Which firearms will be coveted in the future?

[Keith G]

25, 50, 100 years from now, which modern guns will be coveted much like a Colt SA, Ruger Security Six, pre 64 model 94, etc. To me, aside from being great shooters, a good chunk of what makes these so desirable is the way they age. The patina the blued/stainless steel and wood take on over time just makes them keep getting better looking as the years go by when taken care of.


I’m not sure age will be as kind to modern polymer guns. I don’t think it will add character the way it does to steel and wood. But maybe the younger generations won’t care about that.


I understand the pros of a Glock and it’s relatives, but they sure don’t get me all worked up seeing one behind the counter like a nice, old revolver does. I guess to me they are like modern cars - it’s hard to tell them apart. Cars in the 50’, 60’s, etc. had personality, and personality in design was important. I’m afraid personality in design is a lost art.

 

[Jeff H]

If things go the way they have been going...Any grandfathered AR15s. I doubt they will be legal to buy in 50-100 years.

 

[Armored farmer]

It's still going to be the classics
Wood stocks
Blue steel

 

[Jinx0760]

Any gun that you can find ammo for?

 

[Armored farmer]

It's still going to be the classics
Wood stocks
Blue steel

 

[Pat Riot]

I knew a guy in the early early 90’s that was buying guns that he predicted would be collectibles some day.

He wouldn’t touch S&W revolvers because they were not “the future”. He wouldn’t touch anything “Colt” as they were going under and everyone was angry at them for their bad business practices so they would not be collectible.

About the only gun that he bought that would have been a good investment as of today was an H&K P7.

It’s hard to predict what will spark the fancy of folks years down the road.

 

[roscoe]

I am not sure you could know now whether you could safely fire a polymer handgun after 100 years. I intend to pass down my guns, but the polymer pistols seem like they would have a much more finite lifespan. My next firearms purchases will be all metal for that exact reason (well maybe plastic grip panels).

 

[40-82]

We have two kinds of reality in play: on the ground reality and media reality. It was within my memory when the Glock first hit the market. Odd European design, mostly polymer, would it even work? I wasn't about to pay my money to find out. So radically different, had I been making predictions my guess would have been it would have simply never established itself among the traditional American shooter, and died for want of publicity.

Sensing any easy victory, Senator Howard Metzenbaum started screaming,"Airport gun. This thing could beat the metal detectors." It couldn't. It was a lie, but what better tactics? Fight to ban something nobody wanted anyway. The victory might be small, but it'd keep staff paid, keep hope alive. The company ought to name a model the Metzenbaum Special in appreciation to the publicity boost he gave them.

Now look at the AR-15 and similar types. The gun banners had taken serious defeats. Even most of the Democrats of the early 90's didn't want to align themselves with another attempt at banning handguns. The needed something, some small victory to keep the movement from dying. Why reach deep in your pocket to contribute to another attempt at a ban that was a sure loser? In 1991 aside from a small group of specialists, mostly a specialized segment of competitive shooters almost no one in the shooting public used these rifles, particularly wanted them, or knew much about them. Perfect target--who would really fight to protect to own something they don't much want anyway?

When I ask a new AR owner why, the usual answer is because I still can. It's become the most popular and recognized rifle. And it's beginning to show up in crime, when before it almost never did. The news media educates the criminal more than any other source. The assumption being if they don't want you to have it, then it's a good thing to have.

According to the media the eventual victory of the gun banners is assumed. The only question is the timeline.The media makes an all out push, loses, declares moral victory, steps back into its shell to sulk, and waits for the next horrible crime whose victims they can exploit.

The media actually does have a chance to win this thing over time because it's so easy to believe that if you only hear one explanation, that explanation is probably the truth. But for the moment on the ground reality is quite a different thing.

The truth is still in America, a young man, financially flush with his first paycheck, even if he's lived in an urban liberal environment all his life, wants to buy a gun. It's innate. He may be taught to feel guilty about the impulse, but that doesn't eradicate it.

 

[P5 Guy]

What will be coveted?
The only firearm your overlords allow you to have a single shot 22 that must be stored in your gun club's safe.

 

[Keith G]

Nice write up and I believe you are correct on most, if not all of your points, 40-82. My question to you is will a Glock or AR-15 make people weak in the knees when they see one in a LGS in 50 years the way an old SA or Model ‘94 does today?

They don’t do it for everyone, but they seem to for most. I have let youngsters handle and shoot my SA and Model ‘94 that have never handle any gun that wasn’t plastic. Almost across the board, their eyes light up and a big grin comes across their face. These are kids in their 20’s. They didn’t grow up on westerns. I think there is just something inherently satisfying about wrapping your hand around wood and metal, and hearing a big boom when you pull the trigger. Very different than shooting a 9mm Glock.

