How many collectors actually shoot their treasures?

[45flint]

There is joy is collecting beautiful examples of the machining art. There is also joy is shooting them. Been shooting my new to me early Webley Mark 3 and the is something that just puts a smile on your face. Got my first squirrel with it last week with one shot. Deadly accurate, compact, great open sights and a joy. How many other examples in our collections just sit in a case, or on a wall?

[gingernut]

I do.
But many collectors don't.

Personal choice I think.

My view is that if you don't exercise them they will fail.
Same as classic cars.

[Huttles94]

I have a few old air rifles that are going on 100 years old now. I shoot every single one.

They way I see it is, they were made to be used so why not use them?

I keep them clean and if needed a service every now and then.

I hope in another 100 years they will still be used. Just thinking about how they brought joy to someone 100 years ago and will hopefully still bring joy to someone a 100 years from now makes me happy.

[jonnyone]

I've certainly got guns in my collection that I reach for before others but ultimately there isn't a gun there that I wouldn't pick up and use.
Practical classics😊😊
Dave

[Garvin]

I don't very often these days for various reasons. But I'd say almost all of my collection is in working order or could be made so without too much effort.

I think not shooting guns in your collection is a perfectly respectable decision, especially if they're pristine. Having a near-perfect, museum-quality example is what many of us collectors aspire to after all.

If you're into shooting more than collecting for it's own sake, then by all means seek out good, usable examples and fire away.

Some, but not all, collectors seem to wear the fact that they shoot their collectables as a badge of pride. Not sure why.

[45flint]

I don't very often these days for various reasons. But I'd say almost all of my collection is in working order or could be made so without too much effort.

I think not shooting guns in your collection is a perfectly respectable decision, especially if they're pristine. Having a near-perfect, museum-quality example is what many of us collectors aspire to after all.

If you're into shooting more than collecting for it's own sake, then by all means seek out good, usable examples and fire away.

Some, but not all, collectors seem to wear the fact that they shoot their collectables as a badge of pride. Not sure why.

Understand given some of your collection but I wonder if it’s joy more than pride? Just puts a smile on my face.

[Abasmajor]

I have made sure I shoot even the very rarest in my collection at least once to experience their individual qualities, but the less rarer examples are shot on a regular basis.

For me, the guns must remain fully functional, so I'm not averse to sourcing and replacing failed parts, but always make sure to keep the original broken parts with the gun for completeness.

Brian