Which very popular collectable guns are affordable (or sort of affordable)

[bushmaster1313]

I always like to learn about collectable guns that are very popular and at least sort of affordable.

There are three that give me that irrationally exuberant feeling while still costing less than a good used car:

1) Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight (IMHO the most popular and accessible of all high-quality collectable guns)

2) S&W pre-27 and 27-2 (spectacular firearms meant to be used)

3) WWII 1911 (history, beauty and a symbol of the U.S. Military)

 

[Arik]

Try muskets

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[shouldazagged]

Define "affordable".

 

[bushmaster1313]

Define "affordable".

"Affordable" depends

"Sort of affordable" is $1,500 or less.

Registered Magnum's, Triple Locks, Python's, and Winchester 21's do not make the cut

 

[CalmerThanYou]

If you are not limiting the search to US guns only, I like the early Walther P-38 and PPK's Patience will get you decent examples at the upper end of "affordable"

 

[mauser9]

Usually Russian Capture Kar 98ks in the $5-700 area. Purists will often shun them but increasing in popularity.

 

[LVSteve]

Usually Russian Capture Kar 98ks in the $5-700 area. Purists will often shun them but increasing in popularity.

Is that how much they go for now?!?!?!

You can still get Garands, M1903 and M1917 and even Krag rifles for under $1500. Most of the foreign milsurp rifles fall under that limit except for matching 98ks and Enfield snipers. I guess a dog Luger could be had for that money, and P38s are plentiful under $750. Enfield and Webley revolvers are generally under $1500 except for certain years and factories.

 

[C J]

I've seen WWI M1911's for less than you mention as "sort of affordable". It's been a while but I've seen original M1911's sell for $600 (not the M1911A1 that was introduced in 1924). I offered $800 for the pistol, which was in VG condition, but that wasn't enough that particular day. Not much later the guy who had it sold it for $200 less than I had offered him. By then I had bought a Sig P220. I knew I should have bought that pistol but there are reasons they came out with the 1911A1 model and I wanted a shooter and not a collector's item. I'm sure I could have doubled my money at least by now but still there are models out there to be found. At one time they just didn't bring a lot of money and few people wanted the older models because of the short beaver tail mainly. They were considered to be worn out old guns even if they were in decent condition. Now they bring a lot more but there are still people who don't really know that. I don't like to do things that way personally but most collectors are looking for deals like that.

 

[Arik]

Is that how much they go for now?!?!?!

You can still get Garands, M1903 and M1917 and even Krag rifles for under $1500. Most of the foreign milsurp rifles fall under that limit except for matching 98ks and Enfield snipers. I guess a dog Luger could be had for that money, and P38s are plentiful under $750. Enfield and Webley revolvers are generally under $1500 except for certain years and factories.

Yea they're up there now. $500+ definitely. Just take a look at Mosins. A typical 91/30 went from $80 to $120 now $250. And that's just a counter bored, refurb, 1944, nothing special 91/30. The Fin M39s are hitting a $1000 range. One sold on GB a few months ago for $1500. I had tins of x54 I bought for $90 or so. Just recently sold them all for around $150 ea.

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[BAM-BAM]

"Affordable" depends

"Sort of affordable" is $1,500 or less.

Registered Magnum's, Triple Locks, Python's, and Winchester 21's do not make the cut

LOL you know you are getting old .... when folks are talking about "affordable" guns at $1500 ........................ and all that comes to mind is WOW!!!!

Makes me glad I bought most of mine in the last century!!!!!!


Suggestion: Early Performance Center autos from about 1991/92 to 2000.

They are nice factory custom/handbuilt guns..... mostly short/small runs; often 500 or less.....

Remember only 5500 Registered Magnums were made in the 30s and only about 50%(??) accounted for today; selling at 100X or more than their original cost.....while inflation is about 16X 1939 ........ so what will a 23 year old SD-9 .... 1 of 179...... be worth in another 25-30 years????

