[Guest]

The recent post about the two pre-war 357 magnums for sale at auction got me thinking about current S&W prices and our economy. One of the guns went slightly higher than I thought it would while the other didn’t even sell.

I’m wondering what will happen to vintage Smith & Wesson gun prices (or any vintage guns) as our economy continues to go down.

I would think that as the economy continues to get worse the collector guns would begin flooding the market. I think that people will be holding on to their “using” guns but nice condition collector pieces that are hardly (if ever) used will probably be sold off when people need to make the utility payment or buy groceries.

I am wondering what this will do to prices. I would think that at least for more common guns like the M&P – Model 10 it would tend to drive down prices and create a “buyers market”, so many guns, so few buyers. As for more rare and desirable guns like pre-war 357 magnums or Triplelocks I see them holding their own and maybe even continue to escalate in price, especially the more pristine, high end collectors pieces.

As for me, I am not planning to buy much this year. I do have a very few “Grail” guns that I would be willing to buy if they ever come up for sale but for the most part I will be spending my extra cash on ammo this year, not guns. Even if I do see some bargains, unless its something I was already looking for, I probably won’t be buying.

Other opinions?

 

[kritter]

Re: Will our economy influence vintage Smith & Wesson prices?

I think it will, with the current unemployment rates (14.7 here , just saw it on the news) things that have been laying around are being hauled out and sold off ( after all it's just grandpa's old revolver thats been sitting in the sock drawer all these years. do i keep it or do i get to eat this week?)

and yes it's become a buyers market....while true some of the higher end S&W's (triplelocks, heavyduties, pre-anythings ) will probally still hold their value however the more common guns.. are probally going to be sold for what ever they can get for them..

I don't see it happening quite yet..but i do see it happen soon, people are still looking for something for "protection" but given the choice would you get the 400 dollar S&W or the 200 taurus?..

and in the end if it's going to be the choice between the firearm and living indoors.....Well,,, you can probally guess which one's going to have to go.... and since they are going to be considered a "luxury item" they will sell to whoever can afford them.

Myself... as long as i'm working , am trying to keep some spare cash laying around.. because you never know what may pop up..

 

[azmick]

Re: Will our economy influence vintage Smith & Wesson prices?

I have already seen it happening. On another forum {for specialty pistols}, a guy lost his job and was moving some nice stuff at a good price. Unfortunatly, many of the guys are in about the same shape or afraid they will be soon and he ended up dropping his prices. I do agree the high end stuff will continue their climb upward and wonder to myself about the 'grandpa's gun in the sock drawer' thing. But maybe it's just wishful thinking

 

[Len]

Re: Will our economy influence vintage Smith & Wesson prices?

When the market is down a lot of investors will put cash in collectible, guns, cars, gold. Could actually push up prices of quality collectibles.

 

[Sebago Son]

Re: Will our economy influence vintage Smith & Wesson prices?

As long as there's cash around and people are willing to hedge it, truely high end guns will move back and forth between buyers and sellers..... it's when that process stops that things get interesting.

Right now traditional buyers are drying up and the sellers with their goods keep showing up. This has lead to an accumulation on the supply side and reduction of prices on valueable guns.

I've turned down 20 good Smith & Wessons in the past 60 days simply because there are more of them to buy than was reasonable of me to acquire. As it is, I bought half a dozen very nice examples in fine condition at well under market. Had I have been willing to take a larger, longer risk, I could have made even better deals, but who now what another 60 days will bring.

Afterall, you make your money on the buy.

Drew

 

[DHENRY]

The high-end stuff isn't bought to use...it sleeps through financial turmoil, secure in its safe.
The high-end buyers and sellers aren't worried about making anything payments.
As Drew pointed out, it's a hedge for active buyers.
For the serious collector, this kind of environment doesn't amount to a speed bump in the road of life... fognbov
Don

 

[SaxonPig]

I have been paying pretty close attention to the auction sites and so far I say no as prices for guns and accessories seem to be rising, not slipping. I know folks scared of a new AWB and snapping up ARs and AKs driving up prices on such guns but even classic revolvers are going up recently, not down.

 

[Bob K]

I'm not a collecter, but I think the collecter guns will tend to hold their value. But, the shooter class guns should drop in value, and be more readily available. If you know how to wheel and deal, you can get guns for a reasonable price.....no matter what the economy is doing! I think that Drew might agree with that. :roll:

The fly in the ointment is.........you really have to know your stuff! If you know more than the seller.....you can really make out. Our friend, Giz has extolled on this very subject. He has made some fine buys, from a gunshop employee who thinks that he knows it all. (Don't count on this happening to me or you!!! :roll Bob

 

[DHENRY]

Folks,
I'll pass along a tidbit that really helped me when I had my motorcycle business (years ago):
A motivated seller is essential for a good deal.
Period.

Don

 

[fugotti]

Good guns don't go down in value and never have. The shooters even gain some value not like the NIB stuff but they do. Guns get slow in selling but the price does not go down. Guns are the best place to have your money, bar none.

 

[Bob K]

Boy......was I ever wr....wr....wr..wrong! My local guy has kept his prices on the high side....as usual. Still.......the guns disappear from the showcase. He deals in new guns, and nice used guns. No junk or obvious shooters.

I even dropped by AAA Guns in W. Springfield. The shooter guns (like a M-64 4") were priced in the high $400 range. There was only a bunch of boxes of .22 LR, a few .38 RN, and some .45 RN. Both the guns, and the ammo are drying up. I wonder if this is due to everybody stocking up on ammo, or just a general slow down, on the mfg. side. People may be selling their guns for lower $$$$.......but the dealers are marking them higher! Seems that lots of people are still buying. Bob

 

[DHENRY]

Bob,
In times of 'financial uncertainty', hard assets (like guns) increase in value.
The shortages are mostly on the supply-side these days.
Production is going practically round-the-clock, and ammo is being snapped up as fast as it hits the shelves.
Guns?
There are people buying guns who don't know a muzzle from a butt.
I see 'em at our range, and many of them will do more harm to themselves than any supposed intruder they might face.
It's nuts, but so is the electorate that put Oboomoo and Piglosi in power.
:x
Don

 

[Guest]

I keep a excel spreadsheet on my list of firearms, and about once a year update the current values. Some of the guns have been on the list for 30 years, and some just a few months. Overall, the total list has gone up 79.5%. They weren't meant to be investments, and I shoot most of them. I look it it as added value to a hobby that I enjoy.

 

[Smithfan]

No question, in tough financial times, hard assets increase in value. That includes firearms, but also higher-quality philatelic material, coins, artwork, etc.

I don't see prices in California, where I live, dropping anytime soon, or ever. Ours is a peculiar case because of Califunny's loony gun laws.

Bill

 

[ElToro]

the upside to a gunin hand is that in extreme times it can be used to protect yourself or provide a meal. try sniping a bird or rabit with your Picasso hangingon the wall.

i have seen a lot of neat stuff come on the market, even here in PRK recently ( one recent score was a clean pre 27 3.5 incher for $599). i still think the economy will get worse and more stuff will come on the market. as guys get more desperate, the prices get better.