Guns As Investments- Speculation-

Knifecollector

If you were buying guns to put back for 20-25 years for the sole purpose of investment, what would you consider to be the best brand , kind, caliber? Let's try to keep the cost of each one under $1000. It seems to me the older Colt revolvers in mint condition are rising in price on a daily basis. Anyone care to share their thoughts?

competentone

I wouldn't buy specifically for "investment".

I'd do like I've heard people say is best to do if you're considering buying art work. Buy what YOU like and what YOU want--that way, if it never goes up in value, YOU have still had the enjoyment of owning something you liked.

It makes sense because it is so difficult to predict which-of-what is going to be desireable in the future.

Think of anything that is valuable now (in guns or otherwise), could you have predicted it?

Rembrandt

Anything that is pre-ban should do well....Look at what happened to those cheezy Ramline 10/22 hicap mags and the mitchell 50 rounders. Magazines, preban military rifles, upper end scopes would be a good start.

Anything that was high quality when produced and low in production numbers should also do well. Too many people trying to collect old Winchesters and Colts, getting hard to find bargains. Factory engraved firearms have always done well. I've seen an interest in older target guns in the last few years...just a thought. Not sure how much of this you'll be able to find for under $1000....

bullelk

Guns, in a sense are like buying stocks, or putting money in a bank. But the beauty of buying guns are, they are a tangible investment, and something you can look at, use and show off every day versus a piece of paper or a savings book.

They are like any other investment you make, no one knows for sure what will go up, and how fast it will go up. One thing for sure, guns rarely go down in value because of inflation. When new guns go up, so don't used ones.

Another thing about guns, you have a better chance of buying some at better deals and getting an instant increase in your investment right away. The only thing is if you need money right away, and had to sell a gun, sometimes it takes longer to get your price unless you had a very desirable piece. I guess that would apply to the stock market as well, you would only get what they are going for that particular day.

They had a tremendous increase in the stock market over the past 10 years or so. Times that I don't think you'll see for a long time to come again. The bank interest rates I would say are at about 1 1/2 to 2% now, which isn't very good.

If you want to figure percentages for an investment in guns, here is one way of looking at. Suppose you got a good deal on a gun today (and there are a lot of good deals out there, if you know what to look for) and you paid 100.00 for it. You kept it for a year, used it, and sold it for 125.00
You made youself 25% interest on your investment and had fun doing it.

I won't tell you how many guns I have bought over the last 40 years, but I bought quite a few. I invested a lot of money in guns and I think overall I did quite well with them. I was in a good position for that, because I had a part time gun shop for 20 years and had acquired some pretty good guns through it.

Getting back to knowing what will go up more than others, I've found that there are trends in certain firearms, some will become stagnant for a while, then all of a sudden they will skyrocket. Some examples are, years ago Colt was at a level for a while, could have been partly to geographic location, then they started going up like a rocket. Then certain models of Winchesters were the same way. I've noticed that Winchester 22's are taking off pretty good now.

I could go on and on, but if you're going to collect for an investment, there's an old saying, Quality is better than Quantity.
The good stuff will always sell for a better price and faster.
I know all this from experience. I lost a ton of money in real estate and stocks in the early 90's and part of my gun collection bailed my * out. I paid my tution in the school of experience.
Gino

"If All Else Fails, Read The Directions"

martzkj@msn.com

I agree, I feel gun are the common mans art. If you buy what you like you can't go wrong. I remember the first gun I bought. Back in the 70's their was a chain store called Murphy Mart. I delievered papers for a long time to save the $80.00 I paided for a Remington .22 pump. I shoot the gun a lot and could sell it for $150.00 right now no problem. If you buy purely on spec. you always are taking a chance.

gunpaq

A lot of people are paying top $$$$ for cleaned up and/or refinished 520 Stevens/Ranger/Westernfield 35 pump shotguns. Always clear a minimum of $75 on each, made $150 on one. One guy I see at gun shows always has a beat up Ranger for $375+ and they are always gone before the weekend is over. Buy low-end guns at the gun shop and then take them to farm sales on consignment and watch the people go nuts bidding.

Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.

thunderbolt

Cetmes are way underpriced for their value(.308 semi auto assault rifle for less than $500). Put back a dozen or so if you can afford them for the long haul. Ditto for the AK47.
The Walther P38 is priced low now, but supplies will eventually be absorbed into the market. Colts and Lugers usually do well, but are costly to collect in quantity. The surplus gun values change rapidly due to availability. Another Democrat in office and you could be rich. Stock up on all hicaps by original manufacturer. Most importantly, remember to send me a commission when you get rich. I
wish all the money I spent on stocks was invested in guns!!