I have owned two such guns. IMO they are extremely important in order to preserve for future generations of collectors and firearm historians exactly how they were the moment they left the factory. True pristine unfired guns are becoming more and more scarce as time goes on and, even as nicely done as some restorations are, they are simply not a true reflection of a ‘factory new’ gun.
Again IMO, for this reason, a benchmark unfired gun should never be fired. There are plenty of other guns we can shoot to our heart’s delight so why erase history?
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"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."
George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
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