 

[VaTom]

S&W k frame .38 pre 1982
Colt Official Police (production ended 1969)
S&W .22. Kit guns pre 1982
Winchester,Marlin and Remington .22 rifles from 50s&60s
Winchester and Ithaca shotguns from 50s&60s

Lots of hidden treasures and future collectables out there as greatest generation passes on and baby boomers age. Watch estate auctions.

 

[sheepdawg]

Is that how much they go for now?!?!?!

You can still get Garands, M1903 and M1917 and even Krag rifles for under $1500. Most of the foreign milsurp rifles fall under that limit except for matching 98ks and Enfield snipers. I guess a dog Luger could be had for that money, and P38s are plentiful under $750. Enfield and Webley revolvers are generally under $1500 except for certain years and factories.

Mosin snipers are still under $1500. Swedish Mausers, as fine a military bolt action rifle as ever made start around $300.

 

[American1776]

i think good condition K-frames with the pinned barrels are still very affordable collectables. I recently got a LNIB model 15-3 for under 600.

The walther P38 is still affordable collectable.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Another thought ...... Pinned and recessed 19s..... pre through -4 in 2 1/2,4,6 inch ........ even a very rare 3 inch from the 70s IIRC.... so 15 variations to collect....16 if you are very very lucky..... wait....Nickel guns??????

All should be under $800 ......$900 at most.

 

[iPac]

I think MOST guns are affordable if capable of finding the right deals. It all depends on who you buy from, mixed with a little bit of luck.

I would normally agree Colts don't make the cut, but some Colts do. I see the popular D frame snubbies listed locally for under $500. Just the other day a shrouded barrel Agent was listed for $400.

Heck, you can find Pythons for under $1500, but you need to have expertise to land that deal, due to all the scammers trying to rip you off and numerous mechanical problems that need watched out for in that design which nobody is aware of.

When I was composing my buying guide, I watched a very nice '72 Python with leather sell on GB for $1230. It was because the seller was NR, and that eliminated all the fad buyers who need to purchase from an online Colt dealer to "assure" they are getting a good example. I pursued the gun and it was great mechanically and the seller was legit. I didn't need another Python so I didn't buy it. Typical Colt mindset is buy it and jack the next guy for a profit. That's not me, and why I'm here.

So it's all about how determined you are, as far as what guns you can get for affordable prices.

 

[Fishinfool]

Pre-64 Winchester 94's and Belgian Browning Auto-5's are nice classics that are still affordable - less than 1K in really nice shape.

Larry

 

[CalmerThanYou]

I have also noticed WWII trench shotguns and old Police riot shotguns are going way up fast.

 

[apollo99]

Being at the right place at the right time. I've been getting some pretty good deals from widows and estate sales as of late. Also friends who are thinning their collection. Around here in Arizona a lot of clean S&W and Colt revolvers are coming into the market. The youngsters aren't interested in anything not made with plastic, so guys like me are capitalizing on the deals. I just pick-up in the last three months, a 27-2 5" a 65-5 3" lady smith and a 66-3 4", all very very reasonable and the 65 and 66 were LNIB. So the deals are out there you have to develop and use contacts, and having cash in hand helps greatly.

 

[wundudnee]

I collect Winchester .22s and boy's rifles. Hundreds of variations and one off models to keep you busy for a lifetime. Prices run from $300.00 to ridiculous, but many affordable, collectible specimens.

Just an example is the Winchester model 69. There are 10-12 different variations of the one model. Standard, grooved, target, match, junior target, chromed, so many. It's a lifetime quest.

As stated above, S&W five screw revolvers. So many, so little time.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

My problem is that I have no particular use for most of these "collectible" firearms. I put my collection-type focus on S&W .38 and .357 revolvers as a "collection" but my collection of those is paltry compared to some of the other "collectors" on this Forum and none are actually rare except, maybe, my pre-war .38-44. Okay, my .38 S&W J-frame Model 32 is uncommon, I guess. Everything else I own is for shooting purposes. So I have all of the bolt action rifles I will ever need, same with lever action (I just dumped four that I was not using, same as I dumped my mil-surp rifles - there were other things that I wanted more). So I guess I'm not a true collector.....