what exactly constitutes/quantifies a "safe queen"?

[trashman]

OK - we all use the term "safe queen" from time-to-time; at what point does a gun achieve safe-queen status? Time since last shot? Weighted against total number of firearms in your collection?... Got so many guns it takes too long to empty the safe to get to it? (I wish)

For my part - the only real "safe queen" I've got now is a Sig P220 in .38 Super -- it seems that they're pretty rare, and I'm starting to feel kinda stupid about shooting it much (especially with the Aguila ammo I was using last...just too dirty).

Thoughts?

--Neill

[maxicon]

I consider safe queen to be a bit derogatory. I don't apply it to stuff I don't shoot because it's too nice or collectible, but to guns that I just don't enjoy shooting as much as others, and always pass them by.

Once I realize I haven't shot a gun for, say, a year, I start thinking of it as a safe queen.

[anyracoon]

Anything over a year with out being fired. I do pull everything out every 6 months or so and clean & oil as needed.

[rod]

My only safe queen is an old shotgun with a damascus barrel. I'm too scared to shoot it. I think about selling it to a collecter sometimes but then again, it's a pretty shotgun and I like looking at it and wondering what the history is with that particular gun.

[FNC80]

The term "safe queen" might be relative. Someone might consider a handgun tha is shot only once a month to be a safe queen, or someone might say that unless it has caked up mud on the weapon, it would be considered a SQ. Who knows, who cares. They're your guns...you paid for them.

[scootergmc]

In my book a "Safe Queen" is a gun you've NEVER fired and have no intention to do. I have one "safe queen," although it was factory test-fired.

Guns that get neglected are exactly that. Neglected. Not queens.

[naimad]

safe queen whats that guns are no use to me if you cant shoot them

[Pablo]

My only safe queen is an old shotgun with a damascus barrel. I'm too scared to shoot it. I think about selling it to a collecter sometimes but then again, it's a pretty shotgun and I like looking at it and wondering what the history is with that particular gun.

That sounds nice! and yes that's a keeper... Any pictures???

[rod]

Here she is.....

[avidone]

I was born and raised in San Francisco, and within the city limits, that term takes on an entirely different meaning.

[xenophobe]

Safe Queen translates basically into anything collectible, expensive, rare or fancy/pretty that does not get used because you're too afraid of scratching/wearing/firing it.

Guns that don't fall into one of these 'fancy/unique/engraved/inlaid/rare/custom' categories like a Glock, a Remington 870 Express, or a Savage 110, really can't be Safe Queens, IMO.

A Safe Queen is a high-end firearm that you have specific reasons NOT to shoot.

For my part - the only real "safe queen" I've got now is a Sig P220 in .38 Super -- it seems that they're pretty rare, and I'm starting to feel kinda stupid about shooting it much.

A perfect definition of a Safe Queen.