Will Vintage S&W Revolvers hold their investment value?

Birdgun · Apr 24, 2018

I know that I'm asking a biased crowd here, but do you anticipate your vintage S&W revolvers, if bought at a reasonable market price, to retain their investment value?

I have been buying my vintage S&W revolvers over the last few years because I enjoy owning and shooting these fine handguns. I was telling my wife how much I enjoyed my revolvers and she made the comment that she didn't think we were loosing money. That if I passed, she would be able to get the money back from them.

Curious as to what you think?

God bless,
Birdgun

old bear · Apr 24, 2018

I really can’t answer that, as for the most part, I’m much more of a buyer than a seller.
I do though see several problems with above average to high end firearms as an investment.
1-There is a limited pool of potential buyers.
2-A potential buyer, must be in the market for the item offered for sale.
3-A potential buyer must be able to purchase the item for an agreed price and time frame.

Enjoy your Smith and Wesson assortment for what they are. Do remember there are lots of other investment opportunities that would be quicker and easier to liquidate when you are ready to.

Added: Another point, for MOST of us the overall value of our firearm assortment is not enough money to be overly worried about. Member G B offered an excellent example with the model 19-3 he paid $225.00 for that should sell, depending on condition, in the $600.00 range. That’s a $375.00 profit, which is a nice profit. But, stop and think how much money is $375.00 in 2018, spending power?

NYlakesider · Apr 24, 2018

That's a hard one to answer. The people of today have grown up with the tupperwear specials-SAs They know nothing about revolvers and realy are not interested in learning. I even overheard a RO saying if he had his way there would be no revolvers (Classics or new) on ranges he was running. ( I posted this before months back)

Most LGS i go in have about 30 semis mostly of the plastic variety for every revolver (new/ used/classic) they have.

This is getting like the collector car guys. The prices of the muscle car era vechicles will go down significantly when people like me that are interested in them are on the wrong side of the grass looking up!

colt_saa · Apr 24, 2018

I NEVER consider a firearm as investment material.

If you truly are seeking an investment and are not just using that as an excuse to buy a firearm, then talk to a investment professional and put your money elsewhere.

If you do not NEED an investment then buy what you like and enjoy it.

10-20-30 or more years later when you go to sell it, it will turn out to be worth more than you paid for it.

How much more? Who cares. It will do better than any bank savings account and you will have had the opportunity to enjoy it over the decades.

I can sell every one of these for more than I paid for them, but that is not why I bought them and the rest of their brothers and sisters.

daddio202 · Apr 24, 2018

I am certainly no expert by any means but do fully believe that any firearm that is no longer being produced in very good shape will not loose value. To the contrary, I see values slowly increase over time and as long as what was purchased had a reasonably good price when purchased it will remain at that value and/or increase in value. I tell my wife "its like money in the bank". I feel lucky that the guns that "draw me in" are from the old days - a bygone era that have a high level of craftsmanship and most are no longer being made.

TomkinsSP · Apr 24, 2018

Just my $0.02. Since the (sad) trajectory of the industry is to with each design 'innovation' decrease the amount of human craftsmanship in a piece, there is a value retained in older pieces in fine shape resulting from that craftsmanship.

The old polish and blue jobs, or plating jobs, what would they cost to replicate. What would the cost of new stocks made to vintage specifications be?

What would the cost be to manufacture an M10 today to the exact specifications of 80 years ago. Or a Registered Magnum?

I am not a collector per se of boxes and paper, but those I have are neat and never to be reprinted in thier original form.

JMO, if you are buying the quality and the workmanship of the piece it is a good investment, the economic system in place will not permit such pieces to fall in true value. Just don't overpay too much, even a small error in today's value will be made up for in time.

I would not pay premiums for 'desirability' which I consider to be fickle. Or scarcity, which although quantifiable is still based heavily on desirability.

amazingflapjack · Apr 24, 2018

As I look at other items in the durable goods area, there seems to be a trend to re-discover what was. They either restore it, or re-manufacture it. Old stuff sells for big prices. There seems to be a wave of younger people that have read or heard the tales about the things of the past, and they have a desire to experience them. As to guns that were good when built-that had a human being involved in their production-they have a feel and look that I don't think will ever be duplicated by a machine. Yes, a CNC machine is a great tool, but there is no human touch. These things, including guns, will become scarcer every year, and I think that they will hold, if not increase in value. The guns I have had, and still have, have appreciated, and far exceeded other things that are strictly seen as investments, even though guns serve other roles.

GB · Apr 24, 2018

I believe: Old guns are worth only what you can get for them on the day you want to sell.

2. If you have to sell them to raise cash, right now, they are worth less than if you have time to shop them around.

3. If you bought a gun at retail you will have trouble recouping your money from someone that will resell it at current retail UNLESS you have held that gun for considerable time.(IE: 19-3 2.5" bought 1975 for about $225. Yes I can sell it, any day for more than I have in it. - Model 19-3 4" bought for $525, a couple of years ago, MAYBE I can get my money back and If I need the money today, maybe I will have to take a loss.

