Deja Vous Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 I spent the first part of my evening bored.. the second part on the phone with a friend in SASS.. looking up guns and auctions.. I found out tonight how many Scoffields were made, and saw some really pretty guns.. I wish I had all the knowledge some of you have, like my friend. I simply don't and I don't seem to be able to store all the gun information like he does. There are so many guns!!! So many are so pretty. I love schoffields, but they are a bit heavy for my grip. I think that collecting guns is a good investment, and my friends says it is.. and he is pretty smart about guns and stuff. So, If you were to collect guns, and had the cash to do it with.. what would you collect? Oh, and of course you have a safe as big as a barn to keep them in.. lol
Flashpowder Hal Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 Years ago I w*#ked for a fella who collected new Colt SAA's All of them were unfired, with a zip-tie over the hammer (never even cocked) He had a Walk-in gun safe big as a large walk-in closet, with a steel roll-up door, Like a car shop might have. He had them as an investment, never shoot'n them beauties - Better'n gold
Tom Foolery U.S.M. #2348 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 WW1 and WW11 machine guns TF
Bama Red Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 Anything that will fire full auto. The market for these can only go up, IMHO, and I feel that we will soon be limited to what's already out there - the ability to buy new full auto guns will be legislated away. Get 'em will ya can, folks.
DocWard Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 The question is more along the lines of what wouldn't I collect! I wouldn't collect modern pocket pistols, or things like Glocks and S&W M&Ps, or the older "Saturday Night Specials." Shotguns of all kinds would be on my list though, trap guns, skeet sets, O/U and SxS, pump actions, and auto-loaders Lever action rifles would be high on my list, from .22LR to .45-70 Of course single actions of all kinds as well. S&W Revolvers, especially the K-Frame variety, and their Ruger counterparts And yes, military firearms would be in there as well, although I wouldn't have more than a couple of ARs, preferring the M1, M1 Carbine and M14 (M1A would be fine) instead. See what I mean? To quote the song "I like guns"
Dutch Coroner Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 From playing cowboy and indians when I was little, to playing this game now, I have always had a fondness for things "western". So for me, I would collect guns of the "old west", starting with these Winchester models, 1866, 1873, 1876, 1886. It's a fond dream.
The Original Bad Bob Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 If I had no limits I would only collect rare and unusual antique guns.
Sneaky Gun Runner SASS 79775 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 Full auto's. Local Class III dealer has six M-16 recievers. He bought them used in 1988 for $600.00 each. He is asking $12k each for them now and has sold the one he placed on the market in less than a week. That is not a bad investment.
Rye Miles #13621 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 Deja, I have a hard time collecting guns cause I wanna shoot 'em!! If yer just buyin 'em fer investment I would say old guns are probably best. I wouldn't fire 'em though and that would just kill me. At one time I had 4 pairs of Colt SAA's, 3 pairs in .45 and one in .44-40. They were NEW. The .44's were nothing but trouble and I wasn't shootin the .45's (I went to all .44-40 in BP) I sold 'em all and got my money back for owning them for 10 years. Didn't make a dime. That's why I think the older the guns (Colts, S&W, Winchesters etc) are the ticket for collecting. I just can't stop myself from shootin them though!! Rye
Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 There is a difference in collecting and investing. A collector has near unlimited funds to pursue his affliction. If you're gonna do it for investment buy the rarest, highest grade firearms. Its better, for instance, to have one nice Purdey than 4-5 field grade Elsies which are common as dirt. Same goes for Colt and Winchesters or anything else. If I had the money early 20th century English double rifles for dangerous game and custom ordered Sharps and Remington Sporting rifles would be high on my list. Also firearms with provenance. Frank Hamer's "ole lucky" Colt SAA just about doubles everytime it goes up for auction.
Wolfgang, SASS #53480 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 If'n I had unlimited money to spend on guns . . . . . . I'd buy the best Henry Rifle that was offered on the major auction sites . . . and a box of the original .44 rimfire ammunition . . . . . . and I'd walk up to a stage at a match . . . . . . . load it up and SHOOT IT
Utah Bob #35998 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 Never met a gun I didn't like. I even had an Astra 600 onct.
