Did used gun prices skyrocket?

[wproct]

This thread has been an extremely interesting read for me. I am a 78 year old who has been a dedicated gun enthusiast for around 60 years. Started regularly attending gun shows at around the age of 35 or so. I was always trading or selling guns to make my next purchase. By the time I reached 45 our kids were raised and the house paid for and had money to buy without trading.

By the time I reached around 63 or so I had a number of guns that I felt was extreme, and my daughter had no interest in guns, and my son not nearly the level of interest that I always had, so I liquidated a lot of them. Then along came covid and I quit going to gun shows. A couple of weeks ago I wandered into a local LGS to take a look at their new and used guns, and what a shock price wise. I know that was not the best representation of what real values are, but I was just amazed. It's all kind of moot point for me now as I no longer have the available income to be buying guns, and I'm not really wanting to sell the nice older wood and steel guns that I have, so I'm just kind of sitting back and watching which way gun prices go.

 

[Miami_JBT]

Today's high prices are tomorrow's good deals. But in the end, I try to buy low.

 

[Lucnic]

Bought an early 80’s Model 27 Sunday at Arkansas GCCC show. Like new condition. $750. Nice gentlemen wouldn’t budge on price. Some old beat up Smith 36’s were $400.

 

[Skully128]

Not sure about that. Just aren’t as many 20 to 50 year olds interested in this stuff as 50 to 80+. Check back in 30 years.

I'm in my 20s and have collected surplus guns. It's gotten worse over the years. Honestly there's some bucketlist guns I'm just priced out of and won't pay the price. It motivated me to get my bucket list guns I can afford out of the way lol

 

[Skully128]

I expect the bottom to drop out of the collectible gun market in 10 to 15 years as us older guys die off or lose mobility or eyesight.
Most millennials and younger do not have the interest in wood-stocked and old design guns that we do. They want plastic tactical.
And for those who do want to shoot, lack of access to a fun place to do so ( not an indoor range ) or hunt is more of a problem every year.

To a degree yes. I'm in my 20s and I generally collect ww1 to cold war era firearms (some moderns too but much lower). Ww1 I'm about completely priced out of what I want. Ww2 CMP is my only hope. For classic revolvers I'm getting priced out really fast. I really like guns with a history, like police or military surplus. But when I could get a SAPD .357 for 1500$, or get a police trade glock 17 and a French police ruger for about 1k, it makes the true "classics" out of my price. Tho if I find one that I like or is a department I really want for like 1k I'm down. I also have been priced out of the mint guns I generally like ones in very good condition so I'm not feeling too bad for shooting them lol. Prices go down I'll get some more of the classics as I considered it strongly pre covid.

 

[rwsmith]

I have to stick to...

... guns that may be a little 'cosmetically challenged' to keep the price wihin my reach and usually get a good gun with a little wear on in. I don't even think about paying $7K or even 1.7K for a gun. I've bought two new and two used guns this year for a total of under $2K. And I'm plenty happy with what I do have.

 

[Frank46]

Remember when you could buy 30-30 ammo just about anywhere for $10-11 bucks all day long. Last I looked it was close to $40 bucks. Used lever actions way back when were $100 and the dealers were glad to get rid of them. A decent used lever action (no Remlins) in 30-30 will set you back at least $500. And I'm being conservative. Forget about used pistols and revolvers their prices have at least doubled or tripled from what they used to sell for. New guns all I can say is that if you want it go for it. Frank