Resale Value when buying a gun?

[RugerForMe]

I do and I don't. When I buy something, I want or something that's been on my short list, I try to make sure I don't overpay.

I have had to sell guns due to hardships and have typically ended up selling ones I really didn't want to because I knew they would bring in the much needs funds to pay for bills/food etc.. But sometimes I find one I have to have and trade or sell one to get the one I want.
Right now, in my area anyhow nothing is really selling at what I would consider a fair price. I have never had so many lowball offers on stuff I have for sale.

 

[EBCC1`]

I am at the age where I may want to sell some of my firearms so if I pass they won’t give them away or sell them for peanuts.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

I was talking with Cholo at the East Coast Gathering, and it got me to thinking about buying guns. Do you consider the resale value when you buy one? I guess that's kind of negative to think about getting rid of something the moment you first buy it. But as guns do tend to hang around for a a while, thinking about selling it in the future might be only natural.

Or is the purchase of a gun just something for "right now" not thinking about 5 or 10 years down the road?

No. I try to do my part for the economy, viz. buy high/sell low.

 

[neilin]

I was talking with Cholo at the East Coast Gathering, and it got me to thinking about buying guns. Do you consider the resale value when you buy one? I guess that's kind of negative to think about getting rid of something the moment you first buy it. But as guns do tend to hang around for a a while, thinking about selling it in the future might be only natural.

Or is the purchase of a gun just something for "right now" not thinking about 5 or 10 years down the road?

I buy a gun for right now. Buying a new gun has never been for resale for me.

 

[neilin]

speaking from experience ( those who frequent the auction section will know)......guns are a horrible investment

A horrible investment for resale, but a terrific investment for the second amendment.

 

[Randyzzz]

Value? Yes. Resale? No. I always like to think I got a good deal, and that I paid less than it’s actually worth. But not for resale… I don’t know if I can call myself a collector- more of an accumulator. My current goal is to get a 3 screw model for each year 1954- 1972. Most of them are Single Sixes, but there’s a few others filling in. There’s also the desire to replace most of my NM’s with OM’s.

This past week was expensive. It doesn’t help having a buddy on here showing me deals on GB. A 71 4 5/8” Single Sixes and a 72 4 5/8” .45 Blackhawk. On top of a 3rd that I had just bought from another member here. I sound like I’m complaining but I loved every minute of it.

So, resale. Now that I’ve spent way more than I had in my pocket, I have to pay the piper. Some of my New Models will be up for sale. I’ve narrowed it down to 3 .45’s. A stainless 5 1/2” New Vaquero with some custom goodies, a 5 1/2” .45 Blackhawk convertible, and a 7 1/2” .45 Blackhawk Liberty.

I guess I’ll see how that resale thing works…

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I have ones that I will not get rid of other than to Son and Daughter.
Then there are the ones I bought low and sold high. Yes, I knew I could make a profit on them when I bought them. I enjoyed the hunt as much if not more than the profit.

 

[Watertender]

In a former life I was a bartender. I bought guns from guys needing drinking or lawyer money. Unfortunately several of them were stolen from me by my no good brother. The best deal I ever got was a brand new Browning BL22 for $100 from a guy needing lawyer money. It had a small rub spot on the front sight where it had been sitting in a closet.
I would buy shotguns after hunting season for almost nothing. $20 for single barrel shotguns and anywhere between $50 & $75 for pump shotguns. I kept some and sold others for a profit.

 

[twriggen]

I've always considered my "Collection" as part of my retirement strategy but after the last few conversations with my "retirement advisor", I'm shifting out of that mindset. The vast majority of my collection is pre-1963, so those items tend to increase in value over the years but nowhere near the average return on my 401(k) at 10% annually. The result is the pretty large number of units I've passed to their next caretaker in the last year or more with those funds going into my Roth IRA. I still love collecting Rugers but investment part of the equation has taken a back seat. Now I'm all about a "Type Set" collection with one of each and a focus on the quality. If I find a nicer version, I buy it and pass the old one down the road. I know for a fact I have overpaid for the upgraded version more than once and probably in most cases as the nice one are getting harder to find. There are a few exceptions to my Type Set collection as I have a hard time passing up a long barrel XR3 framed revolver.

 

[lincen]

Resale “can” be a factor when I buy some firearms but not all. It may determine what I pay for somethings. But, I buy what I want most of the time.

 

[peachhead]

For my personal collection, no. I buy what I want to shoot, no thoughts of what it may be worth later. I have a hard time getting rid of anything, even if I could make money on it. I am not good at picking collectibles.

 

[JAYDAWG]

I have my "tools" and likely will not buy more, but since the collector thing bit me in the ass, it has become about a goal and resale is not a consideration.
I told my kids the last check I write is going to bounce!!!

