Tomorrow's Rare and Collectible

[barnbwt]

Chiappa Rhino and the Boberg sub-compact. I predict the former will not be made for many years, and the latter will never be made in large quantity (and is also very well made)

TCB

 

[45_auto]

don't take everything so literal. when I say something is worth nothing I don't mean literally zero... its a phrase. It might not be worth much so people say its not worth anything... its not worth jack squat. they don't mean literally nothing... you cant understand that apparently.

Sorry, my mind-reading abilities haven't been working lately. All I can go on is what you write.

For instance, you say:

certain guns have collector value just like muscle car era cars like the 70 hemi cuda or the 69 SS Camaro. Is a 75 Camaro a collector? no its not. It may be worth a few thousand in good condition but its no collector.

Model T's were last made in 1927. They made almost 17 million of the things. They were so common after World War 2 and worth so little that people used to burn them because they couldn't sell them. You don't believe that if someone rolled an all-original, pristine condition, 85 year old Model T out of a garage that it wouldn't be collectible? It would be the highlight of the Barnett-Jackson auction.

Same thing would apply to a 75 Camaro in 2060. They've only made 5 million so far, less than a third of Model T production. Roll out a pristine all-original 1975 Camaro in 2060 and watch all the collectors fight over it.

Just because the Model-T isn't worth as much as an equivalent Duesenberg or Cord doesn't mean that it won't be highly collectible. Just as the 1975 Camaro won't be worth as much as an equivalent Hemi-Cuda or Boss 429 Mustang, but it will for sure be collectible. Same thing as 1st gen Colt Single Actions. They made about 400,000 of them. You couldn't give them away in the 1920's and 1930's, everyone wanted semi-autos or double actions. Colt quit making them because nobody would buy them. But pull an all-original 1st gen Colt SAA out of your safe today and watch the collectors fight over it.

Glad your financial investments have worked out so well for you. Remember, always buy low and sell high!

 

[Jim NE]

I think the OP's suggestion of a CZ 75B being a future collectible is correct. They seem to be routinely going for more than list price, when they are available, and no other high prod. guns are really doing that, as far as I can tell.

Rather than being rare, though, I think the prices will just go up and up.

I think the lock era S&W revolvers don't get the respect they deserve, and will eventually be appreciated more in the future.

There are great polymer pistols out their, but it's hard for a lot of people to see plastic as collectible.And when all is said and done, with the large number of weapons produced today, there will be less competition among buyers for them in the future, I think.

 

[Jim NE]

Sorry, my mind-reading abilities haven't been working lately. All I can go on is what you write.

For instance, you say:



Model T's were last made in 1927. They made almost 17 million of the things. They were so common after World War 2 and worth so little that people used to burn them because they couldn't sell them. You don't believe that if someone rolled an all-original, pristine condition, 85 year old Model T out of a garage that it wouldn't be collectible? It would be the highlight of the Barnett-Jackson auction.

Same thing would apply to a 75 Camaro in 2060. They've only made 5 million so far, less than a third of Model T production. Roll out a pristine all-original 1975 Camaro in 2060 and watch all the collectors fight over it.

Just because the Model-T isn't worth as much as an equivalent Duesenberg or Cord doesn't mean that it won't be highly collectible. Just as the 1975 Camaro won't be worth as much as an equivalent Hemi-Cuda or Boss 429 Mustang, but it will for sure be collectible. Same thing as 1st gen Colt Single Actions. They made about 400,000 of them. You couldn't give them away in the 1920's and 1930's, everyone wanted semi-autos or double actions. Colt quit making them because nobody would buy them. But pull an all-original 1st gen Colt SAA out of your safe today and watch the collectors fight over it.

Glad your financial investments have worked out so well for you. Remember, always buy low and sell high!

Good car analogy. Model T's still don't bring what they should, considering their historical significance. But that's kind of nice, because it means us mere mortals can afford great important guns/cars/guitars/etc.

 

[22-rimfire]

The rimfire version of the 75B will likely be collectable (in 20 yrs ).

