Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Who thinks gun collections as investments is going to be a flop ?

You define yourself, and "educators" in general exactly as would I. You do not seem to understand the fundamentals of market capitalism if you fail to recognize that those buyers were not misled or coerced. Nor were the products misrepresented. Those buyers were happy to indulge in a purchase that was no longer easily acquired.

I do find it disturbing, though not surprising, that you equate [bleep] w/ capitalism, do you get a better rate in the ghetto? And where do BJs fit in your definition of integrity, kind of scary from a schoolteacher.


mike r

i think i just heard recently of a norinco ak selling for 2500bucks.
they ain't importing them anymore.
some broken down chinese s.k.s.s are currently going for about 400bucks.
i also remember east german 7.62x39 going for 70bucks for 1200 rounds.
like you could find that at that price today.

Norinco AKs have always been well regarded. There was a time when folks could buy the goofy thumbhole stocked version for $200.00-$250.00 each. Some bought them, others invested in bicycles and old kettles. The beauty of America is that everyone is free to make their own decisions.


mike r

You sold ‘em at an 800% markup because you could. OK. It’s legal. But you’re right, implying you used a name to misrepresent a product was a cheap shot.



I find it disturbing but not surprising you fail to recognize the absurdist humor in the premise.



Strictly speaking, San Antonio ain’t big on ghettos, and no one calls it that anyway. I came here looking to be a good teacher in an inner city Hell. Turns out San Antonio only does inner-city lukewarm. Friendliest big city I’ve ever seen.

Damn, and I gave mine for a song to a friend, didn’t have much use for it.

The most important decision one can make is what you are paying to acquire some product.
another case in point
few years ago imported from germany some sig p6's, which were basically the police version of the 225, single stack.
some other than being test fired, were brandnew, in the box, test acceptance target from the police, and manual in german.
along with a rather trick holster.
$220dollars for a new sig sauer? absolutely a no brainer. Going for about double that now.
lets say i wanted to sell one for 350bucks, wouldn't take long, and thats still 100profit over the 220..
it isn't rocket science.
Military 1911's were at one time going for about 20bucks through the nra. anybody want to buy one for 100bucks? Yeah, i thought so.

Even with polished magazines, they are still just SKSs.

Chinese SKSs for $340 today

We paid $90 for a Chinese SKS in 1992.

2019 - 1992 = 27 years [ have I really had it that long in my gun safe?]

$340 / $90 = a ratio of 3.77

27th root of [3.77] = 1.05 -> 5% return interest compounded annually for owning and SKS for 27 years

That means SKSs from China beat the background inflation 3% compounded annually of average Guns, Guitars, and Gold.

End my SKS investing calculation
===============================================================================
Start stock investing calculation

I got Google stock at the IPO when it was $100 in 2004. Now after a split the equivalent of $2526.

2019 - 2004 = 15 years
$2526 / $100 = a ratio of 25.26

The 15th root of [25.26] = 1.24 -> 24% return interest compounded annually for owning Google stock for 15 years.

I stumbled across this and thought I'd contribute, as there is a lot to learn here for a guy in his mid-30s. I love old guns. There is something special about an old Parker or an old Abercrombie & Fitch--we have a couple of these in the safe. The reality is that my generation is not too nostalgic. A "fancy gun" is a wooden Benelli with some gold to my generation. Automatics are deemed much more practical.

The reality is that old rifles are not going to hold their values, as others have stated. I don't want a pre-64. I can only use 1 rifle at a time and don't want to have something that I have to clean and worry about rust and wood warping on a backpack sheep hunt. I am not a huge gun collector. I have a couple of very accurate custom rifles with very high dollar S&B scopes in my arsenal. Each of these guns would retail new for $8,000+. I would never get that out of these today on here or Gunbroker. They are killing sticks, plain and simple. They do their jobs very well. One of them was used last month on a Coues at 500 yards and performed flawlessly. I didn't worry about banging the gun around in the field, as it's not an investment--it's my weapon.

As for the shotguns, it's fun to take some of the old ones out for a field hunt at a shooting preserve or for a round of clays. However, your automatics are a one-and-done gun that will do it all for clays, ducks, geese, dove, and turkey. Simple, something my generation likes about them. Oh, and you don't have to wipe down the whole gun when someone puts a finger print on the barrel accidentally. I will still get a few old shotguns here and there but I would rather have a handful of really nice guns that I use versus a gun safe full of queens that are taking up space.

Simply stated, tastes have changed. The flat-brimmers have no problem spending $10K on a Gunwerks setup. I'd love to have a Drilling somewhere down the line and I'm sure I will. I just know I'll hear some snarky remarks from my peers--similar to the remarks I heard when I took out the pre-war Parker and proceeded to kick their butts on the clay course.

Mike, I don't have time to read the whole thread so please excuse if this is repetitive.

I think you'll run into more problems "getting rid" of guns due to changes in firearms law POTENTIALLY, than you will on the straight-up market, including demographics. Thus far, the model has been for restrictions to be threatened and stuff to go through the roof-which is essentially good for those who already have guns but might want to get rid of them for whatever reason. That could change though if we see even one example of a state doing widespread confiscations/prosecutions, etc.

Generally, run-of-the-mill semi-auto AK's, etc. are not really collectibles. They certainly can yo-yo in value though. Also certain variants can get collectible really quick.

I think firearms as an investment overall is a sucker's bet. If you like them, collect them.

Brand new FN FAL


Some Colts and Brownings





70s


21’s


94’s

People buy guns as an investment vehicle?

I buy what I like, never thought of mine as an investment. Mine aren’t worth a hell of a lot.

As long as you only want to match inflation, I guess they are a pretty decent investment.

err if you wanted to buy guns, you can kinda rationalize it.

as of right now i could sell almost every one of my guns for what i paid. most more, some two to five times. i enjoy owning, shooting, hunting with and fondling them. i figure theres not a whole hell of a lot of things you can do that with. i would be more concerned about how gun law changes could affect the black gun market. could go either way. might make the price go up like the "pre-ban" thing of the 90's. might make them illegal in some states and you would have to jump through hoops to unload them. as i approach retirement i am going to turn most of them back into money to fund some other stuff. my kids have picked out the ones they want and the rest will be sold while i am alive and can get top buck.

Any collection is only worth what someone will pay for it--

I think a sound investment if one sticks with really high end gear like European doubles and maybe American Sharps. Considered it, but with no vault handy would be afraid to leave the house unattended. Also, it would likely take considerable time to liquidate.

I don't think they're a great investment.

The cultural change brought on by millennials and younger is profound. Their interest in anything rugged is almost nonexistent. Small game hunting is taking a particularly hard hit. As goes small game hunting, goes small game guns. No interest whatsoever. Old Ithaca 37s and Winchester Model 12s will be a dime a dozen someday, IMHO. I hope I’m wrong. It appears to be a pretty pathetic situation at this point. I can’t relate at all. Luckily, my 12 kids are crazy about hunting/shooting.

and if i wanted to, i don't, i could sell them to you at 100dollars and still make money.
from memory, i think they were about 400bucks at cabella's last week, and they were at the low end of the condition spectrum.