Guns as a financial investment.

[whip]

All of us have bought guns that have appreciated in value over time. I have always told my kids that if they buy quality firearms and take care of them they will appreciate in value. Now with crazy volatility of the stock market I was wondering what firearms you feel are a good investment. I have personally found Colt handguns to be good investments ex Colt Anaconda 4inch, good double shotguns ex LC Smith 20, some Smith and Wesson handguns ex 17-4 revolver, pre 64 Model 70 270 ex. So if you had say 3000 dollars to invest in guns which ones would you buy?

Also how much do you hurt the value if you use them but take care of the firearm?

What new guns today do you think will increase in value over the next 10 years?

[CampingJosh]

Guns can be a sort of investment known as collectibles. That is, certain ones will appreciate in value. The difficulty is determining which ones will appreciate in value and which will be labeled as junk forever. Which will be a Bren 10 and which will be a Grendel?

Generally speaking, firearms will work the same as most durable goods. You might as well collect wrenches and screwdrivers as an investment. So long as the item is still fully functional and in good condition, the value will (on average) keep up with inflation, keeping the item value somewhere between 70% and 90% of retail pricing.

I expect my investments to do better than that. Your goals, risk tolerance, and personal situation will determine what's best for you, and that's something you have to decide for yourself. For my situation, collectibles and precious metals are not good long-term investments.

[HunterAlpha1]

i would personally invest in ammo. in a WRoL situation ammo will be literally worth it's weight in gold and then some. guns will be plentiful, but without ammo they become unwieldy clubs, or, at best, short spears(if fitted with a bayonet)

[geds]

I switched my investment strategy to buying preferred stocks that pay a guaranteed dividend or mutual funds that pay a dividend. We've shopped and made sure that they pay at least 6.5% - some as high as 12%. As long as I don't have to sell the investment, I don't care what the market does as the dividends are based on number of shares and I live and grow from the dividends.

These are more conservative investments and share prices don't fluctuate as much either.

I decided that had I used this strategy when younger and just took my 8%/year growth rate, I would be better off today than trying to play the market games - even with a balanced stock and mutual fund portfolio. I've had too many big gains wiped out by bankrupting companies and crashing markets!

[lonewolf204]

Like it was said earlier ammo is the best investment! 223, 308, and 45s!

[JLA]

I agree and take it a step further. If ammo will be worth its weight in gold, someone with the means to reload fired casing could potentially be the highest paid individual in his parts. So I stock up on both ammo and reloading components.

[Bobitis]

Originally Posted by lonewolf204

Like it was said earlier ammo is the best investment! 223, 308, and 45s!

Don't leave out the lowley .22. It may not be reloadable, but there're more .22s out there than anything else. 20,000 rounds will last a long time, and it's taken more game than any other caliber.

If yer talking strictly self defense, that arguement has also been waged. The Mossad carry .22s for a reason.

[JLA]

I wouldnt hesitate to defend myself with a .22LR

[graehaven]

Originally Posted by JLA

I wouldnt hesitate to defend myself with a .22LR

Best platform to do so? As in handgun, and/or rifle?

[HunterAlpha1]

i would think rifle; more accurate, and with a .22, accuracy matters more than with larger calibers.

[Petergunn]

Originally Posted by JLA

I agree and take it a step further. If ammo will be worth its weight in gold, someone with the means to reload fired casing could potentially be the highest paid individual in his parts. So I stock up on both ammo and reloading components.

Would you go so far as getting the proper license and do commercial production?

All of us have bought guns that have appreciated in value over time. I have always told my kids that if they buy quality firearms and take care of them they will appreciate in value. Now with crazy volatility of the stock market I was wondering what firearms you feel are a good investment. I have personally found Colt handguns to be good investments ex Colt Anaconda 4inch, good double shotguns ex LC Smith 20, some Smith and Wesson handguns ex 17-4 revolver, pre 64 Model 70 270 ex. So if you had say 3000 dollars to invest in guns which ones would you buy?

The only problem with this you’re speculating on the public’s gun tastes and .gov laws but I’m seriously thinking about converting worthless FRN’s to hard assets (guns) and by getting my FFL01.

[CampingJosh]

Originally Posted by Petergunn

Would you go so far as getting the proper license and do commercial production?

If it comes to that, licenses won't matter.

I don't expect it to come to that. I don't think we're headed anywhere near that. But in a total societal breakdown, no one will be checking on licenses.

[Vladimir]

Calling a gun an investment is like calling a car an investment. Sure maybe you bought an old Mustang, never used it and kept it in mint condition- and you came out lucky. But chances are sure as **** you did not!

Invest in land or gold before you invest in guns.

[Petergunn]

Originally Posted by CampingJosh

If it comes to that, licenses won't matter.

I don't expect it to come to that. I don't think we're headed anywhere near that. But in a total societal breakdown, no one will be checking on licenses.

yeah I agree about total breakdown but there could be something less that would see imports banned and domestic supply greatly reduced, with that it would pay to be established now so that would require a license and meeting all laws and regs, for me I'm thinking guns & ammo (buying/selling) but ammo maker would be something I might look in to also.