 

[huntsman]

^ I have to admit I'm thinking about buying a Browning 1911 .22lr because I think it may have some upside in a few years.

 

[redneck2]

I'd lean towards the single shot Browning High and Low Walls. I've got a Creedmore in .45-90. Only 328 of that particular model were made.

Some of the walnut/blued stuff has increased, and some that I thought would go up have dropped. Savage 99's used to bring $800/$1000 around here. I've bought two within this past year. One is pristine and cost me $400. Other is a 97 year old limited edition in nearly new condition, and cost $800 OTD.

I knew a guy that had a LOT of older stuff he thought would be collectable. Tried to sell a NIB (still in original wrapping) Belgian Browning A5. Couldn't get $800.

Unfired stuff is worth the most, but I buy stuff to use, not so my great grand kids can sell it at inflated prices to buy a new stereo

 

[AKElroy]

I think the stuff that is being left behind by the polymer tidal wave., particularly steel frame autos like the BHP, CZ 75 & variants, early S&W autos, particularly the blue-steel versions. Ditto early S&W revolvers in the high-luster blue of the 60's & 70's, like the model 19. Man those had an incredible trigger pull, and a fit & finish that would be considered high-dollar custom by today's standards.

In other words, my money is on anything that shows current manufacture is utilitarian and purpose driven by comparison. That's not a knock on modern weapons, they work well. It is hard to view them, though, as having the same degree of craftsmanship exemplified by the all-steel era. I get that they are engineering achievements, but they lack the soul of the earlier stuff.

 

[oldbear]

What firearms regularly manufactured and sold today do you think will become highly sought after collectibles sometime in the future?

As many others have posted, it is almost imposable to guess at, but based on price increases in the last year. I believe the S&W M-686 and any Belgium produced and assembled Browning High Power should increase in desirability and price

As for Used handguns that can easily be found, almost any of the S&W K frame series revolvers will keep increasing in price, the L frames, as well as the N frame series revolvers should also keep increasing in price.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

In the 70's early 80's Models A's sold for about 2 to 3 times more than a comparable one sells for today allowing for inflation. The same devaluation will happen to Hemi Cuda's once the Baby Boom generation dies off(I am one of them).

 

[hovercat]

Buy ANY good quality firearm. Take it to the gunsafe and put the receipt and paperwork inside, leave the firearm out. Now go and do something with it to make it your special firearm. Your EDC, target shoot, skeet, hunting. Make some memories with it. Share those stories with kids/grandkids, write a few down and put them with the receipt.

If you live your life right and teach the youngsters properly, that firearm will become treasured and priceless, like my Dad's Remington single shot .22.

 

[javjacob]

45 auto you have proven you are a master at the art of arguing. sure if you want to look at it that way I guess given enough time everything will be collectable. but YET AGAIN you ignored my point. we wont be around when it happens! all the people that had new model T's are most likely not alive today. so worthless point you made there. that would be like me saving my marlin model 60 because in 200 years it will be worth a fortune... but the only problem is I wont be alive in 200 years.

I am a gun enthusiast not a gun collector. I shoot my guns and enjoy them and I have no intention of ever selling any of them so I could care less if all my guns combined aren't worth a dime. I will still have them all when I die and after I die I don't care what happens to them. they are worthless to me when im dead so I will enjoy them when im alive.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

My money is on new production Colt 1911s.

 

[45_auto]

45 auto you have proven you are a master at the art of arguing.

Not much of an argument. I'm just posting facts available to anyone versus your unsupported opinions.

For instance:

we wont be around when it happens!

Why do you say that? Life expectancy in the US is currently 79 years for men. 2060 (the year we were discussing, that you claim we won't be around) is 47 years away. That means that anyone less than 32 years old will probably be around in 2060.

Given the number of young posters on this forum in their 20's and 30's, my conclusion would be that you're being shortsighted yet again.

 

[javjacob]

so you are counting on cashing out on your soon to be collectable guns when you are almost 80 years old? you go ahead and do that

you also say... Given the number of young posters on this forum in their 20's and 30's, my conclusion would be that you're being shortsighted yet again.


