5.56RifleGuy
New member
Just about any full auto rifle, pistol, or whatever you can get at a good price will most likely keep a good value. they are going to be starting somewhere about 2500 and up though.
Ideas about gun investment.
- Thread starter Right to bear arms
- Start date
Guns as investments.
I sold most of my guns this last two years most I had for ten years or more. I did not buy them for investments, but I really made out on them . They appreciated more than I expected. If anyone thinks that guns do not appreciate much, I remember Lugers for $50.00, Walther P38's for $40.00 in the early sixties. However, $50.00 then may be $500.00 due to inflation.
I sold most of my guns this last two years most I had for ten years or more. I did not buy them for investments, but I really made out on them . They appreciated more than I expected. If anyone thinks that guns do not appreciate much, I remember Lugers for $50.00, Walther P38's for $40.00 in the early sixties. However, $50.00 then may be $500.00 due to inflation.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
In 1950, the hockshops on E. 6th St. in Austin, Texas, had beaucoup SAAs for around $35 or so. In 1963, a plain vanilla Model 70 was in the vicinity of $150. In 1966 I paid $65 for a four-digit serial number like-new 1911. In 1970 the retail on a Weatherby Mark V was $350. An L579 Sako Forester Mannlicher carbine was IIRC $220.
Trouble is, the rate of increase in value of a lot of things has flattened out in these last several years. Right now, the best probable rate of increase in price is silver, then gold.
Trouble is, the rate of increase in value of a lot of things has flattened out in these last several years. Right now, the best probable rate of increase in price is silver, then gold.
Ideal Tool
Moderator
Hello, I would think any high grade single-shot from a reputable maker such as Pope, Zischang, Schoyen or Peterson would tend to go up in value..after all there were so few made, and mostly on a custom bases..of course your going to have several grand tied up in each. this would be a small collector nich..but there are those out there who are willing to pay to fill out a collection. The same goes for high end Winchester 73, 76 & 86, as well as the Win. single-shots. Any Creedmoor long-range rifles..Ballard, Remington or Sharps will bring top dollar The High grade first gen Colt S.A.A. command a good price...Probably the ones who bought these in the 60's and 70's before prices went thru roof will make out best. I realize these are probably out of the ordinary working mans league..but you did ask about investment arms.
There are 3 approaches to buying investment guns:
1. Buy good quality guns that can no longer be produced, imported or replicated.
2. Buy decent-to-good quality guns that have a high probability of not being available in the near future.
3. Buy over-engineered guns that are costly to produce or reproduce.
Imported guns, guns made from steel forgings, guns with some complex "engineering" feature to it (think P7, FN-SCAR, Kriss), desirable antique guns, machineguns, '89 banned guns, open-bolt guns - all good bets.
Y'all might laugh, but I think you can find a used Kriss .45 for relatively decent prices. They will be the "odd-ball" that you will wish you bought.
1. Buy good quality guns that can no longer be produced, imported or replicated.
2. Buy decent-to-good quality guns that have a high probability of not being available in the near future.
3. Buy over-engineered guns that are costly to produce or reproduce.
Imported guns, guns made from steel forgings, guns with some complex "engineering" feature to it (think P7, FN-SCAR, Kriss), desirable antique guns, machineguns, '89 banned guns, open-bolt guns - all good bets.
Y'all might laugh, but I think you can find a used Kriss .45 for relatively decent prices. They will be the "odd-ball" that you will wish you bought.
horseman308
New member
Yeah, I didn't say he'd get rich; I just meant it was historically a safer way invest money.
Assuming down the road we are still able to own firearms at all, full auto would be a better investment than a bolt rifle. They start just under $3000, so you have to save a little more. There are tons of bolt action rifles out there and more everyday but only a limited number of transferable machineguns.
Mrgunsngear
New member
AKs and SKSs have been going up in the last 10 years a lot. You used to be able to get a SKS for $150 in 2000 they're going for at least $250-300 now depending on condition. I agree with you on the dollar...
The best investment for $500 or any amount for that matter is to pay off some debt. Whether it be credit cards or the house. Once you are completely debt free (including the house) then invest in whatever you think has a chance of making some money. Remember, the borrower is slave to the lender. As for those who say to invest in gold or silver due to uncertainty of the U.S. and world markets, how much food and water do you think you are going to be able to buy from your neighbor with that stash of gold in a worldwide economic collapse? If you are worried about economic instability, invest in several .22's, thousands of rounds of 22 ammo, canned food, bottled water and seeds.
madcratebuilder
New member
Buying and selling fire arms can keep you in "hobby money". To make money you need a FFL/SOT and volume. Precious metals have been my best investment in the long run.
longranger
New member
A Shiloh Sharps any configuration you desire, $500.00 get you in line for a 2 year wait.You can pay on it until it's built.I would go for the least expensive model with no frills or fancy wood.Only rifle company that is building rifles today that will appreciate over the years even if you shoot it.
Downside to precious metals is that they can plummet faster than the stock market.Silver bullion would be my bet not gold,gold was good 5 years ago.
Downside to precious metals is that they can plummet faster than the stock market.Silver bullion would be my bet not gold,gold was good 5 years ago.
