Quote:
Originally Posted by sjbrdn
I go to and watch A LOT of firearms auctions. That pistol, as nice as it is, is a niche collector pistol. I compare it to the custom rifle market. People spend thousands of dollars having actions bedded, custom wood, etc. and when the family goes to sell them, they receive a fraction of the original cost. The same is true with custom vs. original vintage cars and refinished vs. original antique furniture. Originality, rarity, and condition drive the majority of the firearms collector's market.
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True, in most cases you will never recoup the cost of modifications. That said, if you have work done by premier gunsmiths, then they will hold their value over the long term. Niche, yes, but if built by the right 'smith, you can get your money out of a custom gun. The reality is that these types of guns are better sold online where buyers that actually know what they are looking at have a chance to bid. Most people at a run of the mill firearm auction wouldn't know a Swenson from Wilson Combat or Hoag or Clark, at best they'd know it was a 1911. But do some searches of completed listings on gonebroker and you'll find that the online community does.