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Firearms for investment purposes
beneteau
Member Posts: 8,553 ✭✭✭
I know the majority of us here probably purchase a particular firearm "just because we want it"; but, do you, also, "hold" onto a firearm because of it's potential to increase in value? Also, it's obvious to me that increases in value of sidearms far outweigh long-guns or am I wrong?
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Just ordered an AK - I remember what prices did on them with the '94 ban as well. May try to scrape up funds for a 2nd or 3rd of 'em, as well as extra mags even for stuff I don't own.
Kidding. I don't have a Lorcin.
Not sure where the value of Savage 1899's is going to end up, but I am holding onto them also.
I know that just the 1909 Mauser action is worth about $200 now and the 1903 Springfields will fetch about $600.
I think the long guns do okay considering how many of them there were at one time.
Investing in guns is simple if you're rich. Just buy a 1st generation dragoon for $$$$$. wait 10 or 15 years and sell it for $$$$$$$$$$.
For the rest of us I guess it takes a little more thought. Do you pay more upfront for a type that has already attained collectible status and has a solid following - or do you try and pick sleepers that no one seems to want...yet. Though you have to be careful with that one. No one may ever want them.
I like early Rugers. They have a following, they're SA revolvers mostly - a type that will never fall out of favor, and they're still affordable. I also like their earlier DA's in mint condition as there are lots of scarcer variations that go unnoticed in the gun shops.
What I would avoid are modern guns issued as commemoratives. There are some exceptions, but they mostly have a terrible track record.
so it is with buying guns for investments. You can purchase those that are already highly sought after, such as the ones listed about as the "blue chip" invetments. While the risk in these is low, since they are already at the high end of demand, future gains will result from other aspects.
Higher appreciation occurs when you select something that for some reason is presently lags in demand, then the circumstances change and the item become highly demanded. Such choices are tantamount to buying Microsoft before it was a household word.
In addition to sorting which guns are ignored that you think may become hot, there are a few factors that also affect price changes. Generally speaking, guns that required a lot of hand labor and were also high in quality have greatly appreciated- not only did they appreciate for the above reasons, but the price followed the price the labor was demanding, so as skilled labor shortages drove up wages, guns that required labor increased in price to cover the increased cost. Ultimately labor intensive guns are discontinued because they can't compete in the "user" market with guns made by casting or CNC machining. Manufacture of the guns cease, the supply becomes set and another force on the increase of the price is put into place.
For example of the possibilities- find a gun book that shows values of used guns about 1955- also find a similar book for 2005; then look up what a Winchester Model 21 is valued at in each; and if you're real industrious, determine the gross increase, then divide by the number of years, then divide by the 1955 value. The result will be the average percentage gain per year- while there are certain stocks that will have done better, you can rest assured that yu beat the rate of inflation by a large margin.
The only problem with all this is that while I'll keep the value potential in mind when I purchase a firearm, since it would be sold until it is part of my estate, I won't have reaped the rewards of my careful choices- So, I say, shoot'em and enjoy 'em; no sense leaving a NIB Parker 28 gauge, so some ingrate kid can sell it and blow the $$.
Class III full auto. Thats all I buy now, albeit, not very often due to high prices. Those guns increase in value like crazy.
Reason being, the gestapo will kick your door in if you aren't licensed to own one of these "EVIL" rifles. Judging by your name you are part of the "gestapo".
[xx(]
An economist of the FDR era made an analogy of selecting market shares (stock) by comparing it to a beauty pagent. However it wasn't just selecting which woman you thought was the most beautiful; what you were picking was the one that you figured everyone, or at least a majority would select- even if you thought that woman to be homely.
so it is with buying guns for investments. You can purchase those that are already highly sought after, such as the ones listed about as the "blue chip" invetments. While the risk in these is low, since they are already at the high end of demand, future gains will result from other aspects.
Higher appreciation occurs when you select something that for some reason is presently lags in demand, then the circumstances change and the item become highly demanded. Such choices are tantamount to buying Microsoft before it was a household word.
In addition to sorting which guns are ignored that you think may become hot, there are a few factors that also affect price changes. Generally speaking, guns that required a lot of hand labor and were also high in quality have greatly appreciated- not only did they appreciate for the above reasons, but the price followed the price the labor was demanding, so as skilled labor shortages drove up wages, guns that required labor increased in price to cover the increased cost. Ultimately labor intensive guns are discontinued because they can't compete in the "user" market with guns made by casting or CNC machining. Manufacture of the guns cease, the supply becomes set and another force on the increase of the price is put into place.
For example of the possibilities- find a gun book that shows values of used guns about 1955- also find a similar book for 2005; then look up what a Winchester Model 21 is valued at in each; and if you're real industrious, determine the gross increase, then divide by the number of years, then divide by the 1955 value. The result will be the average percentage gain per year- while there are certain stocks that will have done better, you can rest assured that yu beat the rate of inflation by a large margin.
The only problem with all this is that while I'll keep the value potential in mind when I purchase a firearm, since it would be sold until it is part of my estate, I won't have reaped the rewards of my careful choices- So, I say, shoot'em and enjoy 'em; no sense leaving a NIB Parker 28 gauge, so some ingrate kid can sell it and blow the $$.
Ditto, except Im not going to check out with my guns. I may leave a few for kids and grandkids, but the majority will be resold, ideally for a large profit at the right time in the market. I do not shoot the guns that are new in the box, I think its great that some people do, I try to get another similar gun that is 90% or better for a shooter. Right now, I think a new investor would be wise to pick up some of the wally world fullstock ruger 1022's to hold on to for a few years. Just dont pay over 250 for them. Thats my hot stock tip.[:p][:D]
Kidding. I don't have a Lorcin.
Add a few Jennings/Ravens to that and it will be worth $4 in 50 years.
When paper weights are hard to come by.
yes.i started doing that about 10-12 years ago.if i would have know then what i know now....have always been a colt man and decide to do that to see what happened.i got lucky on some and not so on others.pythons are thru the roof right now.while governments arent.so im unloading my pythons at a huge gain,while im just breaking even or a little better on the governments.just put a python up for auction about 2 hours ago and its gone already.couldnt believe it.dont worry guys there are others up still.[:D][:0]