……..”But it LOOKS pretty”……….

Posted Thursday, March 1, 2012, at 10:09 AM

There is special "elite" area in the gun world known as the "Commemoratives." Limited numbers of special guns, commemorating special events, famous people, etc.........

Most are pretty ornate.....ivory-stocked, gold-inlaid, special imbedded medallions, you'll see a bit of everything if you're in the "gun-game" long enough.

For most of my life, I've AVOIDED them though.......first, because they're pricey, and secondly because you "can't shoot them."

"WHAT?....YOU CAN'T SHOOT THEM?.........Why would you pay MORE for a fancy gun, if it doesn't even shoot?"

They shoot. They're real guns, just pulled from the production lines in limited numbers to be all "gussied-up" to "Commemorate something...............but 'those who judge" say you SHOULDN'T shoot them for fear of scratching one up.....or getting it "powder-carboned"........or putting any "mileage" inside that barrel ( which was built to absorb TEN of THOUSANDS of rounds, just like it's "plain Jane" sisters out there.

Well........you know the old "Zook"ain't "politically correct"........and while I DO HAVE a few of these "elite" guns, I haven't always "followed the rules."

Case in point.....a few years ago, I bought this Winchester Buffalo Bill Commemorative. It's chambered in the ever-popular 30-30 caliber. .......good popular caliber----get ammo everywhere for it..............SO WHAT..........you '"can't shoot it".............

Who says?.....It's MY gun and I'll shoot this darned thing if I want to!

"But it's UN-FIRED".......so they say.....................no it isn't.........

There is no such thing as an "un-fired gun", because EVERY firearm HAS to be "proof-fired" before it ever leaves the factory.

And THIS one has a 26-inch octagon barrel, which just BESPEAKS of accuracy! So after "wrestling" with the idea for 3 or 4 weeks, I took it out and ran 3 rounds through it, into 3 water jugs at different distances. 3 rounds----3 hits. And it didn't feel "sacreligious" in the LEAST!

These shots were taken AFTER the shooting and the cleaning. Doesn't look any the worse for wear at ALL, does it? And.....while I haven't shot it SINCE......I DID get that "urge" out of my system. like I said, this gun was fired at least ONCE at the Winchester factory in New Haven, Connecticut------LONG BEORE it ever found it's way into my gun safe.

I purchased my next "unfired" gun a short time later. A pistol this time, an NRA Bill Ruger Commemorative. Came in a special NRA carrying case, all the certificates, 2 magazines (one is in the gun)----and NEITHER of which has ever had the stickers removed.

But ya know what?......beneath the fancy grips, the NRA scroll engraved over the chamber, and Bill Ruger's signature engraved over the receiver,..........it's still a 22 caliber Ruger Mark II...............

Just like this standard-issued one I like to "plink" with. But the OTHER is a "Commemorative" you know.....gotta keep it "purty".......I haven't shot it, but that doesn't necessarily mean I won't.

THIS one, however, is a different story. The one round that I KNOW was factory-fired, WILL be the only one THIS gun ever sees, (as long as I'M alive, anyway).

This....the LAST "commemorative" I'm likely to buy, is a Winchester Model 94 "Oregon Trail", and like the "Buffalo Bill", it TOO is chambered for the "buy them everywhere" 30-30 cartridges. THIS particular Winchester would normally sell upwards of 2 grand, but I got it for under ONE grand, because incredibly.......the estate did not have the original shopping box it left the factory with!

LIKE THAT MATTERS??..........believe it or not, it DOES among the "high-roller crowd", but it didn't stop ME from grabbing it before anyone else could, and for two reasons..........

First, the exquisite workmanship that went into the rifle itself, including the "jeweled bolt & hammer"...............but the main reason I don't care if it has the original "shipping box or NOT"........................

Whoever was the Governor of Oregon at the time, would have received the number ONE rifle. This was the second one................................'nuff said.

"Is that all you've got to DO today?-----Take pictures of GUNS?"..........................."Shut up Scout, and watch the door while I stuff THIS one back in the vault!"

