What is the future of the fine firearms market

[leslie hetrick]

i have tried to read about all important people old and new who are or were involved in the firearm trade, my latest book the was gifted to me is a first edit john m. browning, american gunmaker 1855-1926. a very interesting read to say the least.

 

[Flewis]

Flewis — it was a Metaphor !! My Mom would kill me

Yes I know. You were saying owning a non wood stock was like bringing a hooker to thanksgiving dinner. Yeah I got it.

 

[BourbonTrail]

As a mid 30’s “Millennial”, I can honestly say that I didn’t know much about a great many of the favorite firearms on this forum. I grew up raised by Eastern Kentucky parents and money was never plentiful. I was raised with the “1 gun and 1 box of ammo” mentality. My father only had one rifle at a time (a $75 SKS and $300 Rem 700 come to mind), so my exposure was limited. First time I saw a “Fine Gun” was in a museum.

Now as to my prediction of the future: I selfishly hope the “fine” gun market collapses, so I can justify buying something that I really want. In the mean time, I will be happy with my used Super Express bough on consignment from H&H, and my Springfield 1903 sporter, and my Weatherby Mark V for the days I wear my fake Breitling.

 

[Flewis]

Damn that’s kind of::::::::;;;; well ok!

 

[Flewis]

I had to think that thru.

 

[Captain Munro]

I'd be happy with a Heym Martini and an 89B for my last rifles. Would not even have to be that fancy of a stock. Honestly a Parkwest Arms would satisfy my craving. For now, my Ruger RSM and Model 70 are as fine as I need.

 

[Hunter4752001]

Fine firearms differ markedly from all other investments in that an arbitrary whim of government can instantly reduce value, This may take the form of outright bans, calibre limitations, restrictions on the number of firearms owned etc. Likewise, unlike artworks etc, even currently there are significant hurdles to overcome to sell into the international collector market.

So my take is that if you want that gorgeous H&H Royal 470NE double. then more power to you Just enjoy it for what it is and don't kid yourself that it's an investment.

 

[CoElkHunter]

As a mid 30’s “Millennial”, I can honestly say that I didn’t know much about a great many of the favorite firearms on this forum. I grew up raised by Eastern Kentucky parents and money was never plentiful. I was raised with the “1 gun and 1 box of ammo” mentality. My father only had one rifle at a time (a $75 SKS and $300 Rem 700 come to mind), so my exposure was limited. First time I saw a “Fine Gun” was in a museum.

Now as to my prediction of the future: I selfishly hope the “fine” gun market collapses, so I can justify buying something that I really want. In the mean time, I will be happy with my used Super Express bough on consignment from H&H, and my Springfield 1903 sporter, and my Weatherby Mark V for the days I wear my fake Breitling.

You oughta buy a fake Rolex like probably half the people you see wearing them? They'll be worth more than the fake Breitling in the long run? Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

[Hunter4752001]

ps. In terms of firearms related investments, image your position if a few years ago you had purchased and correctly stored a several hundred thousand primers vs profit on an equivalent value rifle.

 

[CoElkHunter]

ps. In terms of firearms related investments, image your position if a few years ago you had purchased and correctly stored a several hundred thousand primers vs profit on an equivalent value rifle.

Oh, you would probably have come out way ahead as long as the primers weren't fake? LOL

 

[Flewis]

Oh, you would probably have come out way ahead as long as the primers weren't fake? LOL

CEH I know that you have at least one ugly gun. You hunt in bad weather, not like these fair weather and sunshine boys

 

[CoElkHunter]

CEH I know that you have at least one ugly gun. You hunt in bad weather, not like these fair weather and sunshine boys

Oh, I have more than one. Actually, for the last maybe 27yrs, I've hunted big game (deer, elk) here almost exclusively with my blued/walnut mid '90s Browning A Bolt .338 in ALL weather conditions. I thought it would have rusted by now, but I'm careful to keep it out of "climate controlled" spaces (heated tents, campers, etc.) when it's cold outside. I leave it in the truck or outside the tent. I also wipe the outside down with a light coating of Rem Oil and almost no lube in the action. My buddy had the action of his BLR "seize" in about 10F weather once after using WD40 INSIDE the action. Probably a SS/synthetic rifle would be better, but I like blued/wood if I can find them at reasonable prices, which hasn't been the case for awhile.

 

[rookhawk]

I’m seeing folks in the past couple pages talking about fairly affordable guns. Why not try a gun at same cost that may increase in value?

Examples:

In several calibers, you can find a pre-64 model 70 in great condition for the same price as a brand new one, +/- 10%.

A like new Dakota is half the price as a made to order Parkwest, but the Dakotas are already collectible and have doubled or more in value.

Point being: even if you’re not sure if it’s going to be a collectible, why not spend the same money to have a chance of an upside?