I would guess the average age on this site is probably in their 50's

 

[22-rimfire]

I intend to sell almost all my guns prior to turning 80 years old. I will probably start in my 70's. I'll keep one for home defense. Hunting won't likely be an option or consideration at 80.

 

[mr.trooper]

Anything that people either dont want right now, or that they cant get now.

Colt 2000 - nobody bought them
Browning BDM - nobody bought them

Keltec KSG - nobody can get them

Look at all the old Valmet rifles that used to be imported. They were expensive, so nobody purchased them... so they stoped importing them... so they got even more rare and expensive. Same deal with the FNC.

Things like the Tavor, Bereta ARX, FS2000, and SCAR - if you think they are too expensive now - just wait 10 years untill they are impossible to find.

Case in point - 200 semi-only French FAMAS rifles were imported just before the Clinton ban took effect. Just TRY and find one now; if you do, please report back as to how much the seller wants for it.

 

[JR24]

I pulled My BHP MKIII out of the carry picture because I have a gut feeling that I might have significant problems replacing it in the future.

 

[45_auto]

so you are counting on cashing out on your soon to be collectable guns when you are almost 80 years old?

I'm not counting on "cashing out" on any guns, collectible or non-collectible. My suggestion to you would be to find something with a MUCH better return than gun collecting if you're going to be counting on it for income.

Buying guns I find interesting is something I enjoy, and I have the disposable income to do it thanks to investing in other things than guns! I've never sold one yet of the several hundred I've purchased, and have no intention to. That decision will be up to my kids and grandkids, I'll be gone and it won't make any difference to me one way or the other.

 

[Willie Sutton]

^^^ what he said, times 10.

There's gonna be a very eclectic garage sale when I die, but my investments and my gun collection are two very different things. For one thing my investments will be a lot easier for my kids to sell. Try liquidating over 100 Mausers to start, and then we can get into the collectables. ;-)


Willie


.

 

[Elkins45]

I think the stuff that is being left behind by the polymer tidal wave., particularly steel frame autos like the BHP, CZ 75 & variants, early S&W autos, particularly the blue-steel versions. Ditto early S&W revolvers in the high-luster blue of the 60's & 70's, like the model 19. Man those had an incredible trigger pull, and a fit & finish that would be considered high-dollar custom by today's standards.

This is exactly what I suspect will be the case. Gun collectors for the most part are people that tend to wax nostalgic about the "good ol days".

The other approach is to concentrate on stuff that isn't terribly popular but otherwise of quality manufacture. Some of the values assigned to guns that wouldn't get a second glance if they were available in quantity is explained almost entirely by their rarity. Does anyone buy a Johnson rifle because they love the aesthetics or ergonomics? No, they buy buy it because it is rare and because it is historically significant. Since we probably can't predict historical significance then production numbers are all we really have to go on.

Personally i would never speculate on guns as an investment because I don't own a gun I won't shoot. I'm an accumulator, not a collector.

 

[fiddleharp]

I've been a professional musician since 1972. I can remember the days when American-made Epiphone and Guild guitars were considered "entry level" instruments, and their prices reflected this, even though they were top-notch quality, by anybody's standards. Even Gibson and Fender were quite affordable.
All that somehow changed.
Now, anything American-made is suddenly "Vintage" or "Collectable".
Japanese instruments suddenly appeared as "budget" instruments. Then, when they became too "upscale", Korean guitars came on the scene.
What's next?
Bangladesh?
I dare you to find an affordable violin that is made anyplace other than Asia!
What the hell is going on?!

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

also no plastic gun will be a collectible.

yeah, that's what they said about the Nylon 66


a lot of "get off my lawn" in this thread

 

[mmissile]

Collectible plastic gun........

 

[TrickyDick]

I would guess the average age on this site is probably in their 50's

I'm only 25. I guess I'll have to counterbalance the 75 year old man on here to average it out to 50.