How much does Holster Wear effect resale value?

[The Lone Haranguer]

It does affect resale value. A gun with pristine finish brings more money, all other things being equal, to one with finish wear. How much would you pay for a car with faded paint?

 

[BADSBSNF81]

On a using piece, maybe 10%. On a collecting piece, it gets ugly quick.

 

[EHL]

BUT, you only live once, so why not be the one who really USES it? Why store it for the next guy. Are you a shooter or a curator?

Amen to that! I won't buy anything that I won't be able to use/display. A safe queen is neither used nor displayed. That's why I won't get one.

It can be both, just like a watch.

(Being a tool and something beautiful to look at)

Yup. That's why I like collecting both guns and expensive watches. They WILL all get used though, I'm not collecting something that is going to be enjoyed by the next guy after I kick the bucket. I'll take care of them though, in the hopes that it's my kids that get to enjoy them and pass them on to their children after their own time as well.


By the way, I've heard that your upper end leather companies holsters have considerably less of a holster wear effect on a firearm than a kydex or polyester holster one will. Not sure if it's entirely accurate, but I have noticed that polyester holsters tend to be kinda on the scratchy side.

 

[madcratebuilder]

1. How much does genuine holster wear effect a handgun's resale value?

Depends on the gun, just look in the blue book. My m29 has holster wear and I think it's worth $600 or so on today's market. If it was lnib it would be over a grand. I don't care, I've had many, many years use of it, and I paid less than it current value.

2. Are their any ways to avoid holster wear with a new gun? (other than not using a holster of course!)

Not that I know of, if you use it sooner or later it going to have some cosmetic wear.

3. Am I being way too paranoid about this? Should I just accept short of safe queens, guns are tools and therefore will show wear with real use?

Yes, I think so. Enjoy ever little mark or wear spot you put on it. I have guns with a high round count that look near new. I don't carry them in holsters, but in custom cases to and from shooting. It's the daily use guns that start showing the wear. That's why I like stainless for daily use, the finish is easy to maintain.

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

I don't know about you guys, but I love the way the light holster wear looks on my 1911 because I put it there.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

All I have is Carry Guns and working guns no collector or safe queens for me.

 

[Noveldoc]

I had a Star PD I whipped into great mechanical shape with real bad holster rash. Rebluing with Blue Wonder was a simple job and a fun project.

Tom

 

[walker944]

As a perpetual used gun buyer, I have no problem with holster wear. In fact, I've gotten to where I don't want to put scratches or dings on a new gun, so I tend to 'baby' them, which frustrates me, because I really do want to use them. So, one logical solution (to me) is to buy used guns that are still in pretty good shape cosmetically. I guess it's the same concept I use when buying a car. Let someone else put the first few scratches or dings on it, then I can relax and enjoy, and not be so uptight. And, yes, I would expect to pay a lot less for a used gun (or car). And, that works for me as well!!

 

[scotthsi]

Walker944, that's a great attitude to have. I also used to be so uptight about ANYTHING new getting the slightest scratch on it. I went through wrist watches like candy. Then I finally realized, "What's the point?" Things are meant to be USED and will incur normal wear and tear, which is to be expected. Now, I still don't like it when I have a DOH!!! moment and damage something through my own fault, but wear and tear? Eh, who cares... Especially with guns. If it's really that important, I can always get it refinished and that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, either. The biggest annoyance is the turnaround time, as sometimes they can be quite long.