Question For Gun Collectors (Speculators)

6Gears1Speed

6Gears1Speed

Joined
Feb 21, 2013
Messages
648
Likes
138
Location
South
Feedback: 37 / 0 / 0
I'm talking collecting for the purpose of potential future value not just collecting a lot of guns and shooting them all.
I've never purchased a gun specifically to store it and not shoot it but I have one that I'm thinking about keeping original and unfired (by me). It was fired at the factory for function check as is typical.
I have a Talo Wiley Clapp II Rugier GP100. According to the Talo website, the first Wiley Clapp GP100 was supposed to be limited but was over sold by accident so there are over 4000 of them. Ruger built to demand and nobody was keeping track.
My guess is that Talo did Wiley Clapp II to make up for the mistake and it will be strictly limited.
When I bought it new the cylinder already showed a ring so I contacted Ruger and they refinished the wheel for me. Since they had to test fire it it still has a very minor line in one section but it's mostly clean.
Is this a gun that could potentially hold decent future value or is it a shooter? I'm thinking that even if it does go up in value it won't be significant. Like maybe $100 - $200 over original price. I really don't know though.
So does this kind of gun hold value or is it mostly the commemorative guns that hold value?
It's this one...
 
There are 182,619 transferable machine guns. This number drops a couple every year. This is as close to a guaranteed return as you can get. My MP5 sear has gone up 5000 in just a few years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
It's really only going to be of value to a Ruger collector, unless you can find someone who's collecting all the Talo editions. I own a Smith Talo 629 and honestly, don't see what's so special about a Talo edition gun. As a former Ruger collector, if you sent the gun out to the factory to have the cylinder refinished, you best keep the work order they sent you back with the gun. It doesn't have the original finish it left the factory with and a serious collector is going to want that paperwork. Yes, even if the factory did refinish the cylinder. But it is better having had Ruger do it than sending it out to anyone.
 
jct61765 said:
At the very least you will have pieces you like.
Click to expand...

That's sort of what I'm getting at. If there's no real potential for increased value I'd rather shoot it and carry it than have it sit in a safe forever. I know there are no guarantees. I guess what I'm really wondering is if collectors think this is the type of gun that will be in demand or not. Do Talo guns in general do well as far as desirability?
 
greencobra said:
It's really only going to be of value to a Ruger collector, unless you can find someone who's collecting all the Talo editions. I own a Smith Talo 629 and honestly, don't see what's so special about a Talo edition gun. As a former Ruger collector, if you sent the gun out to the factory to have the cylinder refinished, you best keep the work order they sent you back with the gun. It doesn't have the original finish it left the factory with and a serious collector is going to want that paperwork. Yes, even if the factory did refinish the cylinder. But it is better having had Ruger do it than sending it out to anyone.
Click to expand...

That's the sort of thing I was wondering about. For this particular gun, it has the matte blue finish, contoured muzzle and cylinder and brass bead front sight. I think the contured muzzle and cylinder is more desirable than the other things.

This is it right here...

DSC_0017SmallNoSN2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Wow, I like that finish! That's a pretty nice GP for sure. This is my 629 Talo. I had it bead blasted for a matte look. The polished stainless from the factory was horrible. I have shot it a lot, though. I got it to shoot, a range toy if you will.
attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • DSC01744 (2).jpg
    DSC01744 (2).jpg
    149.3 KB · Views: 393
Very nice. In the end I will probably do the same. I really dislike the ring on blued wheels though. I've toyed with the idea of buying a stainless wheel just to shoot with and putting the original wheel away.
 
Ruger revolvers are know for having poor timing from the factory. You could send it out to a gunsmith that specializes in that. He can take care of the score line that accrues on the cylinder from the bolt but you will still have a little visual when the bolt goes into the alignment groves in front of the lock up grooves on the cylinder. Those alignment grooves are there after all to guide the bolt into the grooves.
 
Special editions typically don't have much value. If you want to speculate on increasing value, buy transferrable machine guns. Of course, if the 1986 ban ever gets struck down, then you'd be out a ton of money.

Personally, I buy guns to shoot them and I invest in an S&P 500 mutual fund.
 
Last edited:
M1911 said:
Special editions typically don't have much value. If you want to speculate on increasing value, by transferrable machine guns. Of course, if the 1986 ban ever gets struck down, then you'd be out a ton of money.

Personally, I buy guns to shoot them and I invest in an S&P 500 mutual fund.
Click to expand...
[thumbsup]
 
M1911 said:
Special editions typically don't have much value. If you want to speculate on increasing value, by transferrable machine guns. Of course, if the 1986 ban ever gets struck down, then you'd be out a ton of money.

Personally, I buy guns to shoot them and I invest in an S&P 500 mutual fund.
Click to expand...

[thumbsup]X2

Most of my "collectable" pieces have only seen a marginal gain. Nothing to write home about. I would've made a ten fold gain if I invested that money properly through traditional channels.
The only people who typically work the MG angle are the folks who are soooo invested in it already, it's as if they need to convince themselves. To risky IMO. If you actually got the dough to go down that road, turning it around for a profit at a latter time is probably not your primary objective.

You have to find smokin deals on pre ban stuff that's highly desirable and tough to get. Even then the future returns are questionable. Guns for future profits isn't a great idea.

ETA: not just pre ban but antique as well. You need to find that old lady in a haystack that wants to unload her late husbands or grandfathers SAA on the cheap.
 
