WTK - Buy, Sell or Hold Collections with the coming new political climate?

[Flame Red]

This thread is not really meant for shooters, but rather those that consider themselves collectors.

I wanted to get a feeling what firearms collectors are planning on doing over the next year or so regarding firearm purchases. I view this as similiar to the time before the NFA Reagan ban & the pre-Klinton ban, where we have an opportunity to either make money or loose money on our firearms holdings. I want to look at this as an economic question, rather than a emotional 2nd admendment question.

Although I am sure that shooters would buy as much ammo, hi-cap mags and Klinton ban items as possible, I am kind of concerned that the economic investment (yes, I know guns are not an investment) could be easily wiped for collectors. For example, they can ban you transferring your existing items. Or they could force you to 'inert' your collectables - which in my view ruines the 'hobby'.

So collectors, what are you doing with your hard earned money for the next year or so?

 

[dodge]

I'm planning to buy a couple of firearms that I feel will be banned, i.e. AR 15, Mossberg 590A1. Plus all the high caps that I can afford for the AR.

 

[DogBonz]

I plan on getting a few AR Lowers

and a Springfield M1A, maybe a Garand or two...

 

[jason10mm]

Well, from a pure collectior point of view, stopping me from transfering my firearms won't bother me a bit, I'm the one collecting them. I'm focusing on semi-autos, particularly meg fed semis. Fortunately I only have a few more eastern block examples to get before I'll feel relatively satisfied.

I plan to stock up on magazines though, they are much more easily targetted than firearms themselves. I feel it would take another Columbine level shooting to force another AWB down congress, but we all know how depressingly often they occur. I would expect more restrictions on purchases, but not on what you already have. Registration would almost certain to occur and I bet municpalities that were slow to set up registration centers would be defacto outlawing firearms there. Fortunately the internet will help us forsee and denounce any new bill, which we didn't have in 1986, 1989, and 1994. If we haven't become apathetic, mind you.

 

[tinygnat219]

I am always in the "Acquisition Mode" and plan on buying as much as I can for as long as I can.
I don't think bad things will happen if we remain vigilant, and send a bunch of the antis home in 08.

 

[Ala Dan]

#3

 

[Technosavant]

The only acquisition I have made was several 30 round magazines for my AK, in the expectation that a 10 round ban will eventually raise its head in Congress. As to whether it will get anywhere I am unsure, but it would be enough to jack prices.

If I get a chance, I would look very hard at an AR (house first, then I can maybe think about it) to be sure I have one of both types of EBRs, but I am not too obsessed about it.

While I am not selling in fear, neither am I initiating a pattern of buying. I guess I'd be somewhere between numbers 2 and 3, but I think I'll vote #2.

 

[Atticus]

My collection (if you can call it that) runs more along the lines of non-milsurp out-of-production guns...most of which are not likely to be banned. However, the threat of a ban would probably motivate me to revert to Clinton era panic mode again and start buying Semi auto AKs, SKS's, and high cap mags all over again. Ther'es nuthin like a ban, or threat of ban, to make people buy like crazy, and drive prices up.
But really, I've got all the hicap mags I'll ever need for the guns I regularly use.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Getting:

Atleast 4 AR uppers.
Several HI CAPS
Springfield M1a
and others

I can see some people getting rid of some stuff but most of us will stock up and even buy more. Get'em out of the gungrabbers reach and let them hear MOLON LAVE.

Lots of ammo too. Going for broke to be honest. They can be hidden if necessary.

 

[mpmarty]

In 1985 I purchased a number of AR15s, Daewoo K-1s and K2s and kept them until 1995 when $3000 invested became $15,000 in cash back. Since the expiration of the Klinton era bans I have begun the cycle once again. If the prices go up like they did in the late eighties I will cash in once again. Of course, I kept a few select pieces when I sold off the surplus in 1995 and would probably do it again growing my collection in the process of cashing in on the stupid gun ban mentalities of the politicians. I even put some of the profits to good use, I'm an endowment member of the NRA, etc.

 

[orionengnr]

Marty--I like your style, and I wish I had your speculative spirit (and resources).

I view ammo as being an easy target. I will probably stock up on reloading supplies (esp consumables such as primers, powder). Maybe stock up on lead wheel weights if I can find any. I've already started saving my brass.

 

[Tokugawa]

So what happens to the "investment" when the new boss banns all semi auto's with no grandfather clause, I.E., turn 'em in boys or you go to jail? This is possible also.

 

[Flame Red]

First day results

I find it interesting that nobody is planning on selling their collections. 40% will 'hold' and 60% are still buying.

Tokugawa's comments about no gradfather clause are a possibility. I know that this could easily be done in some anti-states, like NJ for example. At the federal level I think it would be harder. The Pro states like Florida, Texas and Arizona would barf.

Certainly they could make them something like the NFA, and make it so you can keep it but could never transfer it. A lot of NFA guys are concerned that their investments could be wiped out this way.

 

[Kaylee]

So what happens to the "investment" when the new boss banns all semi auto's with no grandfather clause, I.E., turn 'em in boys or you go to jail? This is possible also.

Not gonna happen. Not on the federal level, anyhow.
As already mentioned, in places like Texas, Arizona, Idaho... they'd make the Battle of Concord look like small potatoes. And for the same reason.

 

[Hemicuda]

I can't vote... MY choice has NOTHING to do wirth ANYTHING political and oughtta read something like this: "I plan to buy as many guns as I can afford to purchase, simply because I LIKE GUNS! and I WANT MORE GUNS!"