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Guns as an investment?

16K views 90 replies 70 participants last post by  eastman 
#1 ·
Do you consider a gun purchase as an investment?

Are you thinking it will hold its value or increase in value?

Which are investments? And which are not?

Is a SR1911 an investment? And a SR22 a great gun but will never make money?

Or, are they all just purchases you play with and not a consideration for their long term value?

Just random question as to how we think?
 
#33 ·
I do view guns as a long term investment. Rarely are you going to come across an item that you can quickly flip for profit, however, when they're kept for generations and handed down, they invariably go up in value provided their condition is maintained.

So, if I was looking to invest some cash, I'd probably go with precious metals or stones in this economy. But that's all wishful thinking. In this economy I no longer have any cash to invest. :eek:
 
#34 ·
Although guns will return more money when sold, if held for a few years. But after taking into account inflation, cost of living and interest lost from a stock or bond investment, your'e lucky to break even. You also have the cost of insuring your guns to consider, and buying a safe to keep them in.
 
#35 ·
I don't buy my guns as a financial investment. Still, my sense is that all, over time, are worth more than what I paid. I've only really checked the price on one--my Interarms Walther PPK/S. I paid $120 for it about 18 years ago, it's now being sold for between $500-$600. At $500, that's an increase of over 300%, or a bit over 8%/year.
 
#36 ·
Gold price in 1995 = $383 / oz.
Silver price in 1995 = $4.75 / oz.

Gold price now = $1470 / oz.
Silver price now = $24.11 / oz.

If you bought 25 oz silver in 1995 for $118.75 it would now be worth $602.75.
If you bought 1/3 oz silver in 1995 for $127.66 it would now be worth $441.

So...buy Silver

If you bought a gun thats now worth $600, you still have to subtract tha cost of insuring it and some of the cost of that safe you keep it in.

Anyway, buy guns for the security and fun shooting it.
 
#38 ·
Last August I bought my 1st Colt Defender for MSRP of $1,085. It was stolen in January. I replaced it in March for $1,200 and that was the best deal I could find. Many were going for $1,300 - $1,500.

Admittedly, the election had something to do with that, but while I don't invest in guns, I do consider them an investment. How many pieces of non collectible machinery goes up in value even though its been used?
 
#39 ·
No current production gun will ever be worth more than that same money invested in solid stocks. Only a a great grandson might get money out of it when he's old.

Now if you have a pre production gun or a recalled gun from a limited production you might see a reasonable increase before your put in a nursing home.

Unless its a Wild bill Hitchcock or other historical owner and gotta have major documentation. Even then a lot of fakes out there.

Best advise buy em, shoot em, take care of them... pass them on to your kids, grandkids. That's true value... you kid showing his kid " this was your grands and if your responsible it will be yours someday" that's the value...
 
#40 ·
I have always considered both firearms and fine jewelry investments not expenditures. When you purchase either you retain the value of money while changing it into a more useful albeit specialized form.. and that's the way I've always looked at it.
 
#41 ·
I buy guns for mostly recreational shooting.... However, the wife and I know we can always sell some if we have to and get decent money out of them. This is one reason my wife goes along with my gun buying because realistically, you only 'need' a couple rifles, a shotgun, and a couple revolvers for a lifetime of fun and usefulness :) . Guns are unlike other 'hobbies' that you would get cents on the dollar back.... For example, the 'black hole' or 'money pit' of flying R/C Airplanes that I participate in....
 
#42 ·
I consider my guns priceless! Sometimes though if the price is right...I just don't know...I'm confused and my head hurts! :(
 
#56 ·
If money invested conventionally earns an annualized average of 5% over a 20 year period, the cost of your gun doubles every 20 years.
So if I'm 60 years old now and buy an SR1911, I'll be 80 before it'll be worth twice what I paid for it?

No thanks. I don't have time for that. Besides, the gun would probably be shot to pieces by then, unless I just stuck it in a safe and forgot about it for 20 years.
 
#47 ·
Here is the deal on trying and Isay trying to make money in guns. If you can not buy it cheap you will not make money. That leaves out dealers. Next is the condition and rarity. A un that is etremely hard to find is woth more than one that there are 10 listed on GB. Condition is everything. If it has been fired you have killed the value unless the gun was Jessie James personal gun with documentation. So now you get the picture. /guns like art are only worth what someone will pay you for them. so my theory is just shoot them,look at them handle them in any way that makes you happy because if you keep it and you kid gets it in the will he will sell it that day for a steal to a dealer who will pay him about 50% of what its worth if that and he will take the cash and spend it on his girlfriend. All us old guys are the last of the gun collectors. We are a dying breed who actually appreciated how a gun looked and felt.
 
#48 ·
I buy guns for me, recreational or defense. I don't plan to sell what I purchase but have sold a couple because they didn't feel right after I had more time shooting them.

Some of the weapons I have increased in value due to the crazy pricing we have all seen in the past 8 months. My investment strategy is not buying a selling firearms. My firearms are a buy and hold (shoot) plan.
 
#50 ·
Always buy the best you can. Good guns usually will hold their value and gain some. I started collecting Ruger Mark IIs about 5 years ago. Then you could buy a NIB KMK10 for $200 0r $300. Now they sell $750 to $1000. Ruger just sold a MK678US on GB that went for $2800. Last year they had a couple sell for around $1500. Selling prices on all my MKIIs have doubled in the last 2 years. But I collect because I like them. But it is nice that they go up in value as well. But what really make me sick was the Colt collection I sold about 20 years ago. Had 52 pistols. Most NIB Pythons, Diamondbacks, Match Targets, National Matches etc. Prices on them have doubled and tripled.
 
