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Opinions on Ruger 200th year models

Hotshot

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I'm arguing with my friend who owns the local gun store. His opinion is that 200TH year doesn't add much or maybe no value to a Ruger. I don't agree. Seems like that should make the gun unusual enough to warrant some value.
I recently took in trade a mini-14 unfired 200TH year. I told him I'm thinking $200 premium for rare condition of a 47 year old weapon and $200 for the 200TH year. I sold some Ruger #1's last year and the 200TH year brought better price.
What say you?
 
Just like dealing with the tax people or a car salesman....even if it adds value they aren't going to tell you if your trying to sell it to them.... I bet he doesn't put it on the shelf with that price if you sell it to him... I bet he marks it up and adds the 200 year thing on the price tag....
 
Some added value for a collector, zero for a shooter. i see some of the older Marlins and Winchester commemoratives that are beat hunting rifles, and always get the same story. They weren't worth any more than a standard rifle and it was in way better condition when i got it than anything else I could find.
 
Like any "presentation" or commemorative issue, it depends on the buyer. Far too many people buy such items as investments only to later find that few buyers are interested in a "premium" price. Personally, I buy to shoot, not collect. Besides...nothing special about a whole year's worth of Ruger production of all firearm versions labeled as 200th year.
 
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Completely agree with the gun store owner. There is minimal value there. The only thing special about an unfired mini-14 is you don't know how bad it shoots, yet. Maybe that's the best selling point.

I love rugers. My favorite gun is a ruger, but you can't make a wife out of a hoe.
 
I'm arguing with my friend who owns the local gun store. His opinion is that 200TH year doesn't add much or maybe no value to a Ruger. I don't agree. Seems like that should make the gun unusual enough to warrant some value.
I recently took in trade a mini-14 unfired 200TH year. I told him I'm thinking $200 premium for rare condition of a 47 year old weapon and $200 for the 200TH year. I sold some Ruger #1's last year and the 200TH year brought better price.
What say you?
Minimum addition except if New in Box....and I mean still wrapped in Rugers brown oiled paper, they were sold as "collectors items" and so that is all they are.
 
I dont think a ruger nothin will bring a premium. You can go to the store and still buy it so its gotta be cheaper than a new one, and ive never met a ruger collector that behaves like a colt collector for example
 
I guess I was a little too optimistic about this rifle. Being almost 50 years old in this condition must be worth a little. I got a whole bag of extra magazines with it. Maybe I can sell a few to help reduce the investment. Then I'll just shoot it until I get $200 worth of fun out of it.
 
There was a place called Cherries back in the day. Know a guy who bought several "collector" Winchester lever commemorative for an investment to find out later they were a bust.
This^^^.
I had an uncle who swore he was going to be able to retire in style due to his life-long Winchester lever-action 'commemorative' collection. He had it all; rifles, carbines, emblems, ammo boxes, hats, knives, posters, calendars and belt buckles. All unused and most still in original packaging. When he died unexpectedly, he left a detailed list of what he bought, his cost and his estimate of the value of each item. Working with an honest gun-broker, the actual income from this collecting, when adjusted for inflation over the years, was just over 70% of the original purchase prices. NO ONE REALLY WANTED THEM! We had contacted several other brokers who weren't interested in even trying to sell them. Their response was that it wasn't worth their time for them to sit in storage just waiting for that special buyer. Buyers wanted 'using' rifles, not simply wall-hangers. Very few really wanted all that 'bling' and engraving or other embellishments on a weapon to take to the range or field and certainly weren't interested in paying extra for it.
 
The stainless folder 14's are very desirable due to the A team connection along with the transferable AC556 being at the top of the list. Any other mini... not so much.
 
His opinion is that 200TH year doesn't add much or maybe no value to a Ruger.

IMO, if about the only difference is a small stylish stamp indicating it's been that long since the company's inception, it's a fairly immaterial change, let alone any improvement. Hence, no real value difference. Perhaps to a commemorative hound, but not to anyone else I suspect.

Now, IF such a gun has some actual feature differences, and/or substantive improvements (ie, S&W "Performance Shop" massaging), then it'd be a difference in value.

Of course, as always, like beauty "value" is in the eye of the beholder.
 
Take a common vase today, burry it in the sand for a thousand years and then its priceless. Who knows what the future will bring value wise. Problem is living long enough to profit by any collector interest.
 
I have a SS Blackhawk 357 and so does my son that is stamped 200yr I think it add a bit. But I think the pre-warning guns definitely have more value. As far as Rugers go
 

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