The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Siggy on January 08, 2011, 02:46:50 PM
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When considering a current firearm of any type quality is important, does the potential collectibility or heirloom quality have any importance in your purchasing decision? Does this make polymer frames of good quality less desirable than steel frames? Off brands less desirable than name brands, even if they shoot as well? What guns (pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns) will be "modern classics" in terms of resale value or heirloom value?
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I don't have an answer for most of your questions, but as far as collector value in decision process, most emphatically, NO. I have a few quasi-collectors (nothing in my collection is unshootable), ones that get shot very little, due to age or heirloom value. But that decision was after the fact. They were acquired for different reasons, and retired afterwards.
Brian
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My guns are tools. The only collect ability to any of my guns are the ones I got from my father, but even they are utility weapons.
They only have sentimental value. with that said, quality is always a factor. If the quality isn't there than they are paper weights.
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The questions I ask when looking at a new gun are:
Does it fit my needs ?
Will it go bang EVERY time I pull the trigger ?
Can I get ammo at any hardware store in America ?
Is ammo cost reasonable ?
Can I afford the gun ?
I make a point of NOT buying "collectible" guns.
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Welcome Siggy.
Two distinct criteria to your question.
1) Will this "x" firearm be worth more or less in the future.
2) Will this "X" firearm be priceless to my great grandchildren regardless of brand. (heirloom).
For example, my Grandfather's Mauser isn't worth a lot of money, but is priceless as a family heirloom.
However, my 1978 Ruger Blackhawk in 98% condition, will probably be worth more money in the future.
Off brands, all depend on uniqueness and demand in the future. Name brands have more produced, but are collected at a premium. Example. Pre-1964 Winchester Rifles, S&W Revolvers like the Model 19, Schofields. etc,.. Yet 30-40 Krag rifles are good, but have not increased in value quite as much, except to the family members that cherish them.
Check the price of a Colt Python lately? Ka-ching! M1 Garands are jumping up. M1A's etc,....all will be both heirlooms and increase in value over the long term, like many others.
As a collector of antiques,.. pottery, furniture, guns, etc,... There are variables. I don't know how much a Glock21, like mine will be worth in $$$ in the future. BUT I do know it WILL still work... ;D Just like my Grandfather's Mauser. ::)
Interesting question.
I agree with Tom, but my son can figure it out after I'm gone....
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I buy them to shoot, use and abuse! If there is anything left for my kids to get so be it.
I remember buying an American Western Arms Longhorn in 37 magnum. I got home, opened the manual and the first page said "To retain best collector value do not fire this handgun." I tore the page out and used it to light a fire right before I loaded the cylinder and cranked off the first five ;D
The best value retained in a gun is the memories of how it was used. There is very little in that value that can be passed on to anyone else.
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I buy them to shoot, use and abuse! If there is anything left for my kids to get so be it.
I remember buying an American Western Arms Longhorn in 37 magnum. I got home, opened the manual and the first page said "To retain best collector value do not fire this handgun." I tore the page out and used it to light a fire right before I loaded the cylinder and cranked off the first five ;D
The best value retained in a gun is the memories of how it was used. There is very little in that value that can be passed on to anyone else.
Pretty much says it all for me. ;D
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m58 and tom are spot on. I am alive now. I enjoy buying, shooting, acquiring, building, firearms of all types. TO SHOOT.
I have NO safe queens. I shoot more than others sure, but, I shoot them, have ample ammo for all of them, and pick and choose which ones to take to the range, and keep "by the bedside"....
If my "stuff" gains financial value fine...However, my son will inherit an ever growing collection. (Not a billt, or kpr, m25 collection,) but nonetheless, something to carry fwd. ;)
Either way. It will be well maintained, well cared for, and well used. If it doesn't gain $$$$ value, I don't care. My son and his future children can say:
"Tell me about Great-Grampa tw",... damn, what did he need all these guns for?????"
My son will reply:
"Keep cleaning and oiling that Mauser boy, it's an interesting tale."
That will be good enough for me. 8)
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I remember buying an American Western Arms Longhorn in 37 magnum. I got home, opened the manual......before I loaded the cylinder and cranked off the first five ;D
Heck, m58, the last three I bought didn't make it out of the store afore they was fired.
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In my experience anything sold as "commemerative" is not a good investment. There are exceptions, but the seller is trying to get you to pay a premium up front in the hopes it will pay off down the road. Its a sucker's bet (with exceptions, such as the first run of something, or a unique feature). Beyond that, buy what you'll shoot and let the chips fall where they may. The only other advice is to hitch your wagon to a rising star. If you'd bought a Spanish shotgun 25 years ago, you'd have made money as their quality became recognized. Today, the same might be true of some of the Philipino stuff, which is currently cheap, but very well made. New companies are the same way. Personally, I wouldn't buy guns as an appreciating asset. At best, see them as holding value, but mostly see them as a useful tool and a source of enjoyment. Politics may alter the equation as panics set in, but that can be off set with bubbles, such as the current AR glut. Just buy what you want to own.
FQ13
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There are some exceptions, S&W revolvers have sky rocketed as well as Ruger Single actions, not 150% but in a lot of cases 100%, if bought with caution. All the Ruger Blackhawks I owned I paid less than 150.00 for, now this was in the 80's, the new Remington copy of the military sniper rifle I expect to go up in value, if bought at the right price, and if kept clean and decently cared to not get scratched up, can be shot and enjoyed. In the 80's at the big gun show in Dallas a new S&W L frame could be bought all day long for 260.00 and that's with the good parts , not MIM or trigger locks. My only Redhawk .44 brand new was 299.00, so buy wisely, if it is not a deal, unless you really want it, don't buy it, my like new first model Glock 17 that resides in my bedroom, 350 used, ok I did not get the tactical rail, no big deal, the crimson trace grips 150.00 brand new from a guy on AR15.com that got them for Christmas and did not like them, I love them. Shop Hard my friends. Then pass them on.
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The only "safe queens" I've got are family "heirlooms". Not really all that valuable, but with family history, priceless.
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the only gun in the last 10 years that comes to mind is the 9410.
They were only made for 2 years, they flew off the shelft at $500, they sell on GB all day long for 1000+ forawhile they were 1500. I was working at a ffl at the time, I should have bought every one we got in stock.