Buffalo Dick, SASS #12880 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 I don't think buying current Colt SAA's is a good investment in the short run. They are currently available and plentiful. First and second generation guns are better, but I have seen guns going unsold at asking prices that would have had them snapped right up a few years ago. The supply of transferable full auto weapons was frozen in 1986, so they have trended upwards ever since, BUT, prices are actually down a bit in the last year or two as a result of the economy. In recent years, older S&W revolvers have seemed to have gone up quite a bit but I think that that was more a result of the fact that they were undervalued for a while with everyone thinking they needed a semiauto. There were cheap S&W's available for years but those days are gone. Actually, with values down, this might be a good time to acquire collectable guns. The best investment is in rare, historically significant models and condition is everything.
Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 If'n I had unlimited money to spend on guns . . . . . . I'd buy the best Henry Rifle that was offered on the major auction sites . . . and a box of the original .44 rimfire ammunition . . . . . . and I'd walk up to a stage at a match . . . . . . . load it up and SHOOT IT Yessir! for a fact. Was at the Tulsa gunshow a few years back and this cartridge collector had a really old box of UMC 40-70 Sharps that intrigued me. Said something about it fitting one of my rifles and how much fun that would be. He blanched white, grabbed them, and said he'd not sell them if I was gonna shoot em. Like I was gonna do forty bucks a pop!
Duffield, SASS #23454 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 Rare and unblemished guns will grow in value fastest, but if you ever want to cash out, you have to find a collector to purchase them. I buy working guns, if the particular model interests me and I can get it for less than I think I could resell it for. They may not appreciate as fast as the collector grade guns, but I can sell them if I ever need fast cash. At least that is whai I tell my wife. Over the last ten years, my gun accumulation has grown more in value than my 401K.
Long Branch Louie Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 A while back, a friend of mine e-mailed me the results of an auction of collector firearms. There was a little bit of everything, none of it was in my price range. But the top dollar was a SAA Colt, with the box and papers,that had Colt on one side of the barrel and Sears, Roebuck Co. on the other. It brought $750,000.00 I wish I still had the link, there were some fine guns on there...
DocWard Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 I know there are people who buy as investments, but I can honestly say that with rare exception I cannot imagine owning a firearm and not shooting it.
Charlie Whiskers Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 Yup...me too....every gun I've bought I've fired at least once just to see how it shoots.Not saying once meaning 1 bullet,more like 10 or 20.I have 2 original Trapdoors; 1 rifle and 1 carbine.Both shoot very well.Have 2 M1 Garands,1 original Springfield and one composite that was made up from spare or reman'd parts.Both shoot well.1 M1 carbine original Winchester manufacturer that has "maybe" 20 rounds thru it.Was un-issued still in the original cosmoline packaging when it was bought in the late 50's.Best newer gun buy I made was in the 80's.Bought a S&W 357 with the target sights for $265.Last Blue book of gun values I saw had it at $425.It's in 90+% condition.I like all gun types....not big on AR's,but they're ok too and I sell quite a few of them,but sold mine a few years back because I'd rather shoot COWBOY guns.....lol.
Noz Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 I like the idea of the early English Double Rifles. Bass Pro had one in a luggage leather case that had been made for the King of England. He died before he took possession. I twas a 450 something. Beautiful gun with gold and silver inlays. They only wanted $450,000.
Jittery Jim Jonah, SASS #64913L Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 I know there are people who buy as investments, but I can honestly say that with rare exception I cannot imagine owning a firearm and not shooting it. Same here, I also have a good collection of Lionel train stuff, looking to thin the herd so's I can buy more gun stuff... Train collectors are the same way, buy something new in the bix, pay a fortune for it, and then refuse to open the box! JJJ-D
Ivory Jack, #8534 LTG Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 A while back, a friend of mine e-mailed me the results of an auction of collector firearms. There was a little bit of everything, none of it was in my price range. But the top dollar was a SAA Colt, with the box and papers,that had Colt on one side of the barrel and Sears, Roebuck Co. on the other. It brought $750,000.00 I wish I still had the link, there were some fine guns on there... LBL - Here's a link to the Sears Roebuck Colt It sold for $747,500.
Silver Sides Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 If money was no object, I would collect wheel locks owned by the euro royals. Dueling pistols would also be high on my must buy list as well.