Last edited:
I've been doing the very same thing you speak about for the last 10 years. IMHO, the best way to get into this type of speculator market is to focus on older military weapons. The first rule you need to adhere to is DO YOUR HOMEWORK! I capitalized that for a reason. It's the differentiator on whether you bought and sold right or not!

In my opinion, modern weapons are not as easy to speculate on. Weapons such as M1 Garands, original Colt USGI 1911's, German K98s, etc are not being made any more. There is a finite number of them hence, the value will only go up as time passes.

There's a lot to think about and much research involved if you want to be successful. I've easily doubled my money with my collection and still continue buying at the right prices to add to it.

It beats stamp collecting but you need to have the cash in hand (or close by) to invest if you want to pull the trigger on the great deal when it becomes available...they come along more and more infrequently.

I hope this helps!
 
the_shootist said:
In my opinion, modern weapons are not as easy to speculate on. Weapons such as M1 Garands, original Colt USGI 1911's, German K98s, etc are not being made any more. There is a finite number of them hence, the value will only go up as time passes.
Click to expand...

And there are a ton of fakes in that market as well.
 
The more I think about it the more I realize that collecting many guns in hopes of making a lot of money makes sense, but stashing one gun away hoping that it goes from $700 to $900 over a span of several years makes no sense.

I'm gonna shoot the crap out of it. [mg]
 
Anything US Military is a sure thing. Buy it right and it's pretty hard to lose money on them.
 
JRT said:
There are 182,619 transferable machine guns. This number drops a couple every year. This is as close to a guaranteed return as you can get. My MP5 sear has gone up 5000 in just a few years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

There is some risk here. A lot can happen that could either greatly diminish or destroy the value of transferable MGs.

1) The DOJ could index the 200 stamp to its equivalent value from 1938. Which would be somewhere around $5000. That means an interstate transfer of a MG would incur $10,000 in tax. What do you think would happen to the value of a $20K MG in that situations?

2) By the grace of god, the prohibition on new transferable MGs could be lifted or overturned. Then your $20K M16 is suddenly worth $900.

3) a complete ban on further transfers is enacted.

I don't think the chance of any of this happening is great. But its something to consider. I know one person whose entire retirement is based on a stash of new and rare machine guns. I'm talking new in the box M16-A2s and M60s in the crate!!!

He could be destroyed by something like this. He has been liquidating as he needs cash. His wife wants him to dump it all. Decisions decisions.
 
I just thought of possibly the perfect investment gun. The Colt Python.

They continue to appreciate. Very little chance of legal issues transferring one.
A huge market for them when selling.

Will never be made again. Or if they are, colt will charge $4000 for an inferior product.

Don
 
It's hard to make money doing this with new guns because it's difficult to predict what will become both 1) rare and 2) coveted 5-10 years down the line. Folks who bought 5" S&W 625s a few years back stand to double their money, while those who bought 686s will be lucky to get their money back.

You have a better chance if you know the market well, and get a good deal on a desired gun (Python, P7M8) or happen to see a screaming deal at a gunshop. I bought a Delta Gold Cup for $600ish a year or two back. Didn't like shooting it, but got my money back and then some when I sold it. Likewise with a 1942 Walther PP Cabelas had priced at $600.

Buying special editions is a sure fire way to lose money. Just ask the guys who have had the collectible junk sold in American Rifleman on consignment for years without a buyer willing to pay $2,000 for a RIA 1911!!
 
peterthefish said:
Folks who bought 5" S&W 625s a few years back stand to double their money
Click to expand...

Did that, love it but the real prize was a original production 5" no dash 610. That will no doubt be a money maker. It was quite pricey years ago when I got it however and this is after a 7 year search.

Again my intention for purchasing was never an investment.
 
Special editions manufactured for the purpose of being collectible don't tend to appreciate greatly, not do custom orders for a gun shop (think of the many Lew Horton special editions). The real appreciation is in a gun that had low production numbers and nobody expected would turn into a collectible.
 
saltydude said:
Did that, love it but the real prize was a original production 5" no dash 610. That will no doubt be a money maker. It was quite pricey years ago when I got it however and this is after a 7 year search.

Again my intention for purchasing was never an investment.
Click to expand...

I sold an early unfluted 610 for $950 during the obama panic of 08. I liked that gun a lot, especially with moon clips and .40s.
I couldn't resist the cash.
 
dcmdon said:
I sold an early unfluted 610 for $950 during the obama panic of 08. I liked that gun a lot, especially with moon clips and .40s.
I couldn't resist the cash.
Click to expand...

Yikes. You didn't disclose the barrel length but 5" or not the early 610 pre locks are sweet pieces. Hope you can track another down someday.
 
I've had my eye out for a bit now. Haven't seen a 5" on gunbroker since I started looking.

There's one now listed as a 4" barrel but looks like a 5". Either way, $1,700! Ouch
 
peterthefish said:
I've had my eye out for a bit now. Haven't seen a 5" on gunbroker since I started looking.

There's one now listed as a 4" barrel but looks like a 5". Either way, $1,700! Ouch
Click to expand...

I hear yah. Took me seven years. In that time I only came across 3 maybe 4 tops. (For sale on GB)
 

Similar threads

MA Compliant question..
Replies
11
Views
666
drgrant
drgrant
Bolt gun - paralysis by analysis
Replies
3
Views
132
MickeyD’s
M
Glock muzzle damage question
Replies
13
Views
336
Cluster F
Cluster F
Gunsmiths for pistol slide and frame work
Replies
11
Views
420
DW357
DW357
Looking for custom engraving on O/U shotgun
Replies
5
Views
93
tinhorn
tinhorn
Back
Top Bottom