Will antique guns become less desirable

[TC260]

So if I read this right, that 1863 lever action that was passed down to me should go into the junk pile? I F'ing hope not! You proved my point that the younger generation doesn't give a crap about history. Which is EXACTLY why this country is where it is right now.

Umm no you didn't you didn't read that right and seeing that you resorted to a ridiculous overexageration shows me you're not the person to waste the time engaging in a rational discussion with. Cheers

 

[Rick300]

Didn't mean to offend, just seemed like you were justifying the young'uns "ways". Sorry

 

[SPQR70AD]

I believe the answer will be Yes - less desirable .

I see fewer youth out shooting. I have quit hunting, but still enjoy local shooting competitions. We just are not seeing young ones coming out to shoot. The younger generation are enjoying Electronic Games from the comfort of their homes. Look at Bowling and Golf the parking lots are not nearly as full as they use to be.
Times are a changing.

maybe young guys that want to shoot try to buy ammo but the shelfs are bare for countless years due to the fact that a bunch of old guys stockpile 10K rounds powder bullets primers.

 

[flintcreek6412]

So if I read this right, that 1863 lever action that was passed down to me should go into the junk pile? I F'ing hope not! You proved my point that the younger generation doesn't give a crap about history. Which is EXACTLY why this country is where it is right now.

You don't have to own a piece of history to learn about it and appreciate it. My grandparents owned pieces of history. They promptly were sold off at Sotheby's or donated to museums when the time was right because A)my parents and uncles don't need $$$$$$$$ worth of art in their house B) they didn't care for the style C) other people are getting more enjoyment out of it.

What younger generation are you referring? I see 50-60 year olds that don't even understand the idea of a draft, rationing in WW2, etc. They lose their shit if they lose cell service for 5 minutes. Every single generation is guilty to some point including yours and mine. When that 1863 lever gun was produced some old timer probably said the new generation didn't care about history and the weapons used in the revolution that were long since thrown away.

It's necessary to learn and understand history because it's very important that we don't repeat some it and that we preserve other parts of it. But it's not the things that need to be preserved. It's the positive traits and characteristics. And believe it or not....some of this new generation can't believe I threw away my Atari back in 1986. That is their history that is relevant to them. It's ok to honor the past....but living in the past is a losing proposition.

 

[butchlambert]

I was in my Bud's gunshop Saturday and a guy came in with a prewar mod70. Metalwork looked great, but somebody had installed a aftermarket butt pad. He wanted one of my buddy's Savage bolt rifle(used) and $400 for the prewar. Bud did the trade and it sold for $1150 on Gunbroker that same evening. Some folks still like them.

 

[dolek]

So if I read this right, that 1863 lever action that was passed down to me should go into the junk pile? I F'ing hope not! You proved my point that the younger generation doesn't give a crap about history. Which is EXACTLY why this country is where it is right now.
Copy & paste:

“We're doomed to repeat the past no matter what. That's what it is to be alive. It's pretty dense kids who haven't figured that out by the time they're ten.... Most kids can't afford to go to Harvard and be misinformed.”
― Kurt Vonnegut, Bluebeard

Crazy talk right there Quit blaming everyone else because you are mad at the world. Don't like it,do something about making it better....or move over for the young ones to enjoy there remaining days .

 

[Rick300]

Are the younger ones in Portland enjoying their remaining days?

 

[stork]

maybe young guys that want to shoot try to buy ammo but the shelfs are bare for countless years due to the fact that a bunch of old guys stockpile 10K rounds powder bullets primers.

Do I have a good supply? Yes I do. None were purchased during any shortage! I acquired at times when supply was good, prices were down, and I had a little extra coin in my pocket.

Something my Dad used to say: Noah didn't start building the arc when the rain started.

 

[jackson1]

Antique gun values may take a shot term and periodic correction in price. Would like to think there certain guns, (for example Colt Single action Armies, and pre 64 Winchesters) will over time appreciate. Will they beat the stock market, don't know. I buy guns to shoot not collect. May grandkids are already asking me, which gun will be theirs. Some of my most cherished guns are family heirlooms. Can't handle with out having a flood of good memories. No time like the present to start building your legacy.