 

[Keith G]

Don’t want this to take a political slant and get shut down. There’s enough politics in our lives to make us all sick. Let’s keep on the topic of what firearms that are popular today will bring the same satisfying experience that the classics of yesterday bring us today.

 

[MikeInOr]

Politics aside - Any gun that the kids covet today but can't afford. Or any gun a kid fell in love with while shooting it with their grand parent, parent or other mentor.

 

[CDW4ME]

A 45 GAP Glock (37/38/39)
Get yours now while prices are low.
25 - 50 years from now, the return on that investment could be shocking.

 

[AlexanderA]

1. Guns issued by the U.S. military.
2. Guns having a starring role in popular movies.

 

[Ignition Override]

Any gun which you or your descendants bought via Armslist or another personal deal.

Expanded background checks , one day, could easily result in a growing, new federal registration for FFL deals. This will help facilitate an ultimate objective (though very unlikely).

 

[Basura Blanca]

2. Guns having a starring role in popular movies.

Agreed, but all media, not just movies.
I'm still waiting for someone to gift me a Bren Ten and a white Testarossa.

 

[kidneyboy]

Politics aside - Any gun that the kids covet today but can't afford. Or any gun a kid fell in love with while shooting it with their grand parent, parent or other mentor.

Yep. It's always been that way.

 

[shafter]

It's hard to say. With each passing generation there's less interest in firearms. In 50-100 years most people will probably have been brainwashed into thinking firearms are evil and won't want anything to do with them whether they're legal or not, but generally whatever is military or seen in a cool movie is popular. I think only a very small percentage of the gun community has strong feelings towards any particular type.

 

[J-Bar]

A firearm is a machine that throws balls very fast. Some throw lots of balls. Some throw balls very accurately. Those that throw lots of balls both fast and accurately will always be in demand. Isn’t it marvelous that so many qualify!!??

 

[earlthegoat2]

The unfired NIB ones.

Or the ones that are only used for hunting by the mega rich. Because that is the direction that is going.

 

[748]

Anything that can still go bang.

 

[george29]

If things go the way they have been going...Any grandfathered AR15s. I doubt they will be legal to buy in 50-100 years.

I like your optimism.

 

[illinoisburt]

25, 50, 100 years from now, which modern guns will be coveted much like a Colt SA, Ruger Security Six, pre 64 model 94, etc. To me, aside from being great shooters, a good chunk of what makes these so desirable is the way they age. The patina the blued/stainless steel and wood take on over time just makes them keep getting better looking as the years go by when taken care of.

I'm going with the nostalgia vote on this one as well. You could hardly give away some of these guns in the 1980s-90s. WW1 + 2 surplus, revolvers of many flavors, and wood stocked rifles/shotguns were on the wane for many years. Awful lot of folks looked at them as old and outdated then.

I guess to me they are like modern cars - it’s hard to tell them apart. Cars in the 50’, 60’s, etc. had personality, and personality in design was important. I’m afraid personality in design is a lost art.

I can fairly well guaranty most people did not think that way about those cars back when they were 10-15 years old. That classic was the old, worn out, broken down junker a kid was driving because he couldn't afford something newer. Now that a few decades have gone by a few people want one in pristine condition to relive their youth or capture the imagination of a previous generation.

People who drive up the demand and prices now are mostly older guys with money who want to reach back to their youth, or younger generations searching for the new retro.

Note two things about them all: they used to be so common as to be boring so everyone had one, and now are fairly rare because manufacturers stopped making them in favor of newer designs while existing ones got lost, broken, or put away somewhere. The principle applies to all kinds of items, not just guns or cars. You name it, there's probably someone with a collection who thinks it's awesome.

So what may be the next 'classic gun' of the future? Hard to guess other than to say people are already getting excited about carry handle pencil barrel ARs & none of us would have wanted one just 10 years ago. So who knows, especially if a new design or technology comes along to 'obsolete' our current guns. Could you imagine a "rare, new-in-the-box Maverick 88" at a 2050 gun show?

 

[guyfromohio]

I’d look for high quality guns that are made the way they should be. I can’t count how many gun makers have cheapened their quality over the years. How many times have you looked at purchasing a gun and found one of the older models.....when they were good? Kimbers....Winchesters....Colt....Smith and Wesson...Remington....Marlin.... I just bought an ACW 1911. In my opinion, this is when they are good. Serial number less than 100....hand-built.... I believe higher-end semi-custom and custom would be my best bet for guns really coveted in the future.

 

[Speedo66]

Assuming ownership is still legal, I'd vote for first gen Colt AR's, carry handles and full stocks.

I can also see pre-lock S&W revolvers as being in demand.

Both of the above are currently in favor, and with good cause. I think their appeal will expand as the years go by.