Announcing a major policy change...

[murphydog]

I suspect SP has his tongue so firmly in cheek that he will have a permanent dent on the side of his mouth .

Some value the experience of using a new (recall S & Ws are never "unfired") gun over whatever (hypothetical) loss of value there might be by shooting it. Others want to preserve a NIB gun as a piece of history, a time capsule item, or because they paid a substantial premium for it. Not my place to criticize either attitude; too many individual variables in the decision, which is why the question comes up so frequently.

 

[Joe Kent]

bmg60, Jim, has it right in my humble opinion. Top flight, perfect,complete guns will hold their value. But I have seen it in my military side of collecting, the value of Krags and Trapdoors has leveled and in some cases, fallen off. Those of us that collect are influenced by many factors, this Forum , which also happens to be my favorite ,has done much to push up the value and costs of our favorite handguns. We shall see what happens in the future, because there is always someone with more money/more resources who wants the same gun you do. That is just the facts of life that many of us are forced to deal with. Me, personally, I am lucky enough to have a few guns that I can shoot so I don't have to or feel the need to, shoot everything I own. Of my two sons, one who is a collector and one who is not ,can decide and divide them up when I am gone. All my very best, Joe.

 

[Art Doc]

No jokes. I am dead serious. With like new S&Ws selling for $4K and up there is no way I ever shoot a pristine older revolver that falls in my lap.

No, I don't save it or keep it. I sell it. I still don't want works of art in my gun safe. But I sure won't shoot them any longer. They go to auction.

 

[BigBill]

SP, What revolvers are you going to shoot?

Rugers?

Some of the older ruger security six, police six and speed sixes are going up in value too.

That leaves Taurus, Rossi type brands etc?

Remember if we don't shoot them the next owner will.

I wouldn't sell right now the prices haven't peaked yet. It's been really going up over the past few years. Just hold on a while longer. A few hundred dollar profits could be thousands.

 

[Old Seabee]

Guns

Again like the stock market & guns are driven all by fear & greed . Look at the people that paid 1500.00 plus for a AR 15 . Who won the guy paying big bucks & now has buyers remorse & can't come close to breaking even . Soon we will need a broker to tell us when to sell or buy . We are only caretakers for a very short time use it wisely . Some times guns go from an asset to a liability as far as taking a vacation who will watch them , there not like a dog you can put in a kennel . Thanks for the Vent. OldSeabee

 

[A10]

I completely get where SP is coming from. As a matter of fact, I have several in pristine condition that will most likely go to auction before the end of the year. I have more that are in very good to great shape that I will keep until it becomes unreasonable to do so, then sell them as well. I also have several that, at least in my estimation, won't grow in value that much. Those I keep, carry, and shoot.

 

[pawncop]

Thought about this for awhile. I see both sides of the discussion. Firearms I purchase will be shot. I also understand Saxon Pig's point of lowering the value of older guns NIB being shot. To each his own path. I probably will not purchase that type of firearm as I am not a collector but rather an accumulator.

 

[Comrad]

I don't know....remember when baseball cards, you know a piece of cardboard, were selling for insane prices? These markets rise and fall and when the bubble gets as big as this NIB gun one, it's going to fall hard.

 

[Art Doc]

Oh, I have plenty of guns to shoot. But I have happened into like new guns in the past and thought nothing of putting them to work. No more.

I shoot this one...

But if the same model came to me in NIB condition I sell it. Last year I would have shot it.


This one almost has the condition quality, but it's just not quite rare enough.

 

[66Park]

I shoot all of mine. I don't have that many. I guess if I had several more, I'd consider keeping some safe queens, but as it is, I consider the cost of devaluing a couple of my better condition guns the cost of having fun with them. I don't buy guns to resell. I buy them to keep, enjoy, and shoot.

 

[Rex Goliath]

What are these (1973) NIB guns worth today? Better question, what is the most you (yes you personally) would pay?

Sent using Tapatalk
P.S. - (clue) saw a Smith & Wesson Model 36 Nickel "Like NIB" .38 Special Priced at $699.99 advertised at major national store.
P.S.S. - sitting in a safe place for 41 years appreciating at a rate of $14.59 per year.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Absolutely hilarious, the very best laugh I have had since I stopped fishing and drinking with my friend Earl from New Orleans. You guys are simply nuts.

$4000.00 for an M&P? (from another auction thread I read recently) How many do you want? A temporary aberration or otherwise, I'm becoming a vintage Taurus collector, pre 1980's certainly of course. LOL

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Art Doc]

I think this is the new reality. Guns are the precious metals of the 21st century. There are serious collector and even serious hobbyists who have disposable income and are not afraid to pull the trigger (no pun intended) on a new toy.

Look around. High end sports cars, yachts, private planes are selling WELL. Mid-level stuff...not so much. I don't know how long this situation will last, but for now, pristine older guns are too valuable to shoot. You put in your safe if you want, I'm selling any I come into at a good price.

I have 3 Pythons setting in the safe probably representing $6,000-$7,000. I can't recall the last time I shot one. Of course, anything I sell now is gone forever as I can't afford to replace it.

 

[Old Seabee]

guns

SP like I said you need a broker telling us when to buy or sell .

 

[Rick_A]

I liken classic guns to classic cars...use it on the odd weekend to enjoy, not abuse.

Unless it's valuable enough to be a pristine museum piece, I don't care, and wouldn't invest in such a thing anyway.