Guns as investments

[Shoemaker Seth]

With the new degree and job, the purse strings are finally easier to loosen without feeling guilty. I was finally able to replace the AR that was stolen a long time ago, and got the kids an 870 youth combo. I got those 'cause I wanted to, and they filled a hole in my "needs" list.

Well, I had a friend offer me a pair of SS Vaqueros with rigs for $500 total, and another friend offer a Mosin Nagant carbine in nearly new condition for $100. I wasn't in the market for any of those, but I figured I'd be able to sell them at a profit without much trouble if the need ever arose. At least that's what I told my wife.

And yes, I have started doing more traditional investing, as well.

[Jayhawker]

A pair of Vaqueros for $250.00 apiece? with leather included? I'd be on that like a chicken on a june bug....even though I don't care for stainless sixguns, How are they chambered? the Mosin? not so much, but then they just don't trip my trigger in the first place...

However, buying guns as an investment isn't such a hot idea, UNLESS, you are buying rare, high dollar guns to begin with...Colt SAAs with a provenance, etc....

[Shoemaker Seth]

7.5" in .44 mag, and 5" (?) in .45 Colt.

[cpj]

Guns are not always a good investment...but TWO Vaqueros for 500 bucks was. You really, REALLY suck.

[Jayhawker]

7.5" in .44 mag, and 5" (?) in .45 Colt.

AAAAARRRGGGHHHH....

In my world, the .44 would get traded for something similar in .45 Colt...the 5" would go directly into my gun safe....

[wizard78]

Be VERY careful how you advertise that you bought a gun to re-sell for a profit. Yes guns are good investments but you can incur a very heavy fine for engaging in selling guns for profit, without an FFL. Now, if you bought a gun at a good price and after a while you decided you didn't care for it and resold it, that would be fine.

[bullsi1911]

Guns are not always a good investment...but TWO Vaqueros for 500 bucks was. You really, REALLY suck.

What the spandexed one said. That was a heck of a deal... Now, if you say that they came with quality leather (El Paso Saddlery or the like), I will be very jealous.

[Razorbacker]

Be VERY careful how you advertise that you bought a gun to re-sell for a profit. Yes guns are good investments but you can incur a very heavy fine for engaging in selling guns for profit, without an FFL. Now, if you bought a gun at a good price and after a while you decided you didn't care for it and resold it, that would be fine.

Not to be argumentative and with all due respect, enlighten me on how private citizen to private citizen sales are now illegal. The OP did not mention opening a brick and mortar storefront or even a website. I'm confused as to why and to whom one has to explain the purpose of a private gun purchase or sale.
Thanks

[1965Jeff]

I lay awake at night dreaming of .44 vaqueros for $250.00 , any configuration would satisfy my desire. Don't NEED one just want one - is that so wrong? You lucky, lucky bastard.( Sorry for strong language) Maybe the barrels are heavily leaded up...

[Ranch13]

You did alright, on the Rugers, but may not see much profit. The Mosin you paid a bit much for.
If you're going to buy for investment, you need to look to Colts, Shiloh's, C Sharp, Browning Citori's etc.

[horselips]

It's often hard to make a profit on a garden-variety everyday current production gun. And why should you? Who wouldn't rather buy new instead of used for the same or less money. To enjoy guns as an investment, start with collectible guns. Duhh. Lugers, Brookhandles, Anacondas, Model 19s, some 1911s, Webleys, etc., you get the idea. Keep an eye on Gunbroker and other auction sites to see how any particular model tends to do over time. And of course, when collecting anything, buy low. In real estate, it's location. In rare guns, it's condition, condition, condition.

[cpj]

You did alright, on the Rugers, but may not see much profit. The Mosin you paid a bit much for.
If you're going to buy for investment, you need to look to Colts, Shiloh's, C Sharp, Browning Citori's etc.

Around here, those Rugers will bring 400 each, easily. Not a bad ROI.
And the Mosin was a good price too. Those are fetching 150 these days.

[Shoemaker Seth]

I figure having a useful gun on hand the can be gotten rid of for what you have in it is my idea of a good investment. That's the Boy Scout in me, though. I like to be prepared. If a profit can be made, so much the better.

