Are guns a good investment opportunity?

I think that they could be a great investment if certain things happen. If all hell were to break out, which it would never happen in the all mighty US, money will be worthless, what better to barter with than a firearm, people will want to protect themselves so a firearm would be worth much more than its $ value.
 
As an income generating investment, guns don't do so well. Over the long term inflation will increase the value of the gun but it will also decrease the value of the money realized from the sale. Someone else here has already compared the annual rate of return on the AUG to what a decent mutual can do. The mutual wins, hands down.

The advantage guns have, however, is that they are easily liqidated and if the seller is willing to work at it, can often be sold for the original cost. So you have an asset that you derive enjoyment and utility from. Should the need ever arise you can quickly convert the weapon for cash through legal channels.

As to the gunshop issue, the gun retailer needs to make a certain profit to stay in business and be compensated for his time. Since a used gun is limited as to markup, the dealer has no choice but to give you less than market value for the gun. The cost for the ease and convenience of selling the gun to a dealer is less money realized by the sale. You could try and sell it yourself by placing an ad in the papers or advertising at the local range. But then you get the phone calls and the worries about criminal history of the purchaser, potential liabilities if the gun is misused and all that. It's your decision what your time and aggravation are worth.

A better idea is to trade the gun for another, especially another used gun. This gives the dealer far more latitude in negotiating a satisfactory deal. And it gives you a new toy to play with.
 
My dad has had a lot of collectable guns in his life. At one time he had a whole series of nickle plated colts that were neatly boxed in a wooden case. They didn't come that way from colt, someone, in the past, has just done it. They ranged from a cap and ball poilce pistol with police ingraving on the cylinder to a 5 inch single action 44-40. The whole thing turned out to be a valuable little collection. He ended up splitting it up over the years. While the 44-40 booked at 14k he only got 5 k for it. How much did he have it all of these colts?.. A couple of hundred dollars and maybe a few watches. It's helped him out in his retirement.
 
Cost is quickly forgotten when you are in need.My SIG has paid for itself the first, and only time I needed it.At that moment of need it was priceless...I have never lost money on a gun that I traded, or sold.The longer I kept it the more it was worth.I cannot put a price on the pleasure they brought me over the years.It's the least cost insurance you can buy.When you buy insurance ,you pay out money,and receive nothing but peace of mind in return.A gun always has some value. YES-TO ME A FIREARM IS A GREAT INVESTMENT.
 
Regardless of your opinion on this matter, you are a damn fool if you do not have a constantly updated inventory with serial numbers and current approximate prices on every gun you have.

Guns have been a WONDERFUL investment for every leech who shows up at a gun collector's widow's house to "appraise" the collection.

I have seen some absolute piracy. The most common trick is to fuss and dither over some worthless converted Mauser that "looks" old while telling her that the rest of the guns are what they really want to be able to sell to hunters, but they really aren't worth much but as a "favor" here's $1000.

Seen it happen many times.
 
IMO: YES, right now guns are an excellent investment. If they pass laws on "smart guns" and internal trigger locks etc etc etc, then all the guns you have now will be "pre-ban" guns. Just like anything else "pre-ban", they are going to skyrocket in value.
Imagine if they make mandatory devices to be built into, say, Glocks and 1911's. People will long for a Glock or 1911 "the way it was meant to be", in pre-ban configuration.

(off topic rant follows) The Clinton administration has only served to increase gun sales to an historic level. I own far more full-capacity pre-ban magazines than I ever would have if they were not outlawed. Everyone is buying "two of everything" in dreadful fear that this is the last chance they will get to buy certain items. "Assualt weapons" and full capacity magazines are now a "must have", when before 1994 they were just another item. Thanks Clinton for making sure America is well armed. No thanks for the high prices.(end rant)

There is a saying that goes "Gun control will only be increased, and gun values will only go up".

Long before guns are confiscated, (if that could ever happen with all the rabid gun owners in this country), more and more guns will be outlawed over the next 5-10 years or so, which always means that they cannot be sold over the shelves but the ones on the market can be sold used. At this point, your guns are going to be worth a mint.
The trend in gun control right now and over the next several years is toward safety devices, smart guns, internal trigger locks, fingerprinting/serial numbers, lower capacity, low rate of fire etc etc, and there is no gun ban even on the horizon. As new guns become more regulated with more devices on them etc, the old guns are giong to be worth more and more money. You can bet the farm on it. In the mean time, collect guns, have fun, shoot them if you want, because a lightly used "pre-ban" is always easy to unload for a good profit. There are not many investments that you can play with, fondle, enjoy, use, and still make money off of down the road.

Also, as stated above, in the event of a depression etc, there are only a few things that INCREASE in value as the economy goes down the toilet. One of them is guns. Guns make excellent bartering items in times of crisis.

Sometimes the best strategy is to buy a used firearm at a used price. Then it has more room to go up in price and it does not decrease in value as you use it. Right now, I would buy used Glocks, which never wear out, and in the event of gun laws they will be quick and easy to unload. The benefit of a used gun is that you can use it and it will not become "more used". No matter what happens to the economy, a used Glock is money in the bank and easy to unload.
Regarding used guns: I bought a Colt Sporter rifle before they were banned in 1994. I bought it used. I shot it whenever I wanted, kept it nice, had a lot of fun with it, and when I had to sell it a few years later to pay for my college education, I made a decent amount of money. How many investments can you play with for years and then sell for a profit?

So, I guess others here have a point. Don't invest in guns purely for the money. But, if you like guns you can invest in them, have fun, and make a little money down the road. Having guns in the safe is like having money in the bank. Anytime you need money, you can have it as quickly as you want. And, there are not many investment opportunities that you can get into for $400 or so.
 
Ive sold two reasonably large firearms collections........on one I made a profit, on the other because of need and timing I had to sell quickly so I lost a little, if I look at both events, Im probably close to being even, not counting the years of use of some of these firearms........also dont discount the colt sa's , from your collection, they arent making anymore 2nd generations etc.,....I was also fourtunate that my later firearms collection included several custom knives by Randall, Brend, and that sorta maker, as well as a pair of Katanas........the knives would have been a substantial profit but I had to sell quick...,,,Like anything else, if your sales are not time dependent you can make money....fubsy.
 
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