2 grand, one gun. What would you get?

[BillK01]

I vote for a LaRue PredatAR - maybe toss a Aimpoint Micro T1 on it and you're right at $2k.

If you don't mind the 1.5 to 2 year wait for one.

16 Inch LaRue Tactical PredatAR® 5.56 | LaRue Tactical

 

[spad124]

Thanks for all the ideas - keep 'em coming.

I'm not looking for a gun for an investment or a quick turn-around. My Dad just wants to park two grand in a nice gun that won't lose value and will be something he can be proud of.

Here are some contenders - I'd be interested in any opinions:

Mauser P08 9mm (PR24785) - Collectors Firearms

Colt SAA .44 Spcl (C9355) - Collectors Firearms

Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum .357 Magnum (PR24946) - Collectors Firearms

Any of those are good choices. Your dad could be proud of any of those. Each is in a different style. Each should hold value so he could "park" his investment. It just depends what type of action he wants. I think the S&W would be the most versatile and maybe appreciate the most. It can handle the whole range of .38-.357 ammo plus fire either SA or DA. And it is a classic design. Prices have been increasing for older revolvers as more restrictions are placed on semi autos. But, I'm prejudice toward S&W revolvers.

I agree with a previous post that the cowboy shooting phase might be at its peak. If you look at the age of the typical cowboy shooter, it's on the older side. Will a SAA hold its value? I think so. If cowboy shooting interest declines the SAA clones will devalue faster than a SAA. But given the history of the SAA, I don't think it will decline.

Lugers have a following. Not real familiar with them. They are mostly too expensive for my tastes, plus I tend to prefer something I can shoot.

Another post commented that younger shooters will probably collect the guns they see in video games. Makes sense. Also, they will collect what is available and what they can afford. My son used to play Call of Duty about the eastern front in WWII and he now has an interest in firearms used on that front. So, he has a Czech vz24 and a Finnish M39 so far.

 

[Etemmu]

My vote would be for the AR's as well. Great fun, good ammo availability/price, and so versatile. Many leaders in our government don't want us to own them and they are the ones who will work to appreciate your investment in the future.

 

[arjay]

Unless they decide to grandfather in existing ARs but they can't be transferred to a new owner ;-)

 

[TucsonMTB]

If Korea repatriots all those garands then that market is going to be flooded.

No worries!

That is unlikely to ever happen and the CMP guys that visited Korea to examine their M1 Garands had some discouraging things to say about them.

Just my two cents of course and my crystal ball is very cloudy . . .

 

[crsides]

Of the firearms listed by the OP I would look for a good clean Browning Superposed in 20 Gauge. That is because I'm a shotgun guy. I hunt upland game so a light 20 Gauge Superposed is a gun I would shoot and use. I could go with a 28 gauge but finding one under $2K might take stealing from a widow. I wouldn't buy a 12 just because 12 Gauge Superposed swinging like 2x4s; but that is just me.

Of course I would avoid, or look long and hard at, any Superposed manufactured from 1967 to 1972 because of the infamous salt wood issue. Many collectors won't touch a Browning made during that period. I might buy one from that period if deeply discounted and there was no sign of salt wood damage. A couple of weeks ago I looked a nice little Browning T-Bolt made in 1970. The gun was pretty clean and looked good until I pulled it out of the wood. The amount of rust cancer and pitting was amazing. I was surprised because most of the salt wood damaged Brownings I've seen have been in higher grades with fancier wood.

If you look at Superposed made between 1967 and 1972 take a good loop and study the areas where wood and metal meet. If you see signs of corrosion pass. If you can; pull one of the screws that hold the butt plate in place. Again, if you pull a screw and it is rusted; walk away.

Give me a late 50's, or early 60's, 20 Gauge Superposed and I could be happy. They are a classic and they sort of aren't being made anymore (I'm not counting the FN B25s that the FN Custom shop is building these days. Having them build them at prices starting in the upper teens certainly helps with the future values of older Superposed.)

My favorite gun, hands down.


Charlie

 

[2152hq]

$2K,,into a gun just to sit and keep pace w/inflation,,but with a real hope of increasing real value above that over time.

Lots of possibilitys.

A pre-27 , 3 1/2" bbl w/box and papers. The very best condition you can find.

For one you can also shoot and still keeps it's value plus some,,I'd find the best original condition AH Fox Sterlingworth in either 16 or 20ga w/ejectors. A graded gun all the better, but even an A grade w/ejectors is going to be priced above that mark unless you stumble accross one.

Buy condition..

 

[The Highlander]

As an investment, I have no idea. For fun, probably a Tavor, or Cooper Steyr Scout Rifle. Sticking with pistols, I've done the Python thing, really prefer S&W so maybe a Registered Magnum or a custom 1911.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[DeadAye]

If you're (he) isn't going to shoot it.... Well, I'd skip the gun and invest in ammunition.
.22LR - .22CBI - .223 - 762x39 - 12ga buck - 12ga slugs
Oh and .38 Special & .357 Mag.

Store them in a cool dark place in sealed ammo cans then sit back and wait.

 

[Erich]

Bearing in mind that the timeframe for today's rocketing market for revolvers and leverguns is definitely finite (not nearly so many folks under the half-century mark are as interested as the geezer crew who have proven willing to invest their excess funds in these today - and when those geezers start dropping off, you can anticipate a whole lot of wheel- and leverguns flooding onto a considerably more indifferent market), you might think a little more outside the box.

With that in mind, and just off the top of my head: NIB Beretta Billenniums always seem to generate heat - and they have a solid fan base that's not going to be going away in the next quarter-century.

Just my thoughts.