Mild rant!

[Tellico]

I have been buying Rugers since 1953 and always liked them. Lately though I find the new ones are like buying a new car. Once you drive them (read fire) you can't get half what you paid for one. I think you need to keep them 30-40 years in the box (don't know why, boxes don't shoot good) to ever make them worth anything. Well at my age of 77 I don't think I can keep one that long. I guess I have bought my last Ruger! I have been trying to sell a like new Alaskan that I shot exactly 56 (50 were 44spl.) rounds through ( don't care if you believe that or not) with 2 grips and can't even get $600 for it! I have 9 Rugers and when I tip over I guess my wife will have a hard time trying to sell them! Rant off!
Fred

 

[GunnyGene]

I have been buying Rugers since 1953 and always liked them. Lately though I find the new ones are like buying a new car. Once you drive them (read fire) you can't get half what you paid for one. I think you need to keep them 30-40 years in the box (don't know why, boxes don't shoot good) to ever make them worth anything. Well at my age of 77 I don't think I can keep one that long. I guess I have bought my last Ruger! I have been trying to sell a like new Alaskan that I shot exactly 56 (50 were 44spl.) rounds through ( don't care if you believe that or not) with 2 grips and can't even get $600 for it! I have 9 Rugers and when I tip over I guess my wife will have a hard time trying to sell them! Rant off!
Fred

Yep. Firearms under 50 or 100 yo, usually don't fetch what you paid unless (even figuring in inflation) they are something special. Most modern guns are "consumer goods", due to high volume production/sales. Most folks aren't interested in guns as investments. I have 3 long guns that have gained in value, 2 of them were made prior to 1880 and have some minor documented history. One from 1974 (Win 9422M).

 

[Tellico]

Looks like I should part them out. :shock: :lol:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121654368330?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[Bob Wright]

I never buy a gun with the idea that it will appreciate in value. I buy it for the sheer pleasure of owning it and shooting it.

When I shoot, I'm usually with a friend or two, and the time we share together, away from home, away from leaky faucets, broken door hinges, whatever, is priceless.

How much is a golden sunset worth? A babbling waterfall? Rain on a warm summer day? A fire on a cold winter night?

Or what about the pleasure of concocting a new handload, and having it group within 1" at twenty five yards? Or just handling you Ruger and remembering a deer taken with it? Or a long shot to drop a groundhog? Or trying to remember the number of squirrels taken with a favorite .22?

My guns are priceless!

Bob Wright

P.S. I, too, am 77, and danged if I'm not looking forward to my next Ruger!

 

[powder smoke]

Just my two cents, guns are made for sporting, and defense, not investment.
Some escalate in value depending on a certain run or whatever the circumstance.
Most how ever will maintain a level slightly less than new for sometime if keep in
top notch condition. After market goodies rarely enhance value as each goodie is
subject to ones taste.

Now compare values of other USED toys you buy and see is they hold value as well as used guns!!
That should cheer you up just a bit. ps

 

[toysoldier]

With the exception of my LCP and P90, I believe I can get at least what I paid for each of my guns. Some, like my Marlin 39, have appreciated greatly.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Most people buy a gun for: Need, want, like, fun item to own, or fun to shoot.
Not many buy them as investments.

 

[nekvermont]

I look at my firearms as little mechanical works of art but also consider them tools. like a hammer , skill saw or a cordless drill I don't expect them to hold their monetary value. A firearm that has proven to me to be reliable and highly capable of it's intended use has an increased personal value to myself.

 

[Tellico]

You all seem to be miss-reading my message. Buying a gun for $899 and trying to sell it for $600 is not expecting any appreciation nor would it be in any way construed as an investment. I am just saying the % of depreciation of a new Ruger once owned or shot is very high. I have had other makes that were even worse though. That cylinder at $510 with 19hrs yet makes me wonder what my New Vaquero Sheriff model convertible would bring as parts???
Fred

 

[cadillo]

Tellico, you bring up a good point regarding the parting out. I've about decided that once my bursitis and retinas tell me that I've shot my Garands for the last time, I will strip them and sell them as parts. In a way I hate to do it, as all mine are really nice, with great barrels, wood, and finish, and deliver great accuracy, but people want to get them for the price of the clunker junk and re-welds they see at the gun shows, and I just won't go there.