Apache Hawk 60642 Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 I spent the first part of my evening bored.. the second part on the phone with a friend in SASS.. looking up guns and auctions.. I found out tonight how many Scoffields were made, and saw some really pretty guns.. I wish I had all the knowledge some of you have, like my friend. I simply don't and I don't seem to be able to store all the gun information like he does. There are so many guns!!! So many are so pretty. I love schoffields, but they are a bit heavy for my grip. I think that collecting guns is a good investment, and my friends says it is.. and he is pretty smart about guns and stuff. So, If you were to collect guns, and had the cash to do it with.. what would you collect? Oh, and of course you have a safe as big as a barn to keep them in.. lol I wood buy old guns and all da old ammo I cood git. Go to a match, watchfolks drool over'em, load'em up and shoot..al match long. Then, I wood auction it off and use da money to buy more old guns and more old ammo !! It's a fearse cycle..........
Curley Cole, SASS #56849 Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 You want a Schofield? How about this one... and here is my collection....of sorts...my Great Western 2's Great Western curley
Wolfgang, SASS #53480 Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 I wood buy old guns and all da old ammo I cood git. Go to a match, watchfolks drool over'em, load'em up and shoot..al match long. Then, I wood auction it off and use da money to buy more old guns and more old ammo !! It's a fearse cycle.......... I LIKE yur attitude. I wuz seriously looking at buying an original Remington New Model Army and using it for a "shooter" . . . and good ones that are not "museum condition" can be hhad for about $ 2,500. Ok . . I can afford one of those . . . . BUT . . I know I wouldn't be happy with ONE of 'em. . . I'd have to be looking for another so that I'd be shooting not AN original but a PAIR of originals. Then I happened to get a good deal on the wire on an Euroarms '58 which has grips the same dimentions as the originals . . . and realised that I wouldn't be happy shooting pistols with such small grips. So. . . . I saved me $ 5,000 that I can spend on other "toys" Realistically I can do a lot of "playing" with Original Winchester '73s for what I'd have spent on a pair of original Remingtons.
Marshal Dan Troop 70448 Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 Just my 2 cents on collecting and what I've personally seen. Military guns, especially those from WW1 to 2 have gone up tremedously and given good returns. 20 years ago no body wanted British Enfields, they were selling for 25.00 to 35.00, Jungle Carbines 59.00 to 69.00, now they are 300.00+ to 650.00. Mauser were the same, now selling in the 400.00 to even 1500.00 for variations no body thought about, I had a Luftwaffe marked, all matching with unit marking, cost, 1978, 79.00, sold in 2006 for 1900.00 to a serious collector of Mausers. Even Lugers, P-38s, M1 Garands, carbines, etc. Have only gone up. Even the reproduction models in semi have gone up, M1A were originally 279.00, and they gave you 4 free magazines, and Bayonet, and cleaning kit free. Now they are, the original first year made I have serial number 000410, over 2000.00+. MT
Buckshot Frank Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 Just my 2 cents on collecting and what I've personally seen. Military guns, especially those from WW1 to 2 have gone up tremedously and given good returns. 20 years ago no body wanted British Enfields, they were selling for 25.00 to 35.00, Jungle Carbines 59.00 to 69.00, now they are 300.00+ to 650.00. Mauser were the same, now selling in the 400.00 to even 1500.00 for variations no body thought about, I had a Luftwaffe marked, all matching with unit marking, cost, 1978, 79.00, sold in 2006 for 1900.00 to a serious collector of Mausers. Even Lugers, P-38s, M1 Garands, carbines, etc. Have only gone up. Even the reproduction models in semi have gone up, M1A were originally 279.00, and they gave you 4 free magazines, and Bayonet, and cleaning kit free. Now they are, the original first year made I have serial number 000410, over 2000.00+. MT I agree about the military surplus guns. Because of the history tied to them, they will always be desireable. In the 8 years that I have been collecting, the prices have about tripled on surplus Mausers and Enfields. Now that the supply has dried up, I expect the prices to inflate even faster. There is still a huge supply of Mosins, but prices have been pretty steady on them due to the flooded market.
Yukon Charley, SASS Life #14739 Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Years ago I w*#ked for a fella who collected new Colt SAA's All of them were unfired, with a zip-tie over the hammer (never even cocked) He had a Walk-in gun safe big as a large walk-in closet, with a steel roll-up door, Like a car shop might have. He had them as an investment, never shoot'n them beauties - Better'n gold "Better'n gold." I wonder sometimes how true that actually is? In real tough times, who but the very wealthy could afford high-end guns & gold anyway? Both might be a tough sell to the workin' man.
