I come across so many people that have guns to sell, either offering them to me, or asking what they are worth. They are almost always disappointed when I give them my opinion. Now, I'm not a gun expert or appraiser and don't pretend to be. I do my research using books and the internet and I can gauge condition pretty well, but my opinion is just that.

I think people have a really inflated idea of gun values. They see and hear about guns in the media so much that they think they are made of gold. Most guns go down in value; if thy are in bad shape, they have almost no value. One guy wanted to sell me a Winchester shotgun, and wanted $10,000. Now first of all, I could never afford to pay money like that anyway. Not even anything close to that. But in reality, this gun was just a common pump shotgun, and it had been sitting in a damp garage, and was 100% covered in rust. Worthless. He wasn't too happy.

So what guns do you think will go up in value, that are still affordable today? To me, the classic shotguns, if in good shape will be a decent investment. I like guns for what they are, and don't get them to make money, but some items still go up in value. Fox, Parker, shotguns like that are classics. Brownings too, if they are from Belgium. I think the US bolt action military rifles- 1903 and 1917 will be worth something. Original issue 1911's. German Lugers. Early Ruger handguns. I think some of the hard to find Kimbers may go up in value. Garands and M1 carbinse will probably go up in value eventually.

What do you guys think?

This post has been edited by Gmountain: November 11th 2009 1:58 PM

i think you are on the right track. i found up here that prohibition of short barreled handguns actually decreased their value significantly. the market is so limited and the fact that you can't really even shoot them tends to sway folks from getting too serious about them (those with the prohib license).

well made low production usually equals good investment no matter what it is.

i have a sneaky feeling that the lowly Glock will be a good investment. the sheep are scared of them and if a prohib ever comes to pass i reckon that the Glock may prove to be an exception to the rule.

Anything with current collector interest and condition will appreciate. I have a modest "collection" of Winchesters. Some are in true collector condition (95%+), others are my shooters. I think nothing of taking a different shotgun or rifle hunting each trip.

I would be hard pressed to name a current production firearm that would be of future collector value. Firearms today are manufactured to be high-volume, disposable commodities.

I had a coworker whose sons were buying full auto weapons as an investment. They certainly aren't making any more for civilians, but the prices are already very high and demand limited to those with high discretionary incomes and a willingness to jump through the hoops to obtain them. While they will definitely grow in value, I'm not sure how much more room there is for gains and their investment doesn't have much liquidity.

Just watch "Antiques Road Show" Guns I thought would have Some Value are worth nothing. Unless it's low production, Rare, or has Historical Provenance it's most likely going to go down in value,and for god's sake don't try to "Clean it up".

Guns as an investment is a silly idea. That being said, I'm sure that 870 I sold you will be able to fund your retirement when you decide to sell it.

I think I sold him a win 94,just like Custer used!!!

I still like it though.

Military Issued 1911s
Garands
Spingfield 03's
Nagants if they keep getting sporterized right and left by people.
Mausers
Lugers
Winchester and Remington trench shotguns
Some revolvers that didn't see very many made such a the Registered Magnum from Smith and Wesson
At one time I would've even said Ar-15's but from 2004 until now so many of those had been made that even with a ban they probably won't ever appreciate.
True Hk rifles that came in before the 1989 ban along with others. I have a feeling eventually people will be asking for proof of something being a factory assembled rifle thus making it more valuable.

There is a slew of them I think will and already have. Luger prices are getting insane and there some military issued 1911s, Singer Sewing Co. for instance, that already fetch a crap load of money.

As time goes on full autos will become more and more valuable. Eventually, someday the ones that are shot will wear out, parts will run out and the amount available for transfer will dwindle to a trickle. As it is some of those damn things have gone up in price ten-fold from what they cost when new. Full auto Ar's weren't a helluva lot more expensive than a semi-auto back in the 60's. They both were in the $300 range.

But the people buying Glock 19's and similar as an investment crack me up and yes I know someone who has a 2nd gen they are just sure will be worth money one day. Despite the fact they've been told repeatedly thats probably one of tens of thousands of Glock 19's floating around the world.

This post has been edited by Etho: November 11th 2009 3:28 PM

I buy guns because I like them and collect them. I have never bought a gun as an investment in anything other than my safety.

