I guess it depends on whether you use or abuse it. My drilling will certainly be used but I won't abuse it. Most drillings you see have been heavily used. That's why they were made in the first place.

I use ALL of my guns, but the pretty ones are used exclusively at the range to break clay. Those are the ones with nicely grained wood stocks and engraving on them. All of my hunting guns are plain vanilla with black stocks on them, and the rifles are usually stainless steel. I'm not much for safe queens either; however, I don't want to drop a $20,000 Beretta o/i (not that I own one) over the side of a boat and cry for 5 years afterward. The $1,300 Benelli will hurt a little less. Same goes for using it as a boat paddle or whatever else.

Like you said, to each their own. I'm not rich enough to scratch up a $5,000+ gun and not care about it because I can easily replace it. When I am filthy rich, I might take an expensive, finely crafted gun out into the field, but maybe not even then. Kind of like my bicycles. I own carbon fiber frames made in Italy that cost $3,000+, but I race on aluminum frames made in Taiwan that cost $650. The first reason being one of cost and the second being one of passion. I could throw a POS made in Taiwan frame in the dumpster without a second thought, but throwing a hand painted made in Italy frame in the dumpster would bring me to tears, and not because of the money involved.

Guns and pretty guns
 

I like Fabs use all my guns. I do have a few $20,000 guns. They have all been used in the field hunting however. I have 2 sets of D grade 1100 Remingtons and with the exception of the 12 gauges all have been used to hunt with. Especially for Doves and or quail. I have a Nice Ithaca SxS grade 4 28 ga(only 5 or so made) that in the past was hunted with quite a bit. It shows that use too. It's worth probably more than any gun I own and even it has been used by me in the field. Killed 2 pheasants with it one day last season.

Now there are a couple of guns that are worth nowhere near as much that I do not use in the field. They have a value much more than money to me as they were gifts to me by my mother and my wife. I know it seems stupid to shoot a 20 grand gun and not a 500 dollar one but that is the way it is . And like Fabs..I wouldn't want to use an expensive gun as a boat paddle either....but if I hunt with it, it'll get scratched for certain. I really don't sweat the stuff that can be fixed.

I also have a couple of guns that were given to me with the instructions that they were to be used. One is a nice pre 64 Winchester M-70 in 300 H&H and the other is a not so nice Remington 721 in 270. I had the 300 out the other day Elk hunting(no Elk) Saw lots of wolves and some moose. The 270 will be used to shoot a deer or two with next month.

I'm not a rich man. I can't afford to own something and not use it. Make no mistake, if someone doesn't want to use a firearm for any reason I figure that's their business. Fact is I've just gotten this drilling. I'm having a great deal of fun with it already. The first time I was out squirrel hunting I came across a bear. I also shot three squirrel. That's pretty much my limit as that's all the wife and I can eat at one sitting. I'm thinking this may be a lucky firearm, which is good because the way I hunt I need all the luck I can get. :D

Shootin guns and lookin guns
 

Don't get the impression I am rich either. I'm not by far. Most of the valuable guns I have were acquired for fairly modest sums of money. With the exception of the Bavaria Grade Krieghoff which I paid 4 thousand dollars for quite a few years ago. and I had to sell some stuff to afford it. But it WAS a good investment Don't know what you paid for the Drilling and it doesn't matter. I hope you enjoy it and have fun with it. I do with most all of my guns. If they get a scratch er two ...well just something you will always remember. And hopefully cherish the memory of :p