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Collectible gun market?

cowdoc
Kinda looking over auctions of similar rifles I have .... is the colectable market dead in the water ?
Been awhile since I ve been in here... still kicking and farming in S Dak ....Trying to finish corn harvest up
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27 comments

Date Votes
  • Ricci Wright
    Good clean ?collectible? guns will always bring good money if presented properly and the seller isn?t in a big rush to sell. By that I mean the seller is looking for cash immediately. If that?s the case then it becomes a buying opportunity. My thought has.always been with guns or anything else you make money when you buy meaning you need to buy as cheaply as possible if you are looking to make money when you sell. And stay far away from commemorative guns. By the way thank you for choosing the farming life. I have a small idea of how hard it is having had som close relatives that had farms when I was growing up. And I like to eat and am well aware of where all that nice food in the supermarket comes from.
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  • cowdoc
    Guess I could probably never bring myself to sell any anyway I've really only bought two rifles for possible increase in value which are two model 70 Winchester coyotes with wood laminated stock one in 270wsm and one in 223wssm both are undired and have tags still tied on .. I have decided to put scope on the 270wsm and use it this year for deer hunting ... the 223wssm I will leave as it is in new condition as in the past anyways Winchesters in rarer chambering used to command a premium... I've bought every box of 223wssm ammo I've found too as it is no longer mfd fars I know
    I do have an 1863 sharps that sharps co itself converted from precision to cartridge they as I recall did about 700 rifles...I will never sell it as my grandfather gave it to me and one day I will use it to shoot a buffalo.
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  • Grasshopper
    Imo wssm calibers are dead weight in the sellers market-I have Coyote in 308 which are great rifles but prob never get what I have in it. Watching here on GB excellent shape older guns with box ect bring top money still,
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  • mrmike08075
    I have had to liquidate close to 100 pieces out of my collection to try and keep up with cancer related medical bills

    Some of my most prized pieces from decades of collecting

    Locust fork has handled the auctions and been a great help - her reputation and a GB top 100 seller status and forum moderator and big / pristine feedback rating have been key factors

    Extensive research documentation and ephemera have also played an important roll

    A pretty good percentage have realized record high numbers way over market indicators

    Also on ten of the rarer and more desirable items we posted links here on the forums - or at other specialty forums and made a hard effort to reply to inquiries
    So on the whole if you take the right preparatory steps you can do quite well

    I never got expected or imagined I would be in this situation - so called terminal illness and inability to work

    Mike
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  • cowdoc
    Damn, Sorry to hear this MrMike!!!
    Prayers for you!
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  • jimdeere
    Not dead, but the beginning of the decline. Like classic cars, collectible firearms market is a slowly shrinking demographic, I believe.
    The collector who has the desire and the means is getting older.
    By the way, it?s good to hear from you, cowdoc.
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  • cowdoc
    thanks Jimdeere

    With what id guess that there are less and less younger folk whom have grown up with hunting and guns ie more and more removed from rural living and now the electronic age where everybody sits on the couch looks at their phones or likewise like silly fools....
    unlike me and many others of our era who grew up with a gun in hand and hunting all time, i suspect your right and will be less interest in guns that tamed the wild west and etc.
    while new gun is nice i can and appreciate old guns that have character from being used such as my old sharps and etc...they have a story to tell.
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  • Locust Fork
    I don't think the market is down on collectibles, but things do affect sales like elections, major news events, busy sporting events, holidays and we are in the middle of all of this right now.
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  • kimi
    I agree with a lot of what has been said that affects the market...especially the comments regarding younger folks. The higher condition pieces, for example, the Winchester Model 1890 is very difficult to find through online gun auctions, and I highly suspect the same is true through magazine advertisements. These type standard pieces could easily be purchased through magazine advertisements and online auctions for between 2500 to 5000 dollars fifteen to twenty years ago, dependent upon whether they were case colored or blued. Now it's hard to find them, unless they appear at big well known auction houses where costs are often out of sight...and auction fees, plus transfer fees and state taxes make participation a tough pill to swallow for me.
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  • mrmike08075
    Yes - the sign of a good seller...

    Many consider when an auction begins but never crosscheck the calender or check online to see what may be occurring the last day of the auction

    An election or playoff game or holiday or the first day of school may distract or suppress bids and outcomes

    Also consider what time your auction ends - as in how many will be up and watching it overnight

    It's a great point

    Mike
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  • jltrent
    After the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012 at Newtown, Connecticut gun prices went crazy. They have held up pretty good since, but I wonder how much longer it will last? Collectible guns will hold better value as there are fewer and not being made anymore. Just IMO though as every gun store I go in they are stocked full and sales seem slow something has to give.
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  • gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by kimi
    I agree with a lot of what has been said that affects the market...especially the comments regarding younger folks. The higher condition pieces, for example, the Winchester Model 1890 is very difficult to find through online gun auctions, and I highly suspect the same is true through magazine advertisements. These type standard pieces could easily be purchased through magazine advertisements and online auctions for between 2500 to 5000 dollars fifteen to twenty years ago, dependent upon whether they were case colored or blued. Now it's hard to find them, unless they appear at big well known auction houses where costs are often out of sight...and auction fees, plus transfer fees and state taxes make participation a tough pill to swallow for me.