 

[Jim Walsh]

Never. I buy them for my pleasure and because I covet firearms.

 

[arcticruger]

I actually never really consider resale value when I purchase because I usually buy gun because I want it

… and yes, I have almost always lost money, as much as half price, when I get tired of them and sell one.. But that was the old me and now I try to keep everything I buy,

 

[Kevin]

We all know that one guy that buys a $300 10/22 or Charger. Then puts $1200 of upgrades into it. You know and I know he will never get that money back out of it even if he parts it out. The value is in the fun of the pursuit of parts and the range time enjoyed with that gun. I've done that myself... I have all the original parts if I wanted to put it back in original configuration but we both know that will never happen either. So, I'll just carry on in pursuit of the next project in all its glory.

And I just picked up a Feddersen barrel for it... Awaiting installation.

I have a 10/22 that is 99% Kidd parts. So yeah, I know what you speak of.

 

[The.Tumbleweed]

LOL. I'm starting to thing about getting rid of some guns. My daughter likes to shoot but she has no great interest in guns. For example, why my Colt GM with British proof marks is significant doesn't even make her say "Hmmmm . . ."

The problem is that I have the hoarder's mentality, "if I get rid of it, I won't have it anymore and I like having it."

I buy my guns to use them. I have more than I will even need, and only accurate ones, BUT the idea is that when the time comes, they will all go to my kids.

I don't see my having much use for them after I'm gone.

I don't have a lot of money, but tools, motorcycles, and guns I have to pass down.

 

[WAYNO]

I also buy, and I buy a lot. And I almost never consider resale value.
Through many years, I've lost a ton of money on guns, but I bought them to enjoy. There is no free ride.
I have many collectible firearms. They don't make money, but they keep up with inflation better than my shooters.

 

[eveled]

These threads are a good reality check, but also depressing.

Then again if nobody ever sold the old ones we would never have a chance to buy them.

I have 2 boys who are rednecker than I am so I'm not real worried about selling before I die. I count myself lucky.

 

[wproct]

These are all great answers. I have bought some guns and then hate to shoot them just because the value will go down. But they do get shot, some just more than others.

I hear ya. I truly have owned a couple of guns that I knew I should not shoot because of their value. I wound up selling them because I couldn't enjoy them under that scenario.

 

[jimbo1096]

I rarely ever sell anything. In fact, most of the things I‘ve bought I probably paid too much for and could never get my money back out of them, but I liked them at the time and that’s what makes me happy. I’ve given several to my son and one to my grandson, and I’ve got several others in the safe that are spoken for. And to be honest, I have several of them that I bought on impulse and that I’ve never shot. But it never crosses my mind maybe I sell something. I can probably count on one hand the number of guns I’ve sold in the last 20 years. Funny thing is most of my guns were bought when I had to scrape the money together to get them. Now that I’m retired I could buy anything I wanted at any time and I almost never do, so no, I don’t buy them for resale, but I try to make sure that the price is reasonable and I’m not just throwing money away.

 

[larry8]

I guess I'm an accumulator as I only buy guns that I really like, seldom sell any. Mostly I like to buy new guns except some really nice old revolvers. However, I will look for a gun for several years thinking the price will come down to the point that I am willing to spend for it. An example was a stainless Luger P08 that I found for less than $1200. Now they are going for $1800 or more. I picked up a Ruger Redhawk in 44 for less than $900 brand new when the used ones were going for $1300. I keep looking for a bargain no matter how long it takes.

 

[GasGuzzler]

I have an hour drive this morning to pick up another pre-Remington Marlin. Why? The price isn't great but that's because it has a scope on it worth as much to everyone else as the rifle is to me and therefore no takers. I'll just buy it, sell the scope, and keep the rifle at a discount until the prices get dumb after the next 180 degree election. I don't need it but 40-year old Marlins are cool.

speaking from experience ( those who frequent the auction section will know)......guns are a horrible investment

Wow! Not in my experience. I guess you have bought some and took a bath on getting shed of them? Everything I own is worth considerably more than I paid. Partly due to the decrease in value of the dollar, partly because I am very careful what I buy, and partly because I generally pay less than average when I do buy. I don't sell often but when I do I don't lose. No, I don't factor the value of the dollar at time of purchase versus the value of the dollar at sale so I could be losing 2% for the fun and privilege.

We all know that one guy that buys a $300 10/22 or Charger. Then puts $1200 of upgrades into it. You know and I know he will never get that money back out of it even if he parts it out.

More often than not, that guy then tries to sell the gun with all that stuff and uses retail cost to justify the asking price when no one wants all the adds anyway. There's a habitual "adder" on a local forum I trade on. About every nine months he puts a gun up for sale that has aftermarket everything, plus adds, plus a dozen magazines, and a retail minus 10% asking price. He's always raising money for dental work ... for the last decade. Seems like he'd have his teeth fixed by now.

