Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Oh this will annoy some people and make others happy...

Older Smith and Wesson revolvers from the 60s thru the 80s are selling at a premium these days and I suspect some folks fret over selling some of them off...but worry not, best I can tell a S&W Model 19 was selling new for around $250 back in the 70s.

That same Model 19 would have sell for $1600 today to even return 4% CAGR...while the S&P 500 has returned about 9% CAGR.

Oh [bleep]!

And the market has gone soft on those older S&W's and firearms in general. I like to peruse a local classified site and am seeing some very nice Smiths from that era sitting unsold for weeks at prices that would have had them snapped up immediately a year ago.

But the S&P will not offer the comfort that the Model 19 will when things go bump in the night! That has no measure! 😉 memtb

And then there's the joy of owning it, which is also priceless.

So is knowing that you won't outspend your money in your lifetime that is both comforting and priceless.

With a very few notable exceptions, guns are not a “good investment.” On the other hand, compared to other hobby/recreational tools and equipment, if you buy the right ones and take good care of them they will be retain a significant portion of their value and/or be of particular value and utility to your heirs.

I'm driving around Atlanta with my sil, seems like a good investment regardless of $$$$$....

I'm driving around Atlanta with my sil, seems like a good investment regardless of $$$$$....

According to my copy of the 1972 Gun Digest, the retail price of a S&W Model 19 was $135.00, so the rate of return is better than you thought.

"According to my copy of the 1972 Gun Digest, the retail price of a S&W Model 19 was $135.00, so the rate of return is better than you thought."

A few comments:

1. I never found prices listed in Gun Digest to be anything close what was occuring in the marketplace back in the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s

2. I would love to find a reciept for a new Model 19 dated in 1972. I would be quite surprised if it said $135.

3. Even if you take the $135 sales prices as "fact", that same Model 19 would have to sell for $1200 today to generate even a 4.375 CAGR.

Agreed, owning one of the as-close-to-perfect-as-they-come .357s is very satisfying.

If you measure this by $$$$ you might have the wrong perspective - of course that’s what many serve.

PennDog

Uh funny... - that's what this post is about prices, dollars, and return on investment - kind of like a post that is about food for a backpacking trip and evaluating nutritional value per ounce and someone saying - "well but I just don't get the same pleasure as when I have linen table cloths and fine china"

Classic firearms in nice shape will go a long way towards that objective as well, even if not quite as well as some handpicked, after the fact, financial instruments. But then the shortfall in comparison to those is made up for by the joy they provide while in one's possession.

……really?? Then you’re right you are annoying.

PennDog

Hawkeye my sense is you are not very familar with the concept of investing in the S&P 500 as an Index because investing in it whether thru an Index Fund or other similar technique is anything but "hand picked" and the strategy is all about avoiding "after the fact" regrets but perhaps I misunderstood your post.

I think my meaning was pretty clear.

PS At one time, I held a Series 7.

I doubt if very many people here buy firearms thinking that they’ll sell them in forty years and get rich.

Firearms are, however, one of the few items that if taken care of, pretty much hold their value in comparison to inflation as used items. At least that’s been the case for the past fortyish years.

So think of it as enjoying their use for a considerable time, rent free.

Yep....

Very few hobbies that you can break even on...

And yes, K frame Smiths are a great hobby...