    I agree with your thoughts James, however I see the higher end collectible Firearm prices holding but not really increasing and possibly decreasing as I see the market shrinking considerably. What 22-40 year old "collector" cares about a mint condition Colt Woodsman, a High Standard HD Military, or an 1890 Winchester? God forbid a mint 20 gauge skeet model 21 or an 1860 Henry Rifle! And/Or just about any other higher dollar collectible piece of firearm history......
    We have a very large contingent of life long gun fans right here on GunBroker that have no use for "Safe Queens". So where does that leave the "newer" gun fans?
    I attend a lot of gun shows, and at nearly 60 years old I'm one of the youngest in the building looking at older guns!
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  • Grasshopper
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by kimi
    I agree with a lot of what has been said that affects the market...especially the comments regarding younger folks. The higher condition pieces, for example, the Winchester Model 1890 is very difficult to find through online gun auctions, and I highly suspect the same is true through magazine advertisements. These type standard pieces could easily be purchased through magazine advertisements and online auctions for between 2500 to 5000 dollars fifteen to twenty years ago, dependent upon whether they were case colored or blued. Now it's hard to find them, unless they appear at big well known auction houses where costs are often out of sight...and auction fees, plus transfer fees and state taxes make participation a tough pill to swallow for me.

    I agree with your thoughts James, however I see the higher end collectible Firearm prices holding but not really increasing and possibly decreasing as I see the market shrinking considerably. What 22-40 year old "collector" cares about a mint condition Colt Woodsman, a High Standard HD Military, or an 1890 Winchester? God forbid a mint 20 gauge skeet model 21 or an 1860 Henry Rifle! And/Or just about any other higher dollar collectible piece of firearm history......
    We have a very large contingent of life long gun fans right here on GunBroker that have no use for "Safe Queens". So where does that leave the "newer" gun fans?
    I attend a lot of gun shows, and at nearly 60 years old I'm one of the youngest in the building looking at older guns!


    I just talked to my local fav gunshop and they concur. The 20-30s have about 0 interest and they tell me that will reflect on people who bring in "older" firearms to trade as far as marketability.
    In other words, market steady but at the top now, imo.
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  • redneckandy
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by kimi
    I agree with a lot of what has been said that affects the market...especially the comments regarding younger folks. The higher condition pieces, for example, the Winchester Model 1890 is very difficult to find through online gun auctions, and I highly suspect the same is true through magazine advertisements. These type standard pieces could easily be purchased through magazine advertisements and online auctions for between 2500 to 5000 dollars fifteen to twenty years ago, dependent upon whether they were case colored or blued. Now it's hard to find them, unless they appear at big well known auction houses where costs are often out of sight...and auction fees, plus transfer fees and state taxes make participation a tough pill to swallow for me.

    I agree with your thoughts James, however I see the higher end collectible Firearm prices holding but not really increasing and possibly decreasing as I see the market shrinking considerably. What 22-40 year old "collector" cares about a mint condition Colt Woodsman, a High Standard HD Military, or an 1890 Winchester? God forbid a mint 20 gauge skeet model 21 or an 1860 Henry Rifle! And/Or just about any other higher dollar collectible piece of firearm history......
    We have a very large contingent of life long gun fans right here on GunBroker that have no use for "Safe Queens". So where does that leave the "newer" gun fans?
    I attend a lot of gun shows, and at nearly 60 years old I'm one of the youngest in the building looking at older guns!

    Collectors always seem to be older for several reasons, a big one being disposable income. I'm a collector in the age range you noted and while I would like to add another High Standard to my collection every month these pesky bills keep getting in the way. All of my friends are the same way. A home mortgage and young kids can eat up a lot of your income.
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  • kimi
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by kimi
    I agree with a lot of what has been said that affects the market...especially the comments regarding younger folks. The higher condition pieces, for example, the Winchester Model 1890 is very difficult to find through online gun auctions, and I highly suspect the same is true through magazine advertisements. These type standard pieces could easily be purchased through magazine advertisements and online auctions for between 2500 to 5000 dollars fifteen to twenty years ago, dependent upon whether they were case colored or blued. Now it's hard to find them, unless they appear at big well known auction houses where costs are often out of sight...and auction fees, plus transfer fees and state taxes make participation a tough pill to swallow for me.

