Treo
member
Given a average quality gun Ruger, Kimber, CZ. And normal use do fire arms have a tendency to appreciate or Deppreciate in value? Are there any guns that would be good investments
Do Guns Appreciate Or Deppreciate In Value?
- Thread starter Treo
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depends on the gun say you buy a rock island 1911 for $400 in 10 years it will still be worth about $400
buy a hi-point today for say $200 if its not broken next year when you figure out you made a misteak you can sell it for $20
Quality guns hold value to make serious money on them you would need to look into the future and see stuff like bans and shortages comming to sell to make a profit.
Gun value like most other things is based in part on economice of the day and politics.
buy a hi-point today for say $200 if its not broken next year when you figure out you made a misteak you can sell it for $20
Quality guns hold value to make serious money on them you would need to look into the future and see stuff like bans and shortages comming to sell to make a profit.
Gun value like most other things is based in part on economice of the day and politics.
kentucky_Dave
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It depends on the people involved.
Lately I have seen gun dealers act like car dealers, trying to drastically depreciate the value of a firearm on trade ins (maximizing their profits on resale)
In a FTF transaction, it seems as if the value remains relatively constant depending on the condition of the weapon.
There may be sound investments around...limited editions that never get fired, very old relics, etc...
But that's a rich man's game, and there is no fun in buying a firearm and NOT using it.
Lately I have seen gun dealers act like car dealers, trying to drastically depreciate the value of a firearm on trade ins (maximizing their profits on resale)
In a FTF transaction, it seems as if the value remains relatively constant depending on the condition of the weapon.
There may be sound investments around...limited editions that never get fired, very old relics, etc...
But that's a rich man's game, and there is no fun in buying a firearm and NOT using it.
1 old 0311
member
You CAN make money on guns? How long has THIS been going on?
Jolly Rogers
Member
If you buy weapons used and in great shape my guess is they appreciate in the long run. Buy retail and you loose a % for the first 10 or 20 years. Personal experience here only YMMV
Joe
Joe
RNB65
Member
Way to many variables to answer that question. A high quality gun that has never been fired will certainly appreciate (think, NIB Colt Python or Browning Sweet 16). But once you starting pumping rounds thru it, the future value drops with every pull of the trigger. Unless you can afford to buy a bunch of NIB safe queens and sit on them for a few decades, guns are a bad long-term investment.
xjchief
Member
I've noticed that surplus guns seem to appreciate once the supply dries up.
brighamr
Member
Depends on your ethics. If something, say a $400 S12, is very hard to get; then you can gouge people with any price you choose on gunbroker and they will pay it.
OTOH, if you buy a brand new Kimber for $1200 and find out it has feeding issues, you can sell it at a loss to someone who can\wants to fix it.
I don't see a lot of the cheap romy AKs appreciating much.. BUT if you mention an AWB, you can sell it via fear marketing for a nice profit.
Some guns, (Colt Python, older specific rifles) will continue to appreciate just because of the drive behind collectors. You can buy an 85%-95% python now and in a couple years I'm sure sell it for more than you paid if you take good care of it.
OTOH, if you buy a brand new Kimber for $1200 and find out it has feeding issues, you can sell it at a loss to someone who can\wants to fix it.
I don't see a lot of the cheap romy AKs appreciating much.. BUT if you mention an AWB, you can sell it via fear marketing for a nice profit.
Some guns, (Colt Python, older specific rifles) will continue to appreciate just because of the drive behind collectors. You can buy an 85%-95% python now and in a couple years I'm sure sell it for more than you paid if you take good care of it.
101AirborneE8
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Remember that an Assault Weapon Ban can blow up insofar as appreciation is concerned if they are truly BANNED.
First-Hand Example. About 15 years ago, I owned a Street Sweeper and never fired a round through it. I was a police officer, and an ATF agent that I worked with informed me that they were being reclassified as NFA weapons, but that they could be registered for free.
I filled out the application, and my own boss (Chief) refused to approve the form. The local gun shops weren't taking them, because of the pending reclassification.
To add insult to injury, the sergeant on our SWAT Team asked if they could have it. I told him that I'd throw it in the lake first (I gave it to the Sheriff's Department).
That was NOT a good investment.
That's also THE big reason that I won't get a Barrett .50 cal., even though I sinfully lust for one. There are too many politicians that want to reclassify them. I only lost $325.00 on the Street Sweeper. I don't want to lose $5,000.00 on a .50 cal.
