Do you think that modern ML firearms have any investment value?

the hawken shop
shop deals on amazon
L & R
Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Old-Duckman

Old-Duckman

45 Cal.
MLF Supporter
Joined
Aug 26, 2022
Messages
826
Reaction score
2,024
Location
PA
IMO investing in any type of firearm is a bit of a crap shoot. Of course classic and unobtainium "traditional" (and original BP) firearms are worth many times more than what they originally sold for and even more than what they sold for only several years ago. That goes without saying, that is if you follow such things.

That said, do you think that modern replica BP firearms are worth owning for a future return on your investment.

I'll keep my opinion to myself for the moment, I want to hear what you all think.
 
They may be worth more in the future but that is only because the dollar is worth less. If you use the inflation calculator on modern prices, you will see this.

in 1975 I could buy a new TC Renegade on sale at Ron Shirks Shooter Supply for $90, I ran this price through the inflation calculator and came up with a today's price of $527 or about what a new in the box one would cost today, the inflation rate between 1975 and today is $486%.

https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
 
Any well made quality firearm will, in most cases, keep up with inflation with some appreciating in value a little more, but "investing" in a firearm is a Fool's Errand, IMHO. What ones will be the "hot" item or considered "rare" in the future is uncertain & subject to the whims of unknowledgeable people. Making money off of firearms is best done by "speculating" in the short term & avoiding any emotional attachments. High returns on collectable firearms generally occur over several generations & are hardly ever realized by the original buyer. Just my two cents!
 
Old-Duckman said:
IMO investing in any type of firearm is a bit of a manure shoot. Of course classic and unobtainium "traditional" (and original BP) firearms are worth many times more than what they originally sold for and even more than what they sold for only several years ago. That goes without saying, that is if you follow such things.

That said, do you think that modern replica BP firearms are worth owning for a future return on your investment.

I'll keep my opinion to myself for the moment, I want to hear what you all think.
Click to expand...
Depends. Time always tells. Example; the Roger & Spencers, no longer made I don't think (?), are highly desirable. Look what happened with the Ruger Old Army's! But often decades will be needed to realize a "gain". I still wish I had gone after a minty repro Spencer .56-50 full length rifle at auction about 10 years ago; to buy one new now would cost thousands, well, over two grand anyway. The limited edition Uberti pistol sets, Geo. Washington, Hamilton-Burr duel, really have held up.
 
Last edited:
Junk today is junk tomorrow. "Projects" - missing parts, things messed up by Bubba, and low quality anything are not generally good ...unless you're going to sell for parts. In that case, once an item is out of production, there is money to be made if you are willing to invest the time and aggravation to market individual items.

Mint, unfired, quality repo's have always been in demand. Non-authentic "sorta like" stuff unless it has a following, can sometimes be sold to a few who just want to fool with muzzleloaders (brass frame revolvers that were never made as originals, oddball creations using modern non-authentic parts, etc.) in my decades of such things aren't going to make money for me. Nor are they to my friends.

When a bargain shows up, I'll buy. No more junk for this old guy.
 
Like others have said. But anything is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. I have some older unfired unmentionables that by someone else's standards are worth quite a bit. But they are family guns, to be passed down the line. But for a portfolio, I'd say no.
 
There is a great example of this in the classifieds right now. An unfired Lyman Deerstalker with the 57MLS peep sights and original box.

It’s a great, desirable deer gun that was discontinued, and the factory peep sights on it are also discontinued and in high demand.

To me this is close to the best case scenario for a modern, mass produced ML. At $625 shipped, the seller will pocket around $575. Depending on how long ago he purchased the gun, he is is probably selling it for $100 to $200 more than he paid for it.

Not a money loser, but also not close to investment return territory.

Modern guns from certain custom shops may be a different story, but your going to pay top dollar right now to even get in to that market.
 
Last edited:
The political climate plays a part. Interest in muzzleloading climbed as modern unmentionable reloading supplies got scarce. I think some want a primitive firearm to fall back on if the worst happens.
 
It probably matters if we're talking mass production guns (TC, CVA, traditions, etc) semi-custom kits (like Kibler, pecatonica, rifle shoppe) or scratch-build custom guns, and custom guns that are bench copies of originals. The further up that ladder, the more likely the gun will retain value, of course depending on care and condition. And some contemporary custom builders are more regarded than others, same as some original makers (a Schroyer is likely more valuable than his apprentice Fry -condition of gun and all else equal).

The only guns that have seen exceptional growth in value are the class III stuff that could be bought relatively low 60 years ago and now...just crazy what they sell for.

I personally expect most guns to stay even with inflation. If cared for, none should lose value but neither do I consider them an investment.
 
I have collecting in my genes I spent time as a third generation auctioneer (until the gov't restricted me out of business) my father was a Winchester lever gun fanatic when he passed we liquidated his collection after giving each of his hunting group the rifle that he had bequeathed to them. I was instructed to give each of his natural grandchildren 3 guns, a 22, a deer rifle, and a shotgun. then I liquidated the remainder of 300 model 94's most of these were working guns less the 10 were the commemoratives. TOTW offered at that time approx .10 on the dollar so I started selling them 10-20 at a time at gun shows locally. bottom line mom built the house I currently live in so as I always tell people " I live in the house that Winchester built!"
 
I think that antique guns of quality will be worth well more in the future than any factory replica gun built during recent times. Just my opinion....It's the future we're talking about, who's to say?...

They are not unobtainium, I find them all the time. Sometimes at bargain prices. Once you learn what to look for and what to stay away from, dealing in antiques can be fun and an investment at the same time.
 

Similar threads

Second-rate Marksman
Do You Actually Use Your Expensive Custom Guns or Keep Them as Safe Queens?
4 5 6
Replies
118
Views
6K
nhmoose
nhmoose
T
For those other Europeans - and anybody else -firearms licensing in UK - LONG READ
Replies
3
Views
2K
Felonious
F
S
"Arizona"; Movie With Authentic Firearms!
Replies
0
Views
449
springfield art
S
J
John S. Brooks Muzzleloader information requested- unit cleanout
Replies
13
Views
987
boberator
boberator
B
1864 production Remington 1858 New Army- how to remove nipples?
Replies
12
Views
705
Tenring
Tenring

Latest posts

Back
Top