Unless you are buying / collecting high end guns, you should buy a gun(or anything else you like) because you like it and in the case of guns, because you want to enjoy shooting it and handling it. If you buy to invest, be prepared to be disappointed! It is like any other investment, they go up they go down.

stansdds · Apr 24, 2018

From what I have seen in the past few years, the values are already on the increase. New revolvers seem to be much more expensive than pistols and old revolvers vary depending upon condition and rarity. When was the last time you saw an excellent condition nickel plated 29-3 with a six inch barrel for $350? That's what I paid for mine many, many years ago and you won't see that price again.

Do I recommend buying firearms as investments? No, too difficult to sell and realize their full value. But if you are in the market for an older revolver, it will cost more the longer you wait.

TomkinsSP · Apr 24, 2018

Any investment is subject to the rules and customs of the marketplace. Try to unload some Corporate Paper at a Pawn Shop. Or sell a buddy a twenty thousand dollar three point thirty year maturity Tax Free Municipal Public Works Bond.

More lucerative investments are harder to liquidate. If you are sitting around watching co-workers being laid off it's probably not a good time to buy a Broomhandle Mauser, a house, a new car unless you don't need income from your job.

But, apples to apples, a house is a great investment because you live in it while it appreciates. A $700 M10-5 In perfect just left the factory condition is a lot more fun than $700 In KO (Coka-Cola).

mod29 · Apr 24, 2018

Birdgun said:
I know that I'm asking a biased crowd here, but do you anticipate your vintage S&W revolvers, if bought at a reasonable market price, to retain their investment value?

Pre-lock S&W revolvers tend to hold their value pretty well.
I suspect prices will trend upwards over the years, but that's just a guess.
How they're cared for is a big part of the value equation. Condition is everything on the re-sell market.

Having said that, I don't consider these guns an investment.
I buy them because I enjoy them.
There are worse things you can spend your money on

03hemi · Apr 24, 2018

I just hope she doesn't sell them for what I told her I paid for them!

ExRanger714 · Apr 24, 2018

I didn't buy mine to lose money on them but if I had to sell them now I might.

Any way when my wife or my daughter sells what she doesn't want to keep she will make a killing because her cost base in them is zero.

The plan was to sell guns after I retired to keep from being broke but now I'm retired and broke but well armed.

lrb1200 · Apr 24, 2018

I don't assume to tell you what to do.
I can show you a couple examples that I already had photos of.
Bought new, original boxes, papers and tools.
I'm pretty happy with them.

Gamecock · Apr 24, 2018

Birdgun said:
I know that I'm asking a biased crowd here, but do you anticipate your vintage S&W revolvers, if bought at a reasonable market price, to retain their investment value?

You don't define vintage. But my opinion is, "Yes."

Anything up to The Lock will not only retain value, but increase. Cause they don't make them that way anymore. Like land, there is a fixed amount.

Fishinfool · Apr 24, 2018

I feel guns can be a good short term investment, if bought right. About half the guns in my safes were purchased not because I needed or really even wanted that particular firearm, but because they were a good deal, and I knew I could flip them at a substantial profit. This usually works best with guns that have a known, and steady pricing structure and desirability - Colts, S&W's, Winchester, Marlins, ect.

Someone buying a new gun at, or close to retail may have to wait a long time to ever enjoy a reasonable profit.

Problem with buying to flip is that I do tend to buy what I like, so I tend to keep them, knowing I can always sell for a good profit, but usually don't. Hence, a safe full of nice stuff bought at a good price that potential future owners will see profit from after I am gone...

Larry

fyimo · Apr 24, 2018

I had a fairly extensive collection of S&W revolvers that were mostly Model 27-2's, 29-2's and Model 17's. The Model 27's and 29's were like new with the wood presentation cases. I have a history of heart problems so I sold these off and yes I made a lot of money. I sold the about 4 years ago and if I still had them they are currently worth about 50% above what I sold them for. I'm not unhappy about that as it was time for me to start down sizing.
Will the price rises keep going in the future? that a question nobody knows the answer too.

sheepdawg · Apr 24, 2018

Quality always holds it's value.

austintexas · Apr 24, 2018

Buying for investment depends on how old you are. I really started collecting in the early 80s. I had retired from the USAF and started my second career and had funds to buy what I wanted. I was buying 38/44 HDs for $200, M-10s for $50, Highway Patrolmen for $150, 5 screw 4 inch .44 mags for $450.
I was 41 years old. Now I'm 77 and I don't buy for investment, I buy what I like because i may be stuck with it. When I croak my wife will make a bundle on those guns I bought in the 80s, 90 and 2000nds. I have made arrangements for disposal of my firearms thru a broker. For 15% he'll pick them up and advertise, sell and ship. If my wife doesn't want to wait, he'll make her an offer and take it all, guns,ammo,reloading accessorizes etc. Yes I think guns are a good investment if you are young enough to wait for them to go up in value
SWCA 892

Kurusu · Apr 24, 2018

Quoting Rhett Butler.

"Frankly my dear I don't give a damn"

Will Vintage S&W Revolvers hold their investment value?

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