Guns as investments

[22-rimfire]

I would suggest you invest in something more liquid. Selling guns is often not a quick process if you are seeking top dollar.

Buy firearms because you enjoy them and if you eventually make a dollar or two, great. If you choose to do this, seek guns in as good a condition as you can afford and generally that means 95%+ condition.

People that make money with firearms, buy and sell them. They do not generally sit on a gun for 30 years if the purpose is to make money. Keep in mind you need to have a way to store them and maintain the condition. One substantial house fire and you lost your investment unless you have insurance. Insurance costs eat away at potential gains in a practical sense if you are honest with yourself.

 

[GRIZ22]

If you keep any quality gun long enough, use it, and take reasonably good care of it you can make money. For example, my first Mini 14 bought shortly after they came out cost me $160, $135 for a 2" S&W M64, or $175 for a new Colt Combat Commander all bought in the mid 70s. If I had kept them new in the box I could get even more.

There are collector type firearms (Walker Colts, original SAA, etc) which turn more of an profit over time as more collectors are looking for one of a limited number of items.

The problem with firearmsis most people who have many of them for fun consider them a luxury. The guy with a few hundred guns in his collection and claims he will never sell them will change his mind in hard times if the choice is sell a few guns and feed his family or starve and keep his guns. Don't listen to that "hunt for food" as I'd like someone to tell me how to hunt for a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread.

Gun prices can go down if there is really hard times and many are selling their guns. You have to find someone who will buy them. It's supply and demand.

The gold I bought in the middle 70s at $100 a ounce is now about $1100. Very few firearms purchased at that time will give you 1000% return. You can always find someone to buy gold but not guns. guns are not a very fluid "investment".

If you want to use the excuse of "investment" to purchase more guns you're only fooling yourself.

 

[Carl Levitian]

"4. possibility of a 'turn them all in' style ban makes them worth $0"


While this may seem far fethched right now, in just my lifetime I've seen it go from walking into a hardware store and walking out with whatever you liked to PITA regulation. If you think it can't be baned, just remember you used to be able to buy a Thompson in a store.

Gun rights are being eroded little by little like by a school of pirranas. Our grandfathers had no regulation on them at all. The powers that be just need some kind of event for an exuse. I think investing money in something that can be ordered to be turned in is a bad move. Guns are what you buy to have fun with, bonds and some stocks are what you invest in. Decade by decade the stock market has not lost money since they started keeping records of it.

Think guns can't be banned? Here's a news flash; when it really comes right down to it, the government can do anything it wants. Look at Ruby Ridge and Waco. Have they ever answered for it?