First-Hand Example. About 15 years ago, I owned a Street Sweeper and never fired a round through it. I was a police officer, and an ATF agent that I worked with informed me that they were being reclassified as NFA weapons, but that they could be registered for free.
I filled out the application, and my own boss (Chief) refused to approve the form. The local gun shops weren't taking them, because of the pending reclassification.
To add insult to injury, the sergeant on our SWAT Team asked if they could have it. I told him that I'd throw it in the lake first (I gave it to the Sheriff's Department).
That was NOT a good investment.
That's also THE big reason that I won't get a Barrett .50 cal., even though I sinfully lust for one. There are too many politicians that want to reclassify them. I only lost $325.00 on the Street Sweeper. I don't want to lose $5,000.00 on a .50 cal.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
On average, guns will tend to hold their value, or only loose value in connection with how much wear and tear they've suffered.
Unless you're concentrating on rare or extremely exotic collector's items, buying guns as an "investment" is a terrible idea.
Unless you're concentrating on rare or extremely exotic collector's items, buying guns as an "investment" is a terrible idea.
Ash
Member
Buying Finns at $50 each was a wonderful investment. I have been very successful in enhancing my collection, which now is worth quite a bit for what was really quite a modest investment.
These days, though, there are no milsurps which will be reliable investments. They might be hedges against inflation, but not good investments. Better than hiding cash under a mattress perhaps, but no more.
Ditto for most commercial firearms. In the end, some will be poor performers, some decent. Even an original LeMat results in somewhere around a 4% annual return as an original purchase. Today, however, it probably doesn't even match inflation.
Ash
Ash
These days, though, there are no milsurps which will be reliable investments. They might be hedges against inflation, but not good investments. Better than hiding cash under a mattress perhaps, but no more.
Ditto for most commercial firearms. In the end, some will be poor performers, some decent. Even an original LeMat results in somewhere around a 4% annual return as an original purchase. Today, however, it probably doesn't even match inflation.
Ash
Ash
Hk91-762mm
Member
These days, though, there are no milsurps which will be reliable investments--
Shure there is== those M-44 russian carbines at $100-$150 they are almost New condition and will Go up in value.. what new Hi power rifle can you get for a hundred bucks .
Street sweepers??? Today they sell For big bucks especillly if the are clean and dont have imperial paperwork,
I did loose money on a SPAS-12.. I bought it for 900$ during the ban now they sell for $450.00
But I think of all the Sig 551s and 552s I could mave bought -SIG amts and I once sold M1 Garands for $450 thinking I was making money-NOW wishing I had every one of them back .
How about those 6.5X55 Lungman Sweed rifles at $175.00 Oh I wish I had some of those Not to mention a half dozen Styre AUGS in Black.
Best Gun Deal ever was My dad took a COLT 2Nd Mdl Dragoon For a $15 dollar debt In 1951-today its worth $15thousand
Shure there is== those M-44 russian carbines at $100-$150 they are almost New condition and will Go up in value.. what new Hi power rifle can you get for a hundred bucks .
Street sweepers??? Today they sell For big bucks especillly if the are clean and dont have imperial paperwork,
I did loose money on a SPAS-12.. I bought it for 900$ during the ban now they sell for $450.00
But I think of all the Sig 551s and 552s I could mave bought -SIG amts and I once sold M1 Garands for $450 thinking I was making money-NOW wishing I had every one of them back .
How about those 6.5X55 Lungman Sweed rifles at $175.00 Oh I wish I had some of those Not to mention a half dozen Styre AUGS in Black.
Best Gun Deal ever was My dad took a COLT 2Nd Mdl Dragoon For a $15 dollar debt In 1951-today its worth $15thousand
scrat
Member
Depends on the gun and depends on the person. Personally im not buying or have i ever bought a gun to sell it. I buy guns use them. I have bought a lot of guns new and some used. I know i probably could not get what i paid for on some of the ones bought new. However at the same time a gun i bought 20 years ago. May actually cost more today. Though i really dont care. As far as im concerned i got my moneys worth on all of my firearms. Every one of them have had hundreds if not thousands of rounds through them. Same time im not interested in finding out how much they are worth as they are not for sale and no you can not see my firearms. and NO i will not consent to a search.
I bought my AK not really as an investment but rather because parts kits for Yugo AK's are drying up like crazy. I bet I could sell it for at least $100 more than I bought it for about two months ago.
It all depends on the time and the type of gun, but a profit can be made on guns that do appreciate in value.
It all depends on the time and the type of gun, but a profit can be made on guns that do appreciate in value.
Sans Authoritas
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SKS's, CMP M-1's Mosin-Nagants, and SMLE's are or have all been very good investments.