The revolvers are in really good shape, not the newer,smaller framed ones. The leather is good stuff, butI I don't recall the maker.

[Jayhawker]

Not to be argumentative and with all due respect, enlighten me on how private citizen to private citizen sales are now illegal. The OP did not mention opening a brick and mortar storefront or even a website. I'm confused as to why and to whom one has to explain the purpose of a private gun purchase or sale.
Thanks

It has happened that BATF has taken notice of certain folks who make an inordinate number of private sales and popped them for dealing firearms without a license. The odd one now and then isn't a big deal, however, if you're making a living doing it...you may have a problem

[Shoemaker Seth]

I most definitely do not run the risk of making a living on my gun investing. If the BATFE has any doubt about that, they can just ask my wife.

[Ranch13]

Around here, those Rugers will bring 400 each, easily. Not a bad ROI.
And the Mosin was a good price too. Those are fetching 150 these days.

Just don't see many vaqueros bringing that much on the used market. Declining participation in the dressup squib load shoots, and there'll be more on the market as time goes by,, that don't help the prices if your sellin.... Mosins are a dime a dozen, tables full of em at the gunshows, cripes even Cabela's was blowin em out for under 100$...

[cpj]

I need to shop out there then.
We get hosed on used guns compared to some places. Of course we have it better than some I guess.

[Ranch13]

Hhehe, when them mosins started showing up at the gunshows in force. My old neighbor that had deferred his college years until he got thru with that wonderful full length tour of the Korean peninsula, was wandering past about the 3rd table full of em and he stopped and said "hmmmpf pavement" . I said HUH". " Yeh" he said, " over in Korea there were so damn many of those things laying around every morning , we just threw em in the mudholes and ruts in the roads so the trucks could get thru easier."..

[orchidman]

No pics.......it didnt happen.............pay the fine.............$15. ( 3 guns @$5 each)

[robert38-55]

With the new degree and job, the purse strings are finally easier to loosen without feeling guilty. I was finally able to replace the AR that was stolen a long time ago, and got the kids an 870 youth combo. I got those 'cause I wanted to, and they filled a hole in my "needs" list.

Well, I had a friend offer me a pair of SS Vaqueros with rigs for $500 total, and another friend offer a Mosin Nagant carbine in nearly new condition for $100. I wasn't in the market for any of those, but I figured I'd be able to sell them at a profit without much trouble if the need ever arose. At least that's what I told my wife.

And yes, I have started doing more traditional investing, as well.

I think ya did alright Seth, congrats on the guns,, can we get some pics? The value of an item is what one is willing to pay for it,so I have been told.

[stepmac]

Guns as investments?

Not very good investments. Guns are as liquid as a cinder block. You have a gun that has increased in value from say $365 when you bought it in 1871 to maybe $4500 now? Maybe is the operative word; just try to unload it. Guns do increase in value, but value is what you can get for it today and not what is printed in the blue books of gun values. Nor is it easy to find someone with $4.5K to pay for your fine Sharps Musket.

Tell your wife that guns are a good investiment, somethings that fools them when you lay out $2K for that new Black rifle that you have wanted so bad. If you want to sell it you can take it to a pawn shop and they might give you half of what it is "worth".....if you are lucky.

Buy/collect guns because you enjoy them. After you die, your wife/now widow, can sell them through a dealor who will cheat her as best he can. Of course you can sell them before you kick, but then life won't be worth living will it.

[Ranch13]

Mass produced guns are not good investments other than the good one gets from them while you own them. They will mostly loose value the minute you walk out the slobber shops door with it in hand.
But when considering guns not so much mass produced, considered to be mostly hand crafted and of fine quality, given you take reasonable care of it ,it will either hold or appreciate in value. Look at the modern Colt SAA's. even a worn one from the 1960's will bring over a grand, and they sold new for the same price as a Ruger in those days.
As to the 365$ sharps? Sharps never sold a rifle for much over 135$ and those were the fancy guns... take a look here http://www.rockislandauction.com/vie...id/57/lid/1070

[Bill M.]

I got nothing against buying guns for whatever reason. But the "liquid as a cinder block" comment hits home. Think about why these guns are for sale at such a good price.