When I croak, all of my guns go to my nephews and they will be family heirlooms. I have some guns my uncle gave me, so the collection will be a family collection

Hmmm... when I saw the headline, I was thinking in terms of the second American Revolution.

In THAT context, ANYTHING in the following calibers, will go UP in value;

- .223
- 7.62x39
- .308
- 12gauge
- .45acp
- .40S&W
- 9mm
- .38/.357

Those will be your primary calibers (the burgeoning growth of the .50 BMG in civilian hands will probably come into play as well, as a VALUED/prized caliber) - everything else will be scarce as hen's teeth in short order. It may be 'scarce,' but I don't think it will necessarily be "valuable," if you DON'T have ammo for it.

A guy I used to work with was one of those types, turn over a rock find a $50.00 bill, buy land make a killing, get a gun and it's worth a fortune, you know one of those guys! But he taught me one of his rules, 1. Everything is for sale! Since I started following that, it's worked pretty well. Somethings I still hang on to too long, but if the price is right.

Old Fudd guns. The military guns that Etho listed will as well, they already have. I share a collection of Remington 1100s with my dad. Together we have a .410, a 28 (mine as a kid), 20 gauge, 16 gauge and a 12. They are all pre-screw in chokes with modified choke barrels.



TS

There is some value in 94's

Even some of the late production are up to 900ish. I have some 94/22 XTR models that are fabulous looking and good shooters too. Of course, they aren't worth near what my original 1894's are.

Antique firearms mainly.

These days things are so mass produced, it is hard to find anything that will increase in price over a period of time.

As far as guns as investments? No not a great idea really, but it can be. I remember my father telling me stories about walking into a gun shop when he was young, and seeing surplus military rifles being sold for as low as $10. The same rifle today might cost $150. He also told me, if he could do it over again, he would have been buying guns like crazy during he 60's, back when American craftsmenship REALLY meant something. Back when things were more handcrafted still, and much more attention was paid to detail, and they were cheap!

A good contemporary example would be to look at AK parts kits. Look at how the prices in just 5 years have shot through the roof. I know a guy who has a grip of Romanian AK kits purely as an investment. I am talking many hundreds of AK kits packed and stored, he bought them about 12 years ago, and each one has already doubled in price. He may not live long enough to see that investment come to fruition, but it does seem like a good idea. You know as well as I do, the first thing to come under fire will be imports.

I know another guy who is the hugest ammo horder I have ever seen, met or even read about. Massive amounts of ammo, just sitting in a large warehouse collecting dust and appreciating.

Another example would be, rather than buying a cheap gun now, go ahead and by the reputable brand, because it will at least hold it's value better, even when used, than low end brand. While it won't make you rich, or double your money, if you have to sell it later on, at least it will bring more and depreciate less, purely because of the roll-mark and logo.

About the only investment grade firearms made today are signature series and collector pieces that are made in small quantities.

That's my opinion any way.

I'm gunna disagree on the Garands...

my mindset is that they will fall into the "surplus" field that a lot of the bolt rifles are currently in.

Think about it... why do you have the Garand/Carbine?

Historical value, good shooter, etc...

But we are living in an age where there are friggin idiots out there that have convinced themselves the holocaust did not happen... How many more years till WW2 is as forgotten as WWI?

All those surplus rifles... once the WWII Generation is gone(what a sad thought that is!!!) the historic value remains for collectors who specialize in WW2 stuff, but I see a lot of shooters moving on...

I could be wrong... but it always seems most mass-produced stuff, once its older and forgotten loses a good portion of its value...
What other guns have been more mass produced than the Garand??

Being mass produced isn't always key, most military firearms which are mass produced are decommisioned then destroyed. So even though they might have been made in huge numbers, they may also have been destroyed in very large numbers.

Which bolt rifles do you speak of? Must be Mosins or Carcanos because the last time I looked 03 Springfields, 1917 "Enfields", No. 1 MkIIIs and Mausers have all at least tripled (many much more)in price in the last 20 years. About 20 years ago I bought 3 N0.1 MkIIIs for $15 each and sold them at a handsome profit a couple years later. The fact is they are not making them any more and they are practical works of art in the minds of many. The Garand was made in the millions of copies but how many of those remain?

Yep , But pre 64 94just didn't sing! almost 30 years ago I sold my Dad's pre 64 94 .32 spl for over $600.I still kick myself for being that dumb!

I see that nobody mentioned the Thompson.