How many of you have an "investment" gun?

j1132s · Post by **j1132s** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:22 pm

I can't believe that I'm actually considering this... I'm actually considering the possibility of buying some guns as safe queens (and shoot them very, very little... maybe not shooting them, but that's going to be hard to do).

I'm not looking to actually count on my guns to appreciate and become an investment vehicle, but (I'm still amazed) it seems nice to have some really nice guns around. (I used to collect stamps and actually made money on my collection when I sold a bunch.) Collecting guns would be a lot more expensive.

Anyway, I'm wondering what other collectors thoughts are and what guns are in your collection. (BTW, I'm considering a nice condition M1 that I can also use for some good shooting. Ok, so not that rare or even too expensive, but it'll actually be the first gun that I buy that isn't "practical").

nitrogen · Post by **nitrogen** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:35 pm

I bought a few AR-15 lowers in case the democrats decided to institute another AWB, but thats about it.

j1132s · Post by **j1132s** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:44 pm

nitrogen wrote:I bought a few AR-15 lowers in case the democrats decided to institute another AWB, but thats about it.

I thought the AWB had more to do w/ uppers. But lowers are always good investment, they seem to keep going up in price.

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:58 pm

I would consider my Barrett .50 (dream rifle) to be the ultimate investment piece...

I also have a BAR "sportster" that was my grandfathers "big" deer rifle...Thats not an investment, but something I'll keep as one of my "safe queens" that sees the light of day whenever I feel I need a little pick me up...That gun is priceless...

Future AWB, or not...I don't consider my "investments" anything I remotely or would even consider giving up, regardless of what others think...

Uppers, lowers, magazines etc etc...They are my investments, nobody else put anything into it, so its not theirs...Plain and simple...

But I will certainly want my friends and folks I know use them if they need to...

Mainly, bacause I know I can't carry all of tyhat stuff anyway!

Ok, I'll shut up now...

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:07 pm

Whenever it arrives, my CMP Garand will be a sort of an investment gun. Of course I'll still be shooting it

nitrogen · Post by **nitrogen** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:14 pm

j1132s wrote:
nitrogen wrote:I bought a few AR-15 lowers in case the democrats decided to institute another AWB, but thats about it.
I thought the AWB had more to do w/ uppers. But lowers are always good investment, they seem to keep going up in price.

If it works like the last one, they'd be pre-ban lowers, and I could put whatever I want on them. Thats the theory at least. I spent $300 on 4 lowers so at worst, I'll just sell 'em for $100 a piece.

seamusTX · Post by **seamusTX** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:19 pm

I don't have any firearms investments. I think unless you really know how to pick them or are lucky, you're better off investing in mutual funds.

However, on the far-off day when all the house remodeling is finished and Mrs. Casey is driving a car that isn't old enough to vote (really), I would get a mint-condition Dan Wesson revolver or 1911.

- Jim

casselthief · Post by **casselthief** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:49 pm

I'm just curious, but you're the same dude that's selling half an arsenal, and now you're talking about buying more?
now, I'm not judging you in any way, shape, or form, but this is my opinion.
I'd rather have some guns that I felt comfortable shooting, and even if they were really nice, and only went to the range, now and again, I wouldn't be arsed to clean them afterwards.
I mean, it's just me, and I can totally understand why someone can want something nice as a curio or collectible. just not for me, at least not where I am in my life.
back to the curious part, why, indeed, are you selling off all those smoke wagons? you payin' for some lazer hair removal (I jest!) I'm especially fond of that Smithy 1911. (can't afford that right now, though.)

j1132s · Post by **j1132s** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:29 pm

casselthief wrote:I'm just curious, but you're the same dude that's selling half an arsenal, and now you're talking about buying more?

I'm selling the guns that I hardly ever use. Many of those guns hasn't seen more than 1 or 2 range trips last year; some are duplicates of my primary-use guns (as backups). The only one that I actually use is the CX4, but I'm slowly (but surely) exiting the .40 S&W caliber.

casselthief wrote: I mean, it's just me, and I can totally understand why someone can want something nice as a curio or collectible. just not for me, at least not where I am in my life.

That's how I felt even just 6 months ago. But I'm beginning to appreciate having a few really nice guns. I'm still deciding if I should put in an order for a paritcular RRA 1911. I'd buy it immediately if they have it in stock, but they don't so I'm still deciding between it and a Les Baer 1.5" PII (I actually have a source w/ stock) but really want the RRA... see what you got me doing? rambling... :)

casselthief wrote: back to the curious part, why, indeed, are you selling off all those smoke wagons? you payin' for some lazer hair removal (I jest!) I'm especially fond of that Smithy 1911. (can't afford that right now, though.)

No, I'm not into hair removal, etc. Maybe I need some hair transplants :)

KBCraig · Post by **KBCraig** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:36 pm

"Investment guns" implies planning to sell them at a profit someday. Since I don't plan to sell mine, that really doesn't apply. But I do have some that will have appreciated nicely should an emergency force me to sell them, or if my heirs decide to sell them.

Most recently, I bought an Enfield ShtLE Mk.V that was drastically underpriced... it appreciate about 500% the moment I walked out the door. But since I'm an Enfield collector, and that would be one of the hardest to replace, it would be one of the last to go.

A couple of years ago I bought a MAS-36/51, which is new and unfired, with its arsenal paperwork. I'm not going to fire it, so I agreed to sell it to a co-worker who collects French rifles. I'll triple my money, but we're not talking about big bucks.

Almost everything else in my safe has at least doubled in value since I bought it (not counting modern handguns).

Kevin

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:02 pm

seamusTX wrote:I don't have any firearms investments. I think unless you really know how to pick them or are lucky, you're better off investing in mutual funds.

However, on the far-off day when all the house remodeling is finished and Mrs. Casey is driving a car that isn't old enough to vote (really), I would get a mint-condition Dan Wesson revolver or 1911.

- Jim

I wish I had known that was somethign you were looking for...

I sold my last revolver...Dan Wesson .357 about two years ago...It was in fantasic shape, wipe it and it looked new...Shot like a dream...

I would have given it to you for a song brother!

I just really had no need for it, thats why I gave it up...Bad timing I guess...

seamusTX · Post by **seamusTX** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:25 pm

stevie_d_64 wrote:I wish I had known that was somethign you were looking for...

I sold my last revolver...Dan Wesson .357 about two years ago...It was in fantasic shape, wipe it and it looked new...Shot like a dream...

Thanks. I have two Dan Wesson revolvers, but my .357 looks like it was left in a rowboat for a couple of years.

- Jim

Trope · Post by **Trope** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:11 pm

Guns are just tools to me. I have no interest at all in collecting them.

JLaw · Post by **JLaw** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:31 pm

Speaking of Dan Wesson revolvers, Dad's got one. Dang it if he doesn't out-shoot me every time we go shooting together!! Not sure what it's value is, but it is in mint condition.

I don't really bother with investment guns much, not because I don't like them but because I know I would probably shoot them enough to tarnish their value. Maybe later in life I'll have enough self control to own such a specimen, but I just can't bring myself to pay good money for a safe queen yet.

JLaw

age_ranger · Post by **age_ranger** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:33 pm

My last purchase was a "functional" investment. I know it will never decrease in value and I intend to shoot it. My problem is that I can't put a gun into my safe and let it sit there. First thing I do is tear it down to the frame. I'd have to shoot it.............i'd be a terrible collector.