TheMilitaryGunBuff
Inactive
What are some collectible military guns that are reasonably priced
Collectible Millitary guns
- Thread starter TheMilitaryGunBuff
- Start date
leadchucker
New member
Mosin Nagant maybe???
The Nagant revolver and the Mosin Nagant rifle are probably your best deals.
Makarov and Tokarev pistols are also fairly inexpensive.
You might find good deals on an Enfield.
Pretty sure the Yugoslavian Mauser is the least expensive Model 98.
The French MAS 49 is less than $350. Avoid the cheap conversions though.
One thing to remember is that in collecting, condition is (almost) everything. A collectible Mosin is going to cost more than a rack grade.
Oh, check the CMP for Garands.
Makarov and Tokarev pistols are also fairly inexpensive.
You might find good deals on an Enfield.
Pretty sure the Yugoslavian Mauser is the least expensive Model 98.
The French MAS 49 is less than $350. Avoid the cheap conversions though.
One thing to remember is that in collecting, condition is (almost) everything. A collectible Mosin is going to cost more than a rack grade.
Oh, check the CMP for Garands.
TheMilitaryGunBuff
Inactive
Thanks yall. And When i said military guns i meant anything Vietnam and earlier
mwells72774
New member
look into Finn mosins, late war mausers
CMP has M1s, which every American should own.
M1 carbines are still around, but more expensive, as are 1903s and 1917s.
Soviet Mosins are the cheapest and widely available.
Finn Mosins are generally better rifles, but not as common and more expensive.
Swiss rifles have pretty much dried up.
For Mausers,
JG Has Yugo 24/47s (straight bolt) for $200-$220
SOG has the same rifle for $195, and Yugo M48 (bent bolt) for $270 and Czech VZ-24 7MM for 160. (looks kind of rough, may need stock repairs)
Samco has a few options in Yugo 24/47s, including one option with a bent bolt for $190-220, some Swedes and Persians, and Spanish Mausers converted to .308 (which I personally wouldn't own, it is a small ring action and marginal for .308)
Sarco had Yugo 24/47 and M48 for $145, and Yugo reworked German K98s for 160 in their Shotgun News ad from November, no idea if they still have them.
There are still some RC German Mausers around, but the prices have gone up. If you just want a Shooter, RGUNS sells a K98 Barreled action and stock for a little over $300. Some assembly required.
M1 carbines are still around, but more expensive, as are 1903s and 1917s.
Soviet Mosins are the cheapest and widely available.
Finn Mosins are generally better rifles, but not as common and more expensive.
Swiss rifles have pretty much dried up.
For Mausers,
JG Has Yugo 24/47s (straight bolt) for $200-$220
SOG has the same rifle for $195, and Yugo M48 (bent bolt) for $270 and Czech VZ-24 7MM for 160. (looks kind of rough, may need stock repairs)
Samco has a few options in Yugo 24/47s, including one option with a bent bolt for $190-220, some Swedes and Persians, and Spanish Mausers converted to .308 (which I personally wouldn't own, it is a small ring action and marginal for .308)
Sarco had Yugo 24/47 and M48 for $145, and Yugo reworked German K98s for 160 in their Shotgun News ad from November, no idea if they still have them.
There are still some RC German Mausers around, but the prices have gone up. If you just want a Shooter, RGUNS sells a K98 Barreled action and stock for a little over $300. Some assembly required.
carguychris
New member
A Yugo or Romanian SKS will also set you back around $250, about the same as the Chinese one.
IMHO these guns are a good buy right now because there's somewhat of an oversupply due to the aftermath of the 2009 election, when prices shot up by ~$150 overnight and the rifles were flying out the door as quick as dealers could get them. Some dealers seem to have overreacted and ordered too many, and are now dumping the remainder for pre-2009 prices. However, the supply of fresh ones seems to be drying up, so prices will probably go up from here.
IMHO these guns are a good buy right now because there's somewhat of an oversupply due to the aftermath of the 2009 election, when prices shot up by ~$150 overnight and the rifles were flying out the door as quick as dealers could get them. Some dealers seem to have overreacted and ordered too many, and are now dumping the remainder for pre-2009 prices. However, the supply of fresh ones seems to be drying up, so prices will probably go up from here.
Cheapshooter
New member
All great shooters, I have one or more of all but the VZ24. I guess it depends on what you consider "collectible" though. I just consider mine as shooters, and enjoy shooting all of them. My definition of a collectible would be something more rare that you wouldn't want to shoot. But then again comes the definition of reasonably priced.
BTW, all of my "collection" are shooters!
IMO the most "collectable" and affordable rifles out there the Swiss K-31, and the Swedish Mausers M96 and M38. There are still a ton of K-31's out there for less than $350, they're extremely accurate and about 500,000 made. Simpson Ltd.has pages and pages of them on their site. Same with the Swede Mausers. The longer barreled 96's has a little over 700,000 made and shorter barrel M38 only had about 80,000 made. Both are also extremely accurate can be found in the $400-500 neighborhood, and the 6.5x55 round is a lot of fun.