I'd only be lying to myself if I said I didn't "have the urge ANYWAY" to put "just ONE" through it......but I won't.....even Donna put the skids on THAT one!--------but that's ok..........(right photo) I've got a "plain-Jane" '94 that's pretty much my 30-30 "Daily Driver."

COMMEMORATIVES----------------truth be known, they're probably more trouble than they're worth.........but as I said in my most recent "458" blog, "every now and then you have to do SOMETHING that doesn't particularly make any sense."

They ARE a pretty good investment though, as ALL guns are. In the event of a complete economic collapse and food shortages (or OUTAGES).......a good deer rifle will still put meat on the table. Gold stock and 401k's will NOT.

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I do really like this blog. And I REALLY like that 2of 500 gun. I was salivating over the worksmanship of it too...then saw the #'s, and just about flipped over backwards. I'm not a gun lover, necessarily, but I recognize worksmanship. I have Bridles with great worksmanship, some I use, like you, and some that hang on the wall. Bits of exquisite ornate carving.... gosh, beautiful!

I get it!

-- Posted by jessiemiller on Thu, Mar 1, 2012, at 10:59 AM
Hey Zook Nice blog I got a question for you. I mailed out some dog clothes yesterday to a lady in Winchester,Va Does that town have anything to do with the Winchester Rifle? And I found out that's the birth place of Rick Santorum. What a coincidence that I mail a package to that town. I lived in Virginia but had never heard of Winchester, Va.

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, Mar 1, 2012, at 11:10 AM
Commemorative weapons have always fascinated me as well. Up front, no, I don't own any. Up front, no, I don't think I should either. I'm not mature enough to understand looking at and not shooting a weapon; daily if I should choose to do so. The only weapon (and I mean, THE ONLY) I would even think about buying but never shooting is an original (even if it's used) WWII era M1903-A4. Just the nostalgia surrounding the weapon would keep me enthralled. But (and I mean a big fat BUT), I would never naysay those that want to buy them. Commemorative weapons buyers can be high rollers or low ballers but in either case, can undertake an expensive venture. Commemorative weapons [also] often go unreported and thanks a ton Zook for including them in your 'bang notes'. I think the quiet gun collectors like their tiny little market to keep the buyer competition elitist (only my opinion of course) but I'm glad you brought this corner into the round as well. Commemorative weapons are neat, if not for me, and gun buyers should have a complete understanding of the widespread market to include the glossy ones.

Another great write Zook.

-- Posted by Darksc8p on Thu, Mar 1, 2012, at 10:31 PM
Great read

-- Posted by KH Gal on Thu, Mar 1, 2012, at 11:27 PM
Any of the 1903 WWII series would be cool, but I'm stuck on either a USMC A1 Unertl or A4 (redfield I believe). I'd even shut up and color with a M40 or M40A1 but honestly, I can clone one of those any day and the [original mil issue circa 60's/70's] actions for them aren't super rare; furniture and barrel would be impossible to find original since there's no way they haven't been replaced but just the action would be good enough and build from there. But that A4 (of course serial number authenticated), that's where my hearts at and she'd never see another round again. A pity to some, but I'd respect her too much. She would have seen plenty of hate already.

I just happen to be going to a big gun show this weekend and if I see any of my wishes, I'll be sure to respond with pricing info, cause I'd have to win the lottery first in order to get one. Regardless, this and the above is my version/idea of collector guns but regardless of the glitter applied (or the lack of in my case), they sure are a neat thing to own and hats off to those, to include you Zook, that collect them.

-- Posted by Darksc8p on Fri, Mar 2, 2012, at 8:13 PM
A B.A.R.? What a beast! And yep, tons of paperwork. They still have four at the Ft Benning fireing and test range, two of which are still fired. Last I heard, they still take'em out during certain holidays and let the local VFW fella's (and gals if they want to jam along) punch the snot out of some paper with them. Those BAR's...wow...they almost alleaviate the safety of a sand bag bunker. Even though you tend to get meat on both ends, a very formidable weapon if whatever is on the other side of that steel sheet door absolutely, positivly, has to be reached.

-- Posted by Darksc8p on Tue, Mar 20, 2012, at 7:17 PM

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