 

[CoElkHunter]

I’m seeing folks in the past couple pages talking about fairly affordable guns. Why not try a gun at same cost that may increase in value?

Examples:

In several calibers, you can find a pre-64 model 70 in great condition for the same price as a brand new one, +/- 10%.

A like new Dakota is half the price as a made to order Parkwest, but the Dakotas are already collectible and have doubled or more in value.

Point being: even if you’re not sure if it’s going to be a collectible, why not spend the same money to have a chance of an upside?

I understand what you're saying when talking about collectibles. The Dakota is a great example. Who really is going to pay $10K for the "new" Parkwest (Dakota) rifle manufactured by a NEW company when as you've stated the old Dakotas have gone up in value and are half the price. Parkwest may eventually suffer the same fate as other firearms manufacturers, especially at their price point.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Then the question is, at least on some of the lower priced category of collectible firearms, is how much and quickly will they go up in value? It seemed the price increases of many pre '64 Winchester M70s slowed when Winchester introduced their new CRF action in quality made rifles in '92? Ruger is now making Marlins and apparently of better quality than at least the later ones made by Marlin. Rem Arms is again making the Remington 700s and others. I looked at one the other day. They had two. Smooth action BDL with a beautiful walnut stock for $1050. Two of ten rifles out of hundreds with a walnut stock in that one LGS and nothing close to that price. Same quality as an original 700? I don't know, maybe not, but the market will eventually tell us. Smith and Wesson Model 29 .44 Mag. I've always wanted one or similar. Just as a random example, one LGS had an original 29-3 with a scratched barrel for $1K. Another 29-3 in better shape for $1,075. Another LGS had several NEW SS 629s for $1175 and NEW blued 29s for $1225. And online prices are way less than those. Honestly, the new ones seemed to be of better "mechanical" quality than the older 29-3s. So, does one buy a newer firearm of perhaps somewhat better quality or buy an older and maybe "rougher" firearm and hope it goes up in value? I think the older Smiths had gone up in value a lot BEFORE Smith started making the exact same models again. Same with the older Colt Pythons before Colt started making them again. I don't know the answer? You would know a lot more than I would about it. I'm just commenting on a microcosm of what I'm personally seeing in the LOWER END of potentially collectible firearms.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

i will turn 80 on the 15th of nov, and i worked heavy highway for a long time and made good money. but my start was on a farm working for very little money as my father needed cheap labor to keep his head and farm above water. so i knew the value of the dollar at a young age. growing up in that era of wood and steel firearms was all i knew, the tupperwear stocks were in the distance future. i did have a large collection of firearms of all makes and have been down sizing for a few years now, selling and gifting some to lone time friends. i would like to get down to a hundred that i realy love and pass them on to my sons. i will continue to hunt and shoot as long as the lord will let me.

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@leslie hetrick
Happy birthday mate. Even tho I'm only 65 I remember the times of wood and blued steel only. Plastic was reserved for kids toy guns.
Bob

 

[Jager Waffen74]

As the number of hunters decreases and younger generations are only interested in black plastic stocks, if at all, I feel like I am part of a dying breed. I only hope at some point in the future someone will give a good home to the pieces I have.

I have a beautiful home for them!! Those are the words I live by with the younger generation not wanting these finer guns but I can attest, the quality guns continue to climb and I recently sold 19 JP Sauer 90 rifles and 17 Steyr Luxus Grade guns to one individual who was 32yrs old.. he said his uncle introduced him to these nicer rifles yrs ago and he fell in love with them. So there is hope and the market surprises us all the time!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

The collectibles game is not for me. I tried it once. Took my treasure to the Antique Roadshow:

"This late twentieth century print of dogs playing poker is currently worth ... a trip to the dump ... if the price of gas drops to $2/gallon."

Sigh!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Being in Florida I have noticed how exclusive hunting is. No one wants to bring new hunters into this. When I finally got the opportunity to learn and enjoy, made the most of it. Helped many people shoot their first hog and enjoy it. We the hunters need to do more to include others. Even if it involves sharing meat.

@Rem280
In Australia we have the Sporting Shooters Association. With your membership you get a free magazine and there's a section in there that allows you to sponsor a junior shooter for $25. Great idea for us older generations to get kids into shooting. They also run camps for juniors to learn to shoot with ALL ammo donated. At one event for 30 kids there was two 6'x4' trailers full of 12 gauge trap ammo and 10,000 rounds of 22lr for the kids to use.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yes, but not a correct one.

Anytime someone says “wanna see my fancy guns” you’re always about to see a pile of junk. Generally, it goes part and parcel with a fancy dinner at the sizzler and a fancy car trip home in a Ford.

@rookhawk
I asked my wife if she would like to go to a flash and fancy Scottish restaurant.
She asked with one.
I told her MacDonald's.
It didn't end well
Bob