Compare gun price to classic car price

[florida1098]

Just an interesting topic I thought. Lately I have seen alot of older Guys (my age) 46 driving rebuilt restored cars they probably wished they could afford when a teenager. Older vettes, older el-caminos, trans-ams, TR7's etc etc. Most probably paid a premium for them. Example the 69 Chevelle SS. However, today's younger generation did'nt grow up with these cars, and have no connection to them. The same can be said for wheel guns, like S&W model 19's, 64s, 66s, etc etc. Once our generation gets a little older, will there be any market for these wheel guns, and will there be any tangible market for those old cars. Will there be a market for early Glocks, early Subaru's, first edition Mitsubishi's, and first Kel-Tecs ?? The truth is your collectible is only worth what the market will bear, I don't see alot of twenty year olds opening their wallet for any fifty year old wheel gun. There will always be a select few looking for old things, but the majority of today's young don't have interest or drive to purchase the previous generations toys. I personally know many younger guys who could'nt or would'nt open their wallets for any revolver, much less a 4 pound model 27. Your thoughts:

 

[Joni_Lynn]

We tend to like the things that impressed us when we were of an age to appreciate those things. The cars we were around in our late teens, the guns you had when you first started seriously learning about them.
Tomorrows youth may not care at all for the things we hold dear to our hearts.

 

[Camster]

I'll simply add-look at the situation in the other direction:the generation before us,that bought and restored Model Ts and As,etc.My generation(age 57) relates to the 60's cars,no so much with that vintage eventhough I like them.Though I haven't looked at antique car prices,I think some of them will slide as that generation passes on.
Quality/fine workmanship has transgenerational appeal-people will always want the higher end stuff.The plastic and ugly stuff of today will never enjoy a collector market in the future,in my humble opinion.
Classic stuff is just that-timeless in it's appeal.

 

[Spotteddog]

Not much difference in the price of 10 gallons of 107 octane AvGas to run an engine full of 12 3/4 to 1's off of.
Or a box of .44 Specials?
I'd say they'll stay neck and neck in value. At least till they're finally successful at outlawing what both run on. Then, both will become museum pieces.

 

[jazzman452]

If you want to sell a S&W revolver you get a lot of "There just is no demand for those from todays buyers, It would sit in my gun case and I just couldn't turn it around quickly". Now if you want to buy one of those, it becomes a classic, they are not making them like this anymore.
I am 56 and reluctantly I am paring down my Smith revolvers and I am being dragged into the modern era of M&P's, XD's and Glocks. I went thru the classic cars but I owned them back in the 70's, now I drive a more sensable Mazda. Sad, but just the way it is.

Jazzman

 

[florida1098]

A similiar incident recently just occured with my revolver. That's kind of what inspired me to ask this question. When you try to sell it, " it's just not that in demand". Try to buy it, and ( well you know). I have quite a few nephews and know other LEO's kids though, who would never think of buying a revolver. Their classsic car is a RX7 or IROCZ. Same can be said for toy trains, mid 70's through 80's command the highest price even though the quality of pre-war is outstanding. It's Just not associated with the buyers youth. I just think in a few years as today's twenty somethings define their youth our $1200 model 27's/29's etc etc will be worth, ? I hate to guess.

 

[Brian41]

The old Model Ts and As peaked in value with my Dad's generation and have fallen in value recently with what today's buyers want as mentioned before.
I expect only we baby boomers scale down to condos and rest homes and sell of our things the market will be flooded with old guns and such and prices fall.
Now might be the smart time to start selling but i won't as I bought mine as I like them and not as investments.

 

[GypsmJim]

I'm 60, and my kids are in their 30's. My Dad is in his 80's.

My Dad's old guns are already registered in my name, and when i get to that age I'll register them all in my son's names. I have no intention of selling anything...I'll pass them along.

I guess my thoughts are that as long as we have children that appreciate the old items (for sentiment or for the fact that they are family heirlooms) there will always be a market. If we raise kids that have no interest in guns (or model T's or Trans Ams or whatever), then the prices will fall.

So, the moral of the story is to keep the family alive and all will be well.

Unfortunately, look at all the single mothers, welfare babies, etc........maybe we are doomed after all. But in that case I won't be here so it won't matter. In the meantime I'm shooting the heck out of all my prized possesssions.

 

[tocohillsguy]

I believe S&W is still selling alot of revolvers. The airweight J frames seem particularly popular, and I think many non-gun folks still like revolvers because they are so intuitive and less intimidating than the semi-automatics. That being said, I guess tomorrow's collectors will pass on anything that doesn't have the internal lock they grew to love in their youth.