[carver]

Originally Posted by Petergunn

yeah I agree about total breakdown but there could be something less that would see imports banned and domestic supply greatly reduced, with that it would pay to be established now so that would require a license and meeting all laws and regs, for me I'm thinking guns & ammo (buying/selling) but ammo maker would be something I might look in to also.

I say that if this is what you want to do, go ahead. Remember though that if imports are banned, and domestic supply is greatly reduced, it will be because the laws of our Country have changed, and changed drastically! Under such laws only a few dealers will survive, if any. There is one thing that is a good investment, and that's land, they ain't gonna make any more of this! I am investing in guns, and ammo myself, but not for re-sale. Mine are for survival, and possibaly trade, if it comes to that. Out here in the boondocks where I live, gold, and silver won't get you anything! The only use me, or my neighbors will have for these metals will be to melt them down, and cast them into bullets! 50 rds of .22LR for a chicken, and a box of 500 for a pig!

[Bobitis]

Actually, the government owns the land. That's why we have parks, Natl forests, etc. They only let us lease it so we can pay taxes on it.

Eminent domain allows the government to take our property if they so choose.

I agree Carver, if we ever reach the Mad Max scenario, gold and silver won't be worth spit. It may be of value to those behind closed doors, but the people trying to beat them down couldn't care less.

[Petergunn]

There is one thing that is a good investment, and that's land, they ain't gonna make any more of this! I am investing in guns, and ammo myself, but not for re-sale. Mine are for survival, and possibaly trade, if it comes to that.

I've got the land and thanks to Utica shale I'll get a chance to buy guns, with an FFL I should get the most for my $$$

[Blackshirts]

Originally Posted by carver

Remember though that if imports are banned, and domestic supply is greatly reduced, it will be because the laws of our Country have changed, and changed drastically! Under such laws only a few dealers will survive, if any.

If it were a federal law banning imports I would put my money on the "if any" as far as they go. Based on the current Firearms Freedom Acts some states (18 I think) have for the imports to survive they would have to establish manufacturing plants in each state. That would mean 18 factories, 18 sets of all the machining they would need. Those sold then cannot leave the state. That is of course if the states do not change their laws as well. I agree, though, if they are banning it won't stop at imports which would mean the domestic manufacturers would be in the same 18 factories, 18 sets of machining boat and will have a tough time surviving.

[300 H&H]

Guns as investments....

Only if they are a small part of your holdings. Buy what you really like to own, as you may end up with it in the end, selling for the same or less value. One never knows for sure. My "play" in this is Winchester M70' 52's, and M12 shot guns. So far they have done well.

Regards, Kirk

[Oldeyes]

I totally agree with Kirk's approach to the issue. Early on I bought a few guns as investments that I was really not totally into. I bought them solely with appreciation in mind. I also bought other good quality guns that I really liked and that I used. To a one the ones that I bought as investments pretty much tanked or stayed constant in value over the years and the ones that I really liked and bought to use did a pretty good job of appreciating some. So, my best advice to you would be to buy quality firearms that you like, take care of them, use them and enjoy them and you won't lose too much money in the long run.

[HunterAlpha1]

remember, the best return from investing in firearms is your freedom. so buy, buy, buy

[JLA]

Originally Posted by graehaven

Best platform to do so? As in handgun, and/or rifle?

Rifle 1st choice because the ammo is more efficient and more powerful out of it, but pistol isnt out of the question. Im proficient with either one.

Rifle of choice, a marlin 60 or a ruger 10/22 and handgun of choice, bersa thunder 22 or walther P22

[JLA]

Originally Posted by Petergunn

Would you go so far as getting the proper license and do commercial production?


The only problem with this you’re speculating on the public’s gun tastes and .gov laws but I’m seriously thinking about converting worthless FRN’s to hard assets (guns) and by getting my FFL01.

No, because in a SHTF situation, it aint gona matter. Im gonna make ammo to keep my family fed in this case and shoot anyone that says otherwise in the face..

[permafrost]

Originally Posted by carver

I say that if this is what you want to do, go ahead. Remember though that if imports are banned, and domestic supply is greatly reduced, it will be because the laws of our Country have changed, and changed drastically! Under such laws only a few dealers will survive, if any. There is one thing that is a good investment, and that's land, they ain't gonna make any more of this! I am investing in guns, and ammo myself, but not for re-sale. Mine are for survival, and possibaly trade, if it comes to that. Out here in the boondocks where I live, gold, and silver won't get you anything! The only use me, or my neighbors will have for these metals will be to melt them down, and cast them into bullets! 50 rds of .22LR for a chicken, and a box of 500 for a pig!

That's the way I see it. What are you going to do with the gold? Walk up to some one with a chicken and ask them how much you should shave off your little bar? Barter and exchange are a more likely scenario,to my way of thinking,in a total collapse situation. That will change eventually to a gold standard again. 'Course it may never go down that far, but who wants to chance it? I never thought I would see the headlines I read everyday, either.
MORE AMMO!