Buy or Sell - Future Collectibility?

[xfarfuldog]

I'm wondering about the future collectibility and value of handguns. First I have owned some relatively expensive and rarer handguns. They include a 27 3 1/2 inch, multiple 66's in 2 1/2, 3, and 4 inch, multiple Pythons, P7M13's, 3 Jubliee M8's with consecutive serial numbers, HK USP stainless compact guns in 45 and 9 mm. Springfield Pro, Wilson Combat, LEO marked 6920 and 6940, etc. Most of them have gone by the wayside.

I have done much of the same thing with muscle cars. My first car at age 16 was a 2 year old 1964 GTO convertible, 389 tri power 4 speed. First new car was a 1969 Z/28. These were followed by multiple Trans Am's, 2 Regal T Type turbos, 2 70's Corvettes and misc. other performance vehicles. I now only have a Camry. I miss owning performance cars.

I am not well off financially, never have been. I still have some of the collectible guns. Last Saturday I sold a 2 1/2 inch ND 66. I was planning on taking a 686-4 4 inch and one of the 3" 66's to OGCA to sell tomorrow. Now I am reconsidering. I'm wondering if certain collectible guns will continue to rise in value. Will I regret selling the Smiths I just mentioned? I don't need the money and may never fire them.

I'm taking $ 3,000 in cash to maybe buy something. Most gun shows I cannot find anything worthwhile to buy.

Am I making the same mistakes again selling stuff I love?

 

[csurp34]

Only you can answer that.

It seems to be the nature that collectibles appreciate over time but there are always bubbles.

Speaking for myself, I have some nice pieces that I display not shoot. Given the present state of economic instability and the looming hyper inflation, I am not converting hard, historically appreciating assets into what might become devalued fiat currency.

Now, if this all turns into a recession then the demand may go down impacting value in the short term but that is all timing.

I might sell my crystal ball though.

 

[austintexas]

hard assets

I'm only selling the easy to get stuff. Most hard assets, guns, knives , military hardware & guns are appreciating, Cash is depreciating right now at 7+%. That's inflation. Firearms keep going up and are liquid, they are valued at what ever current money value is. My motto " buy what you like because you may have to keep it a long time". I have never lost money on a firearm.
SWCA 892

 

[Ameshawki]

Firearms collecting can be a notoriously fickle market and very hard to predict. Sometimes huge market swings result from what someone used in a movie. Buy what you like and what you can afford. Always try to buy the best condition in whatever you get. The one constant is collectors value condition.

 

[diyj98]

I'm wondering if certain collectible guns will continue to rise in value.

Some will rise a little, some will rise a lot, but who knows which ones? Most common firearms will never keep pace with the stock market. But I keep guns that I enjoy shooting or even just looking at. I don't keep them as an investment, use the stock market for that.

 

[505Gibbs]

I'll step out on the proverbial limb and say that any near term 'golden age' of revolvers is highly unlikely! Based on consumers current demands I doubt that Ruger and S&W will be making any highly collectible offerings - IMO.

 

[reddog81]

I now only have a Camry. I miss owning performance cars.

I'm taking $ 3,000 in cash to maybe buy something. Most gun shows I cannot find anything worthwhile to buy.

Am I making the same mistakes again selling stuff I love?

I'd keep the guns you have. Unless there is something else you know you want it doesn't make sense to cycle through guns just to have something new that you will be bored with in a few weeks.

FWIW Depending on which Camry you have there's a decent chance it's faster and handles better than most of the cars listed from the 60's and 70's...

 

[TheHobbyist]

It's a fair question. You stated that you 'love' them, so if that is the case, don't sell unless you need to. You're taking $3K to the show to go 'fishing' for another buy...that is your answer right there friend.

I get it though. I have guns that are 'safe queens' or NIB / LNIB and unfortunately only see the light once or twice a year for cleaning/maintenance. You will find, likely, that you can't replace what you once had for what you paid.

