot it? or keep it NIB in the safe?

Why?

Buy three.

Carry one and safe queen the two that have the serial numbers close together.


One of the reasons I enjoy firearms so much, both shooting and collecting, is that the quality pieces will never be worth less than when you purchased them. I have enough shooters but I have several that I never shoot and have just to have. But that's just me.

Some people collect coins, some stamps, and some cars. The coin collector isn't going to go to a coke machine with his coins, the stamp collector isn't goint to mail a letter with his collection. The car collector may drive his prize cars but certainly not to work.

That's pretty much how I feel about my meager collection. But, that's just me.