Bugs Bonney SASS # 10171 Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 I'm not a good collector. I has a second Gen Colt SAA for three years, shot it in two SASS shoots and just couldn't stand having all that money tied up and hanging on the wall so I sold it. If I were investing to turn a profit I'd buy WW1 military firearms. The Centenial is just a couple of years away and I'd gamble that prices will follow the trend of Civel War guns that went through the roof during the Centenal in the 60's. If I was buying what I like I'd buy high geade Parker Shotguns. If I was buying what I want I'd be searching for an original Lewis Gun. If money truly was no object I'd buy some of everyting you guys have mentioned. Bugs
Marshal Dan Troop 70448 Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 If waiting is not a criteria, any Fully Auto firearm, (not Uzi's) are a good investment. There is for sale a BAR fully auto made in 1936 with all the accroutment, only 18,900. An individual is selling it. The lowest BAR I've seen in years, they are in the 30,000. range mostly. Good Investment. As are M2, if original, they are underpriced compared to how few were made. I agree a good portfolio in guns will pay off, and you can shoot em. MT
Apache Hawk 60642 Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 I LIKE yur attitude. I wuz seriously looking at buying an original Remington New Model Army and using it for a "shooter" . . . and good ones that are not "museum condition" can be hhad for about $ 2,500. Ok . . I can afford one of those . . . . BUT . . I know I wouldn't be happy with ONE of 'em. . . I'd have to be looking for another so that I'd be shooting not AN original but a PAIR of originals. Then I happened to get a good deal on the wire on an Euroarms '58 which has grips the same dimentions as the originals . . . and realised that I wouldn't be happy shooting pistols with such small grips. So. . . . I saved me $ 5,000 that I can spend on other "toys" Realistically I can do a lot of "playing" with Original Winchester '73s for what I'd have spent on a pair of original Remingtons. I found an original War tween da States Union Army c&b pistol at a local sportin' goods store. Think it was a new army model but not really sure. Didn't lock up tight at all, and da smith said it was not repairible due to it's age and use. Wanted $3000.00 fer it ! I couldn't see dat fer a wall hanger so I passed on it. Went back da next day fer some powder and it was SOLD !! Oh, ifin' dat gun cood only speak !!!
Mad Dog Irv Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Simple, but complex answer....I'd collect guns that had a story to them that I thought was "neat". Example: a friend of mine (once my step-father-in-law, but that's another story) that has a bunch of Garrands, two of them are sequential serial numbers that he got several years apart, while helping at the Civilian Marksmanship something or other. He told me about the second one "speaking" to him that he just had to have it, got home and discovered that it was sequential. That's just cool! WWI and WWII stuff and obviously guns of the old west.
Kid Kneestone SASS #14851 Posted February 20, 2011 Posted February 20, 2011 If you are interested in collecting firearms, or anything for that matter, you must either be very knowledgable on your potential investments or have someone available with that knowledge to guide you on your quest. Unfortunately, many rare and unusual firearms have been faked well enough to fool even the experienced collector. If it seems to good to be true it probably is! Do your homework before buying. The earlier suggestion to purchase "working guns" seems viable. I look for well priced firearms that I can purchase fairly and sell again easily if the need arises, hopefully for a profit. Buy what you like. Keep your eyes open for firearms that interest you. Many years ago I met a woman with a large collection of "Muff Pistols". These were the original "Hide Out" guns for Milady to keep discretely hidden on her person and available for use to ward off someone bent on doing harm. Her husband had collected Colts and Winchesters and she went with him to every gun show to help with the displays. For an anniversary present one year he gave her a cased "muff pistol". She became intrigued with the little guns and hunted thru every gun show for other similar examples. Her display had over a hundred cased guns, some singles and some pairs, and all in excellent condition. She also knew the history of every one. Have fun and happy shooting, Kid Kneestone
Deja Vous Posted February 20, 2011 Author Posted February 20, 2011 Muff Pistols.. I love that term and I need to go look them up.. Thanks.. So what would be the best thing to do for a low finance kinda collect. Buy one cool one every year... or buy a few that you love so if you are wrong .. who cares cuz you get to shoot them anyhow? lol.
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