 

[sixmranch]

I purchase the best versions I can find. Condition, rarity, original box, etc. Because some day in the future it will be sold.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Looking back over my spreadsheet I occasionally wonder how I have accumulated all this stuff. Starting with a Single-Six in 1962 and the annual addition or two nearly every year since probably explains it. Yes, I kept the purchase dates and sometimes the source for all of them, but rarely the price. The only one I ever purchased with eventual resale in mind was the new Colt .44 Special SAA in 1981, when I really couldn't afford it but, well, you know. Still have it, still carefully wrapped in the original box, tied down, never fired or even turned. My kids/grandkids can wrestle over it eventually.

The majority of the pile are Ruger single-actions. Mostly Old Models, all standard calibers except the Hawkeye. Most barrel lengths except those darn ten-inch things (got the BNM10, though). Some of the "unusual" New Models. Scattering of S&W, Colt, Browning, Hi-Standard, H&R, Taurus, and even a couple of Glocks. Several rifles and shotguns. All gathered in without much if any consideration of any collecting plan or future value.

Had to stop . . . safe's full.

 

[thinckley]

I do have both cost and current value on my inventory list. I go through my list annually and revalue (a handful of guns per month) so that it is stays fairly current. This is strictly based on the experience I had trying to help my MIL after her husband passed. If I had not stepped in, she would have sold off 7 guns for $1,500... including a JM marked Marlin in 30-30. Once I had them appraised the total value was closer to $5k.

 

[golferboy426]

I have an hour drive this morning to pick up another pre-Remington Marlin. Why? The price isn't great but that's because it has a scope on it worth as much to everyone else as the rifle is to me and therefore no takers. I'll just buy it, sell the scope, and keep the rifle at a discount until the prices get dumb after the next 180 degree election. I don't need it but 40-year old Marlins are cool.


Wow! Not in my experience. I guess you have bought some and took a bath on getting shed of them? Everything I own is worth considerably more than I paid. Partly due to the decrease in value of the dollar, partly because I am very careful what I buy, and partly because I generally pay less than average when I do buy. I don't sell often but when I do I don't lose. No, I don't factor the value of the dollar at time of purchase versus the value of the dollar at sale so I could be losing 2% for the fun and privilege.

More often than not, that guy then tries to sell the gun with all that stuff and uses retail cost to justify the asking price when no one wants all the adds anyway. There's a habitual "adder" on a local forum I trade on. About every nine months he puts a gun up for sale that has aftermarket everything, plus adds, plus a dozen magazines, and a retail minus 10% asking price. He's always raising money for dental work ... for the last decade. Seems like he'd have his teeth fixed by now.

Compare the same investment in your original purchase price, then compare if you put the same amount into a stock index fund or even a CD.. It's not even close to a 2% fun premium

 

[krw]

When We traded all over, I never made a house payment, Trk payment, bought grocery's or pd Ins prems trading. It was entertainment plus I have had lots of neat stuff through the years. But I am really glad Wife an I funded our Simple IRA's!! And when I get ready I can sell $1000/mo worth Firearms, knives and other collectible's for years

 

[GasGuzzler]

Compare the same investment in your original purchase price, then compare if you put the same amount into a stock index fund or even a CD.. It's not even close to a 2% fun premium

And my guns will not lose 57% of its value like my 401K did in 2008. I make sure of that by what I pick to buy.

I do have both cost and current value on my inventory list.

I am such a simpleton I just put purchase price and date on a piece of masking tape under the butt plate/pad on rifles or under the grip on pistols and revolvers.

 

[OneShotRuger]

I was talking with Cholo at the East Coast Gathering, and it got me to thinking about buying guns. Do you consider the resale value when you buy one? I guess that's kind of negative to think about getting rid of something the moment you first buy it. But as guns do tend to hang around for a a while, thinking about selling it in the future might be only natural.

Or is the purchase of a gun just something for "right now" not thinking about 5 or 10 years down the road?

Each firearm purchase I have made, was a result of careful research. Every aspect involved was carefully considered.
I have only sold 2 guns in my history. Eventually regretted both, never sold another.
I group my firearms by Caliber.
Having a .44 revolver, a .44 carbine and a .44 Derringer as well as two Contender Barrels in .44. This is a travel grab group.
I have similar in .357.
I have a variety of .308
Similar in .243…my Poor Boy 6mm guns
I am an NRA Firearms instructor IN A VARIETY OF DICIPLINES

To this day. I treat each purchase the same. I’m retired now, more time to study
And Surprisingly enough money to buy a gun, now and then.

 

[rugnelli]

Yes.