Perhaps a different perspective might help. Have one collection for 'users' and one for high-quality items of interest.

Whatever you decide, have no regrets. Any decision you make is the right one, period.

 

[VaTom]

I'd keep the guns you have. Unless there is something else you know you want it doesn't make sense to cycle through guns just to have something new that you will be bored with in a few weeks.

FWIW Depending on which Camry you have there's a decent chance it's faster and handles better than most of the cars listed from the 60's and 70's...

^^^^^ I have a 2016 Camry XLE with 3.5 V-6, 6 speed automatic, 265 hp. Very quick smooth acceleration 0-60 in a little over 5 seconds. it will move out!!!) Only about 10% of Camrys have V-6. I think the current year model has 285 hp of more.

 

[csurp34]

Modern cars are far superior to cars from the muscle car era.

Daily drivers now handle and perform like many hot rods from the past.

Today's performance cars will walk all over anything from that period.

We tend to forget how the cars of our youth actually drove.

BUT we do remember the nostalgia, the independence and the part that cars played in our "coming of age".

Today's younger collectors grew up with completely different types of vehicles so it will be interesting to see how their nostalgia influences what they collect going forward and how that affects the collector values of the older vehicles.

 

[Laketime]

Prior to joining this forum I believed all people who had a gun collection was doing it for the love of the models they had been searching for and buying. I never really considered people buying guns as an investment or to flip.

 

[reddog81]

Prior to joining this forum I believed all people who had a gun collection was doing it for the love of the models they had been searching for and buying. I never really considered people buying guns as an investment or to flip.

Most guns aren't good investments. Demand for guns surged in the last 2 years raising the price of all of them. Before that they had been on a down hill slide for a few years. There are exceptions to the rule but generally it's the very rare guns that go up in value much more than inflation. Glocks have been around $500-$600 for decades. Pythons surged in value for a while, but for decades prior to that they had languished in stores... Used S&W revolvers that were worth $500-$600 a few years back like the ones mentioned in the original post are now worth $200 - $300 more, but the price on new ones has moved up about $200 from 2018 prices also.

Used cars generally aren't seen as a good investment but my 2002 Chevy Astro is worth more than I paid for it 15 years ago... There are exceptions to every rule and big part is buying at the right time and for right price.

 

[Rudi]

It is hard to beat a good revolver. I'd say keep the rest. They don't make 'em like that any more.

 

[Swiftflyer]

You could load up 4 people in a new Camaro, turn on the air, put it in drive, and blow the 69 in the weeds but the wail of that little 302 at 7,000 plus rpm would give any gearhead goose bumps. To my eyes that was the prettiest car Chevy ever built, damn I loved that car.

 

[ken158]

Back in the day, most of us had to sell or trade what we had for what we wanted so we couldn't build a collection of goodies. My saddest story is swapping a 66 GT350 Shelby for a Maverick.

 

[cmansguns]

a Sad Tale Indeed!!!!

Back in the day, most of us had to sell or trade what we had for what we wanted so we couldn't build a collection of goodies. My saddest story is swapping a 66 GT350 Shelby for a Maverick.

Assume you got a teeny bit of cash along with the Maverick, otherwise...if it was even up....then a VERY SAD tale indeed.

 

[AlHunt]

Am I making the same mistakes again selling stuff I love?

As you state that you don't need the money, yes.

Especially so if you view the firearms as a storehouse of wealth.

 

[mauser9]

Enjoyed the posts concerning muscle cars and guns immensely. Yes these muscle cars of today are quicker and handle much better than those of yesteryear but nostalgia means a lot to us more "vintage" guys. Glad to see the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger back but sure comes at a price.

 

[Gamecock]

Kids nowadays: "What's a GTO?"

Like classic muscle cars, classic S&W revolvers will fade in value as Boomers die off.

 

[Harry Callihan]

The S&W Performance Center Models seem to hold their values pretty well.