-Sans Authoritas
-Sans Authoritas
winchester62
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Best Gun Deal ever was My dad took a COLT 2Nd Mdl Dragoon For a $15 dollar debt In 1951-today its worth $15thousand
Doesn't seem possible, but 12.2% compound interest on 15 bucks for 57 years beats the 15,000 dollar current value. Of course if you only earn 10 or 8% interest over the same time it is significantly less. The point (as said by a previous poster) is that even NIB Pythons and the like are not good investments over the long term. For short times of value growth spurts they can be pretty good. Or if you happen to buy the truly rare but otherwise standard copies (3 inch Python) you can do really well. Otherwise, consider them to hold their value at best when you consider inflation. But would you rather unpack the 195? "Registered Magnum" while going through your late uncle's stuff, or a stack of dusty 5 dollar bills?
Doesn't seem possible, but 12.2% compound interest on 15 bucks for 57 years beats the 15,000 dollar current value. Of course if you only earn 10 or 8% interest over the same time it is significantly less. The point (as said by a previous poster) is that even NIB Pythons and the like are not good investments over the long term. For short times of value growth spurts they can be pretty good. Or if you happen to buy the truly rare but otherwise standard copies (3 inch Python) you can do really well. Otherwise, consider them to hold their value at best when you consider inflation. But would you rather unpack the 195? "Registered Magnum" while going through your late uncle's stuff, or a stack of dusty 5 dollar bills?
doctorxring
Member
If you happen to have in stock a gun that is a "star" in
a big Hollywood movie, you can make money.
It's all supply and demand.
Before you think you have made money on a long term
holding of a firearm, be sure and check an inflation calculator
first. Our currency is "funny money" and you will do good
to stay even with just about any investment.
dxr
a big Hollywood movie, you can make money.
It's all supply and demand.
Before you think you have made money on a long term
holding of a firearm, be sure and check an inflation calculator
first. Our currency is "funny money" and you will do good
to stay even with just about any investment.
dxr
chris in va
Member
Depends on the gun I suppose. I paid $425 for my CZ 75BD 4 years ago, probably couldn't get that now.
BADUNAME13
Member
I have never lost money on a gun.
(And I've bought/sold alot)
(And I've bought/sold alot)
Treo
member
QUOTE: " Depends on the gun I suppose. I paid $425 for my CZ 75BD 4 years ago, probably couldn't get that now."
You might? I have a 9 year old 75B that I paid 400.00$ about 6 months ago. So you might get more actual money but less value due to inflation.
You might? I have a 9 year old 75B that I paid 400.00$ about 6 months ago. So you might get more actual money but less value due to inflation.
loneviking
Member
As you can see, the answer is 'depends on the gun'. I forget the manufacturer, but back in the early 80's there was a gun maker producing small numbers of 'mirror image' left handed 1911's. They are worth a lot of money today!
I have a Zoli over/under, engraved with gold plated trigger that I bought for $400 back in '86 or so when Zoli was first trying to get a foot in the American market. Today, a shotgun of that grade goes for just over $4,000.
On the other hand, I have a Colt Peacekeeper, which was basically a Trooper Mk 5, produced for only a couple of years, and it hasn't appreciated much at all. It just depends on the gun...
I have a Zoli over/under, engraved with gold plated trigger that I bought for $400 back in '86 or so when Zoli was first trying to get a foot in the American market. Today, a shotgun of that grade goes for just over $4,000.
On the other hand, I have a Colt Peacekeeper, which was basically a Trooper Mk 5, produced for only a couple of years, and it hasn't appreciated much at all. It just depends on the gun...
Sato Ord
Member
Yes!
It will all depend on the guns and the market. I've met people who are willing to pay more for a first generation GLOCK then they are willing to pay for a new GLOCK. (That company needs to wake up and realize that a lot of people won't buy them because of the grips).
Same thing can happen to any weapon, especially a "fad gun".
Some guns do and some don't. You can find much better investments than guns. However, I look at guns like this: At the end of the day - I still have a safe full of guns - guns that could last several generations if properly taken care of. If golf were my hobby - at the end of the day I might have an old, obsolete set of worn out clubs to show for all my years of playing......
GeezerwithGuns
Member
Checked the prices of Colt Pythons lately?
Old Colt revolvers seem to be slowly increasing in value almost daily. I've stocked up on my Colt snake gun collection earlier before they all become too outrageous. Who knows what they may be worth in a few years. If they don't appreciate I still have some sweet revolvers to play with!
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