 

[opos]

I sort of like to buy and sell and swap around...I have a number of Ruger single and double action handguns and if I look at the "value" of each I'm probably set to lose about 1/2 of what I have in them...but it's one heck of a lot cheaper than owning a boat or airplane (done both). I just like having them..I got some I've never shot but enjoy wiping them down and just owning them...I'm almost 78 and told the wife when I go...there are some of them marked for give away to friends or my Grandson and the rest just call the pawn broker I know and have dealt with and let him do what he will with them...to me a hobby or a collection is just something to enjoy for now and not worry about the up's and down's of the market..someone said guns are a consumer product...correct the way I see it...

 

[Bob Wright]

You all seem to be miss-reading my message. Buying a gun for $899 and trying to sell it for $600 is not expecting any appreciation nor would it be in any way construed as an investment. I am just saying the % of depreciation of a new Ruger once owned or shot is very high. I have had other makes that were even worse though. That cylinder at $510 with 19hrs yet makes me wonder what my New Vaquero Sheriff model convertible would bring as parts???
Fred

Well, as I see it, you're the one missing the point. You bought a gun that is in current production for $899, and you might like to get, say $750 for it. That means John Doe should pay appx. 90% of a new gun price for a used gun. Mr. Doe has no idea what might have happened to that gun while you had it, no how many rounds were actually fired through that gun. One thing that should pop into his mind, "Why are you selling it?" If you kept it for a fairly short time, questions arise.

No suppose that gun has been discontinued for 50~75 years and is hard to find. Now the value increases.


Bob Wright

 

[dougader]

I'm surprised you can't sell it at $600. Have you tried Gun Broker?

I've only purchased one gun as an investment, one of the first-run 44 special Blackhawks. Then Ruger made it a regular catalog item. I immediately sold it and still made $100 on the sale.

Problem is, I fell in love with the medium frame Rugers and have since then picked up a 44 Special Bisley flat top and a Montado.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Looks like I should part them out. :shock: :lol:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121654368330?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Man, I'm having a hard time accepting that $510 cylinder deal.

Only way I can explain 22 bids up to that amount is that two guys are in a bidding war.

Maybe I need to get out more.

:lol: :wink: :lol:

 

[737tdi]

Just my 2 cents. I am a shooter/collector/lover of all things gun. With that said I buy very few firearms new. Isn't this the same as automobiles? Drive them off the lot and there is an immediate 30% drop in value. I did buy a new Sig and a couple of 10/22 takedowns. As far as an investment, unless you abuse them they will maintain that initial drop in value and if popular could go up in value. Plus if the SHTF then their value will increase just like ammo.. JMO.

Karl

 

[clintsfolly]

Wish I had $600. You would be shipping it!!

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Also discussed here . . .

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=223497&p=2234331#p2234331

 

[sebtool]

Wish I had $600. You would be shipping it!!

Well, I just spent 15 minutes typing a thorough reponse, and it disappeared! :evil:

The bottom line is, timing is everything. In both sales, and posting responses... :wink:

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Looks like it went for $620. plus shipping.

:shock:

 

[exavid]

The guns I now own are for shooting. Not collector's items, not museum pieces, just modern guns that I bought to have fun with. A few of them I bought for self defense but those are ones I shoot the most. Gotta keep current with them. As far as resale goes that's not a problem for me because I don't intend to sell any of them. I have a list in my safe that my survivors can use to make sure these guns go to whomever I've designated. Since no one is going to know, the new OR law about background checks forced down our throats by Bloomberg and other swine isn't going to be obeyed. Screw 'em.

 

[lfpiii]

Looks like I should part them out. :shock: :lol:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121654368330?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Man, I'm having a hard time accepting that $510 cylinder deal.

Only way I can explain 22 bids up to that amount is that two guys are in a bidding war.

Maybe I need to get out more.

:lol: :wink: :lol:

The best reason that this sold for so high is probably that the shipper was will to ship overseas. Most US companies will not sell gun parts of more than $50.00 for export. Years ago before he closed shop my LGS would sell grips oversea. He once had a fight between 3 bidders for the GP-100 grips with wood inserts. I think they went for a little more than $550.00