My home was worth $75,000 more 5 years ago than now. My retirement investments have lost $30,000 in the last 5 years or so. I realize this is really just on paper and should (at least I hope) rebound. My savings and CD's are getting 2% or less interest
I have a dozen Marlin and Winchester leverguns that I paid around $100-$150 for 10-15 years ago that will bring between $300-$500 today. The S&W revolvers I paid $200-$250 for years ago will bring $500-$600 now.
Of course not all go up in price. Lots of guys who paid a premium for AR's during panic buying are finding them worth about half what they paid just a few years ago. Hard to sell a used one that you paid $1500 for now that new ones are under $600. I actually sold some 15 round Glock 40 cal magazines for $150 each during the AWB. By 2005 they were selling for $20.
I have a dozen Marlin and Winchester leverguns that I paid around $100-$150 for 10-15 years ago that will bring between $300-$500 today. The S&W revolvers I paid $200-$250 for years ago will bring $500-$600 now.
Of course not all go up in price. Lots of guys who paid a premium for AR's during panic buying are finding them worth about half what they paid just a few years ago. Hard to sell a used one that you paid $1500 for now that new ones are under $600. I actually sold some 15 round Glock 40 cal magazines for $150 each during the AWB. By 2005 they were selling for $20.
From past experience guns can be a good investment but you must buy quality and desireability. In short term investment most of my hunting trips are paid for by buying and selling guns. In the long term most of my firearms have at least doubled most more. (example Win model 12 32" solid rib Duck Gun NRA 85%)
My wife and I have a 401 was worth over 300K now its about 1/2 that!
I look at the 401 and its just a number with very little meaning and a very deflated value, in todays market. On the other hand I enjoy and admire our guns most every day.
You must know what has value, what will increase in value, and where the market is to aquire that value if or when needed.
My wife and I have a 401 was worth over 300K now its about 1/2 that!
I look at the 401 and its just a number with very little meaning and a very deflated value, in todays market. On the other hand I enjoy and admire our guns most every day.
You must know what has value, what will increase in value, and where the market is to aquire that value if or when needed.
bullethole1
Moderator
Buy a high priced antique rifle from world war 1
Make money? very seldom
Lose money? very seldom.
Keep value? Most often.
Don't buy guns thinking you are going to make money on them, odds are, you won't. Buying, selling, trading "investment" guns is a niche market, and you will need to put a lot of time and effort into educating yourself about what is and isn't worth $XXXX in order to show a profit.
However, consider the value of a quality firearm. And, consider the value of our dollar...
20 years ago, a $200 dot matrix printer and a $200 Remington pump shotgun cost the same. 15 years ago, that printer you bought was lucky to be worth $50, and today its worthless. That same shotgun will likely bring more than $200 today. But even though it may bring 1.5x or 2x what you paid for it, you really haven't made money, because today's money is worth less. But you did retain its value.
I've got guns I paid $300 for decades ago, that today go for $1200 or more. Made money, right? No, not really, because the $1200 today barely buys what $300 did then. But I didn't lose anything, really.
I buy guns to have, and to use, expecting not to make a profit if I sell them, (although sometimes I do, and it is nice) but I don't lose value on them.
people think they make money on gold when it sells for twice what they paid for it. And, I suppose they do, but when everything you buy costs twice what it did then, did you really make any money?
Lose money? very seldom.
Keep value? Most often.
Don't buy guns thinking you are going to make money on them, odds are, you won't. Buying, selling, trading "investment" guns is a niche market, and you will need to put a lot of time and effort into educating yourself about what is and isn't worth $XXXX in order to show a profit.
However, consider the value of a quality firearm. And, consider the value of our dollar...
20 years ago, a $200 dot matrix printer and a $200 Remington pump shotgun cost the same. 15 years ago, that printer you bought was lucky to be worth $50, and today its worthless. That same shotgun will likely bring more than $200 today. But even though it may bring 1.5x or 2x what you paid for it, you really haven't made money, because today's money is worth less. But you did retain its value.
I've got guns I paid $300 for decades ago, that today go for $1200 or more. Made money, right? No, not really, because the $1200 today barely buys what $300 did then. But I didn't lose anything, really.
I buy guns to have, and to use, expecting not to make a profit if I sell them, (although sometimes I do, and it is nice) but I don't lose value on them.
people think they make money on gold when it sells for twice what they paid for it. And, I suppose they do, but when everything you buy costs twice what it did then, did you really make any money?
I do believe that you can and should buy guns (some guns) as an investment. But, if you are looking to make a "fast buck", and you are not in the gun business (or even if you are), this is rare and not very likely. I take the Warren Buffett approach to gun investing: Buy good guns and hold onto them.
This means that you need to resolve yourself to the fact that you are going to pay fair market value for whatever guns you plan on buying. The key is to be able to identify guns that still have a lot of appreciation in the future ahead of them. Is a Taurus PT-92 likely to appreciate over time? I doubt it. Are those silly looking Powell knife pistols going to appreciate? Probably. Pen guns? Probably. Open bolt guns - definitely (in fact, I think they are the best "investment" going right now); Antiques? Better be careful there. Machineguns? Definitely.