It's going to really be a matter of what you have interest in and want. From a collectable stand point I don't rate Mosin's high on my list of collectables because there are millions and millions of them floating around. But for a personal collection, or WW2 collection, etc...no collection is complete without one. But for my money milsurps with the best combination of accuracy, high quality manufacture, lower production numbers and affordability are K31's and Swedish Mausers and post WW2 FN Mausers.
It's going to really be a matter of what you have interest in and want. From a collectable stand point I don't rate Mosin's high on my list of collectables because there are millions and millions of them floating around. But for a personal collection, or WW2 collection, etc...no collection is complete without one. But for my money milsurps with the best combination of accuracy, high quality manufacture, lower production numbers and affordability are K31's and Swedish Mausers and post WW2 FN Mausers.
Cheapshooter
New member
There were some Mosin Nagant rifles used in Vietnam, and there have also been some captured Chi-Com SKS rifles around. An authenticated example of either would certainly be collectible, but again, it may exceed what you mean by reasonably priced.
Possibly some more insight as to what you intend to do, and what your price range is may get you more detailed ideas.
Cheapshooter
New member
I don't think any milsurps are going to get cheaper. The MNs might continue to hover around the hundred dollar mark for a while, but they will probably go up some in the future also.
My take as a non-collector.
Collectible, affordable or useable?
In the first category are the rifles/pistols with the built-in gloss of real or imagined history: the lugers, the K98s, the G43s. Anything that's history begins with "There was my Grandad at Normandy..." On the Good-guy side, of course, this would be the war-era US-built Enfields, 1911s, Garands, M1s. Rare pieces like Japanese semi-auto type 4 (or 5?) rifles also. The price for these is generally always high.
Affordable are rifles and pistols that came out of storage at the end of the cold war. These are generally cheap to buy, especially as they first swamp the market or as their ammo dries up. Examples might include: Makarovs, Russian-captured Mausers, Mosin-Nagants, Tokarevs, VZ-52s, Ishapore Enfields, etc. Eventually, their prices will go up. World War 2 japanese rifles tend to be in this group or the one below it.
Useable: What do you like to shoot? People take SKS rifles and 70 year-old MNs pig and deer hunting every year. I used several varieties of C&R Mausers as my back-up hunting rifle for years. They are durable, accurate, hard-hitting and will continue to be used long after I'm dust.
If you're going into collecting to make money, look long and hard to find an item from the collectible group at a steal, so that you can make a decent percentage return in your lifetime, but for god's sake, don't shoot it! If you scuff it, it might become useable, not collectible! Just kidding. kinda. If nothing else, it will be a fun hobby to look.
appraised worth of this advice: less than 2c
Collectible, affordable or useable?
In the first category are the rifles/pistols with the built-in gloss of real or imagined history: the lugers, the K98s, the G43s. Anything that's history begins with "There was my Grandad at Normandy..." On the Good-guy side, of course, this would be the war-era US-built Enfields, 1911s, Garands, M1s. Rare pieces like Japanese semi-auto type 4 (or 5?) rifles also. The price for these is generally always high.
Affordable are rifles and pistols that came out of storage at the end of the cold war. These are generally cheap to buy, especially as they first swamp the market or as their ammo dries up. Examples might include: Makarovs, Russian-captured Mausers, Mosin-Nagants, Tokarevs, VZ-52s, Ishapore Enfields, etc. Eventually, their prices will go up. World War 2 japanese rifles tend to be in this group or the one below it.
Useable: What do you like to shoot? People take SKS rifles and 70 year-old MNs pig and deer hunting every year. I used several varieties of C&R Mausers as my back-up hunting rifle for years. They are durable, accurate, hard-hitting and will continue to be used long after I'm dust.
If you're going into collecting to make money, look long and hard to find an item from the collectible group at a steal, so that you can make a decent percentage return in your lifetime, but for god's sake, don't shoot it! If you scuff it, it might become useable, not collectible! Just kidding. kinda. If nothing else, it will be a fun hobby to look.
appraised worth of this advice: less than 2c
If you get a chance to obtain a Finnish M39 I would recomend one, they are really good shooters, and also very atractive with their artic birch stocks.
You can buy them fairly cheap from SOG, or WWW.Gunsnammo.com.
The one I have looks like it was really used, has alot of wear, and still shoots great.
You can buy them fairly cheap from SOG, or WWW.Gunsnammo.com.
The one I have looks like it was really used, has alot of wear, and still shoots great.
Last edited:
ksstargazer
New member
I have had 6 Finnish M39's (had to sell 2) and everyone of them was a great shooter (worst was 1.5 MOA). They are a bit heavier than the Russian refurbs and are generally pretty nice looking. I would rate them in the same league as the Swiss K31 in terms of getting the best firearms for the least price.