    I agree with your thoughts James, however I see the higher end collectible Firearm prices holding but not really increasing and possibly decreasing as I see the market shrinking considerably. What 22-40 year old "collector" cares about a mint condition Colt Woodsman, a High Standard HD Military, or an 1890 Winchester? God forbid a mint 20 gauge skeet model 21 or an 1860 Henry Rifle! And/Or just about any other higher dollar collectible piece of firearm history......
    We have a very large contingent of life long gun fans right here on GunBroker that have no use for "Safe Queens". So where does that leave the "newer" gun fans?
    I attend a lot of gun shows, and at nearly 60 years old I'm one of the youngest in the building looking at older guns!



    Right on, Ed!
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  • mogley98
    Thisquote:Originally posted by jimdeere
    Not dead, but the beginning of the decline. Like classic cars, collectible firearms market is a slowly shrinking demographic, I believe.
    The collector who has the desire and the means is getting older.
    By the way, it?s good to hear from you, cowdoc.
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  • mnrivrat48
    I see many of the collectable markets sliding downward. One can always talk about the high end stuff and there will most always be those that can afford the best.
    What I see is a decline in interest by the next generation, and by what used to be the middle class that have been sliding into higher living costs without their wages keeping up. Those that used to purchased the lower to middle grade collectables in all fields are now using the money to pay higher rents, higher grocery bills, larger medical expenses, and so on.


    I just sold 10 regular non collectable guns on GB and they didn't do well. The sales were soft and short of what they should have brought , not devastating, but not good either. If you want to sell your hunting guns for example, don't expect them to bring what they did just a few years ago. My Opinion.
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  • Grasshopper
    quote:Originally posted by mnrivrat48
    I see many of the collectable markets sliding downward. One can always talk about the high end stuff and there will most always be those that can afford the best.
    What I see is a decline in interest by the next generation, and by what used to be the middle class that have been sliding into higher living costs without their wages keeping up. Those that used to purchased the lower to middle grade collectables in all fields are now using the money to pay higher rents, higher grocery bills, larger medical expenses, and so on.


    I just sold 10 regular non collectable guns on GB and they didn't do well. The sales were soft and short of what they should have brought , not devastating, but not good either. If you want to sell your hunting guns for example, don't expect them to bring what they did just a few years ago. My Opinion.


    IMO you are right, dead on/
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  • gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by Grasshopper
    quote:Originally posted by mnrivrat48
    I see many of the collectable markets sliding downward. One can always talk about the high end stuff and there will most always be those that can afford the best.
    What I see is a decline in interest by the next generation, and by what used to be the middle class that have been sliding into higher living costs without their wages keeping up. Those that used to purchased the lower to middle grade collectables in all fields are now using the money to pay higher rents, higher grocery bills, larger medical expenses, and so on.


    I just sold 10 regular non collectable guns on GB and they didn't do well. The sales were soft and short of what they should have brought , not devastating, but not good either. If you want to sell your hunting guns for example, don't expect them to bring what they did just a few years ago. My Opinion.


    IMO you are right, dead on/


    Agreed.
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  • toad67
    Agree, the market is definitively changing. IMO, it seems that, as others have mentioned, the buyers for what most of us consider collectibles goes to the older buyers with some disposable income. I'm 52, and grew up when pre 64 model 70's were the cats ass, model 52's were the 22 to have, along with a model 94 30-30, as well as a nice colt 1911 and a few, or more S&W wheel guns. Then there were the sharps, Winchester model 21's and all of the other cool/neat stuff to have because "Dad" had one. Now days it seems that black plastic and matte finish seem to rule the world. To me there is nothing better than holding an old blued wood stocked gun, and admiring the fit and finish that went into making it. I really hope that there are people that are into the collectible stuff that we're talking about, but I really think that the market is definitively dwindling.
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  • toad67
    Then I came across this:

    https://forums.GunBroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=716377
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  • cowdoc
    i did do a pretty narrow search on GB didnt find many and all had zero bids but like i said it was a quick narrow search
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  • texaswildman
    Good to see you around Cowdoc....
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  • cowdoc
    thanks its been awhile i guess good to some familiar names here still
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  • mrmike08075
    Bump - btt

    Mike
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  • Donovan Kirkpatrick
    I believe that some area are extremely soft. Fine doubles as an example, Parker reproductions are much less expensive than they were 4 yrs ago. I sold a couple of nice NIB SxSs for much less than I paid. In surfing items I might wish to dispose of, I find they are bringing less than I think they should. Yet people are asking what I consider ridiculous prices for Colt Pythons and Lugers. Maybe the pendulum will swing back but probably not in the years I have remaining.
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  • truthful
    The wave is definitely passing just as it already has for collector cars. For the most part, collectors are interested in things traceable back to their youth. A lot of us grew up in the era of western movies and TV programs, and there were still some old codgers to be found who had real life stories of the old days. Now we are no longer young and are watching for the grim reaper around the corner instead of reliving the days of our youth. I often wonder what the youths of today will find as collectable in their later years: An early iPhone NIB? A car you actually had to drive yourself? Anything marked "Made in USA"?
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