#51 ·
I don't have anything super collectible, but some OK stuff I take hunting.
My MZ is a TC Hawken Silver Elite, not too common a rig. Paid $315 back in '95 or so (can remember the price, but not the year). I could get over 500 for it (but since I took a buck that was in the 170's gross, 160's net, naw it aint goin' anywhere).

My two deer handguns are an E series Python and a 3 screw SBH. The latter I recently got, just 'cause I like 'em (had others). My dad bought the Colt around '72 and I grew up shooting it. Got it for my BD a few years back. Box, papers........it's worth way more than what he paid for it back then used. Got holster wear, and I hunt with it (one 8 pt and one coyote so far).

It simply isn't for sale. None of my colts are. They will go to my kids, with the stipulation that they have to be passed to blood relatives, lest I come back from the grave as the rudest poltergeist ever.

Rarely do I buy and flip for making $. Over the years I've lost some here and there, made a little once in a while, score sheet is about even. But I used my stuff, took good care of it and when I changed my mind or wanted something else, I sold at prime time.

Always smart to buy out of season. Doing that has allowed me to shoot and hunt with a variety of items over the years, on a limited budget.

I've seen other folks who can't manage their money buy and then have to sell, over and over........lose substantial amounts each time. I think one dude sold and bought back his nothing special 10/22 at my LGS 5 times, they cut him some slack the last few times, whenever that "bad penny" showed up (sometimes somebody else bought it and it was gone for months. No, not a pawn deal..............just one guy who went back and forth.

And he is not an uncommon type of customer. Oh well, they keep the gun and pawn shops open.

IMHO the more I pay for something, the more I need to shoot it :) Been on rough times and sold stuff before (Big D) but hey, I didn't lose $ on that stuff even when in a pinch.

Heck, I just bought a gun to kinda sorta look like one my dad has, and yeah it was a little under priced (good deal). I fully intended to hunt it, keep it...........but after checking around, nope............I can probably triple my $ on it (did not think it worth that much-suprise).

On stuff I'm not in love with.............yeah I'll let stuff go for that :)
 
#52 ·
Guns:

Value follows inflation up
No real maintenance like with a car or a boat or an airplane
No storage like slip fees for a boat
No green fees like golf or lift tickets like skiing.
Easy to go use...feel good...got time..go shoot...feel bad...go have food
Low or no maintenance except for cleaning
Reload so hobby extends further and costs stay in line
Always convertible to cash in an emergency
Good "investment" probably not...enjoyment factor..priceless
Finally security in that rare case of an emergency
 
#53 ·
My best firearm purchase was in 1991. I saw that I would not be able to afford another full-auto if I didn't act quick so I put together a registered M1919A4 for $1,500 - tax stamp included. During the AWB I bought FAL and AK parts kits for $150 to $200 and built about a dozen of those rifles for about half of what they go for on Gunbroker now.

I try to spot guns that are undervalued for whatever reason and buy a few of them.
 
#55 ·
Do you consider a gun purchase as an investment?
Personally, I consider them an investment, especially those that already have some sort of collectors' value established.

Are you thinking it will hold its value or increase in value?
The natural assumption would be that it would at least hold its value, and hopefully appreciate over the years. That said, when is the last time you got what you consider fair value for a collector's piece you tried to sell? Lots of buyers know the value of a collector's piece, but they'll try to haggle you down to taking even less than you paid for it. If I pay $900 for a revolver, do you think I'm gonna sell it to you for $700, just because you offer me cash? If so, you got the wrong guy.

Is a SR1911 an investment?
Absolutely not. They've become such a common item at gun shows, you can just about set your own price. They may be an investment in self-protection and fun shooting, but a financial investment from which you'll turn a profit? No, just no. Unless, of course, you're prepared to wait thirty or forty years. Your grandson might make a bit of money on one if he sold it, but that's as far as I'll go with that.
 
#57 ·
If we hit hyperinflation, you're better off with a firearm and ammo.
If guns get harder to obtain, " .
If savings interest rate doesn’t climb, " .
If the SHTF, " .
If you feel safer being protected with a firearm, " .
If you feel you can better defend your home and family armed, " .
If you like to shoot, " .
If you like to hunt, " .
If you think a tyrant could take over, " .

A firearm can give you a lot in return that isn't measured in dollars, and given the climate in this nation, we're not likely to see the value diminish unless a tyrant outlaws guns and jails all owners.

Buy carefully, buy quality, treat it like your life depends on it, shoot it until you know it like a lover. Then get another. Wash Rinse Repeat.

I feel much better about having a firearm than some numbers in an account that can be made valueless by situations beyond my control.
 
#58 ·
If you buy guns as an investment.......well, you definitely got the bug!
 
#59 ·
As far as investment goes Kar 98ks from World War 2 get my vote. Have seen them at gun shows with bolt mis-match going for crazy money. Collectors paying big bucks for all matchers and rare codes like BNZ or SS contract Mausers. Use to be cheap back in 50s and 60s but too many sporterized back then. Check gun shops for trade-ins as you can often score for less money than gun shows.
 
#61 ·
Key words there being long term. Like anything else an item is worth what somebody will pay for it. A 100 dollar sks from back when would make a nice profit today.
As an investment I might try something less nerve wracking...like commodities futures.
Buy 'em, shoot 'em enjoy them. keep your eyes open and you might make some money.
 
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