 

[snert]

Of course they will become less desirable. Who would like to buy (not for sale) my 1950's "custom" 220 Swift built on an Arisaka action, douglass barrel, home-made walnut stock and trigger made in a garage? All pretty cool circa post ww2. Now an antique and pretty much without value except to eccentric people like me. No kid would lust for a single shot rifle weighing 18 pounds with a 10X scope in a moribund caliber. And that kid could buy a Savage in tupperware that shoots as good. (but not with a lick of class).

My Winchester 42 was worth about 1800 ten years ago. Now...$1200. And my twin Win 88 with less than 100 rounds thru them? Sold the nice one for $850 last year to a collector. I doubt his kids will sell it for that.

 

[snert]

Are the younger ones in Portland enjoying their remaining days?

Idiots can enjoy simple pleasures like arson, graffiti and fireworks tossed at the police. So, ya, I guess they are. Doesn't make them any less an idiot

 

[TC260]

Would like to think there certain guns, (for example Colt Single action Armies, and pre 64 Winchesters) will over time appreciate

I'm not a collector but I really like this site for assessing gun prices over time. https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

What I usually find is that other than spikes in popularity, gun prices more or less follow inflation.

 

[dgeesaman]

I think it’s already happening. Guys in the business tell me guns like the older M70s don’t have near the value now. It could come back. This stuff goes in cycles.

Short term, yes things go in cycles.

Long term, there are often permanent shifts. Stamps, US coins, are far less popular than they were. The younger generations generally don't care at all. I think guns are one of them too - nostalgia comes from reminding a person of their youth - and while it may come into style at some point, the younger generations simply don't have a connection to much of this.

This is good in my mind - the tiny town where I grew up had a famous longrifle gunsmith family. It would be fantastic if one day I could buy one for less than the price of a car.

 

[jds holler]

I hate to think of it, but there will likely be a time when many of our beloved firearms may be banned.

We've all seen the horrendous pictures of the Aussies standing in line waiting to turn in their treasured old rifles and-- whatever, for a pittance.

I doubt that I'm the only one who won't do this in my lifetime. Don't know about the next generation. jd

 

[Mauser06]

I didn't read the entire thread yet....but I've been thinking about the same topic the last couple year.


Even not highly collectable firearms are probably at risk. Like pre-74 Winchester stuff that IMO has probably already started to soften.

I am in the custom flintlock world. I'm not professional. There's builders that can come extremely close to matching known rifles of the 1700s. There's a market for it. But it's a very limited market. Pennsylvania is one of the few (if not the only?) State with a flintlock season. I bet a very very small percentage of us that hunt the flintlock season actually carry a rifle to the woods that is anywhere close to what original flintlock rifles were. Guys don't wanna spend 2-3-4-10,000 to own a custom longrifle that is a good representative of the 1700s. Aside from maybe better locks and barrels. Although there's some wrought iron barrels still being made.


I kinda see the same thing happening in the modern area. Most guys are just happy with a $300 Savage. Why spend $900 for a pre-64 model 70 with high polished bluing and a beautiful walnut stock chambered in some "old round".


I think there'll always be a place for such pieces. But I don't know that they'll always bring a premium.

Also don't know that highly collectable stuff will have the market it does. Hand checkering, inlays, engraving, high grade wood ect.. Just doesn't seem to be desirable like it once was.

Time will tell.

 

[jds holler]

I think that there will always be guys, yes even young ones who will appreciate the unique older stuff. The brilliant simplicity, quality, and fit of many of the old guns are mesmerizing to many of us, and I think that it still will be years from now.

I imagine that prices will fluctuate according to how our economy is doing. jd

 

[butchlambert]

I think that there will always be guys, yes even young ones who will appreciate the unique older stuff. The brilliant simplicity, quality, and fit of many of the old guns are mesmerizing to many of us, and I think that it still will be years from now.

I imagine that prices will fluctuate according to how our economy is doing. jd

John Holliger of White Oak has quite a collection from the 1920s=1960s. John is a young person.

 

[cotntop]

You have the crowd that is late for the party on reloading stuff. Then you have the crowd that is late for the party that is slow to realize that what they have in hand will be short in the near future. I was in the same boat 50yrs ago. A number of people are asking for help from me to get started into reloading. That will be the next pandemic in the shooting sport.