 

[ladder13]

When I was younger all I thought about were "hi-cap" semi's, as I got older the wheelies appealed to me.Go figure.Perhaps today's youth will feel the same way as they age.

 

[67 GTO]

I own classic muscle cars from the 60's and 70's. I also restore them as my full time job. It's the baby boomers that have the interest and the means to keep me employed. Who knows how long the cycle will last? There is no doubt that the popularity of cars from a certain era will cycle and value will drop. As mentioned above, look at Model T prices, clubs, parts suppliers, general interest, etc. It's all but dried up.
So yes, I think revolvers are suffering the same fate. BUT....
I can proudly say that my 28 y.o. son prefers a revolver! He has fired numerous semi-autos of 9mm, .40 and .45 cal. and finds no enjoyment out of them. When he shoots one of my revolvers he says it is much more fun. He has better accuracy, and I've watched him knock down bowling pins at 50 yds., standing and double action with a stainless 4" Rossi M851 .38 special. He's a natural with a revolver, so I think he will be a revolver owner when he buys his first handgun. But if he doesn't buy one, he will inherit the ones I own. And he will have good memories....................

 

[tmbrcruizr]

classic cars & guns

A '75 and '88 Landcruiser are my daily drivers, but---a 340 is my daily carry.
A man's gotta know his limitations.

 

[Bendutro]

The first gun I bought myself was a Glock 22. Utilitarian, dead reliable and soulless. Shooting my Dad's model 19 was an experience, like the first time you see a girl that doesn't have cooties.
I loved the mechanical feel, the diamond target grips, the sights that were fixed to the barrel. I still have the Glock, but I have three revolvers to go with it.

 

[Walter Rego]

Well if the younger shooters of today start collecting the popular guns of their youth when they are older, at least they won't have to pay $500 for a set of Cokes for their 1990's vintage Glock.

 

[m41]

67 GTO

My wife has a 1975 Camaro LT 28,000 acutal miles 3rd owner she is wanting to sell if you know anyone interested. All origninal except repainted (original faded) no rust and new carpet, spare tire original, padded dash has a defect.

 

[JSR III]

I started a discussion like this on the collectors forum a few years ago and many folks didn't agree with me. My feeling is that the young folks coming up now into the gun ranks are more interested in the black plastic guns with high viz sights and large calibers that make really loud bangs when you pull the trigger. I just don't see the younger gunners looking to spend $5,500 on a vintage 38/44 or registered magnum once shot or owned by "Skeeter", "Ed" or "Ira".

There will always be a few that will be interested, but I think that the numbers are dwindling as the baby boomers reach social security and the dribble cup years. I joined my gun club and the NRA when I was 26. You just don't see that many folks of that age group coming through the door any more. Wheel guns will be the flintlocks of the next generation. IMHO.

 

[TwoPoundPull]

My kids range from 20 to 31.......
What to they want??????
My old Vette.....
My old guns......
My old motorcycles......
My old albums......
60's stuf is "cool"
Value is irrelevant unless you're going to sell......
I'm happy to share now, but it won't be their's untill that
"Cold Dead Hands" thing......

 

[bubbajoe45]

Quality/fine workmanship has transgenerational appeal-people will always want the higher end stuff.
Classic stuff is just that-timeless in it's appeal.

I'm the same age as the OP, but as I've gotten older I appreciate history more and more. I think everybody likes Muscle cars - my son is 19 and would prefer a late 60s Muscle car to an IROC Z, but means and availability are the limiting factors. There's alot of guys on Barret-Jackson buying 60s and 70s cars that actually grew up with cars from the 50s. Just in the past year or so, I've become re-acquainted with the revolvers I read about, but never owned as a kid; however, now that I'm into it I am really longing for triple locks and 50s era guns that were well before my time. I think with age comes greater appreciation of quality, craftmanship, and historical significance. Some of the Xers will and some won't - just like many guys here >50 yrs. have an AR or a glock around.

 

[Camster]

Guns vs Cars? I like the older cars but won't buy one.MY second "play" car is a recent model-I like the technology,safety features,and NOT having to work on it.Did enough of that thing in my "ute",I'm too old and stiff now. I just drive my 04 Mustang-my bud with a restored 68 Mustang is never done with the thing.
With guns-the older ones are just as nice, and then some,as current ones.The revolver hasn't changed in 80 years.

 

[mhakel]

Very interesting. Thanks Florida1098.
Anyone know the average age of a NRA member. Is it going up or down or staying about the same?
Mick