which handguns today are going to be collectible "tomorrow"?

[Jayne]

The Gen1 glock thread got me thinking... in the 80s no one knew that a gen 1 glock would some day be worth big money. At the time, it was just another gun and used as such.

What random utility grade guns are we buying today that in 2058 are going to be sought after as collectable? (and that @knifeman32 's descendants will know the value of every box and manual... )

That first p365 with the faulty firing pin? Some gucci gen3 glock knock-off? Hipoint C9? (only with the hipsters)

 

[Catfish]

I nominate the Remington R51. Short production run, unique action, some history, and collectors won’t care if it works or not.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

What random utility grade guns are we buying today that in 2058 are going to be sought after as collectable?

I can guarantee it will be the guns I sold and not the ones I kept 🙁

 

[fieldgrade]

Hudson H9

 

[BrettB]

Take yourself back to the 80s , the Fudds of the day absolutely hated the Glock design for a very long time.
Pick items that work great that people hate such as - Springfield XDs , S&W Revolvers with Lock , …

 

[Jeppo]

AR pistols.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

This is actually an interesting question.

I think one of the reasons the Glock Gen 1 is so popular among collectors is that it was the first striker gun widely available in the states (I know, VP70, but it was mostly overseas). It represents a 'new' technology at the time, at least to the U.S. market.
Other guns in the collectible world are due to short production and limited numbers.
Still others are collectible because they predate some ban or another, i.e. machine guns.

So, in order to become collectible, imo, it would have to meet one or more of these criteria.
The R51 and H9 are good contenders as well as what @Me. said if a big ban comes to pass.

 

[NCFubar]

I still think it’s a Supply vs Demand thing so the number made is the key thing. So I would say ones like the very limited Laugo Arms Alien, FK BRNO or such are definitely on that track. Then the very limited production … not “limited edition” though … runs like CZ’s Czechmate Parrot or HK Mark 23. After that I’m not sure that there will be many that hit true “collector” level after the hype wears off kinda like the late 80’s early 90’s baseball card resurgence or beanie baby thing did … everyone thinks they’ll be collectible but when they make boat loads of them and the hype wears off they are just things agains. Fads don’t make collectibles rarity does.

It has been said … collect what you like because chances are you’ll be cleaning and dusting them in the future.

 

[Jeppo]

Any in 30 Super Carry. 🤪

 

[MacEntyre]

Ruger Marlins... garranteed!

 

[dannyj1992]

I’m calling it now, my Rohm rg23 will be worth millions!

 

[Jayne]

AR pistols.

bans and such make things artificially collectible, I'm more thinking along the lines of 'no one saw it being so valuable in the future'.

 

[Sleazy P. Martini]

Maxim9 is unique, though has NFA obstacles.

The FK handguns may become collectible if the company fizzles.

 

[Thomas@HurdleMills]

All your smith & wesson Revolvers 80s & 90s I think.

 

[teamglock2002]

I can guarantee it will be the guns I sold and not the ones I kept 🙁

Me Too Brother, or all the ones I decided I didn't need to buy.

 

[Chuckman]

If you can figure it out, please PM me the secret. I used to try to predict it and have been wrong on just about every gun.

 

[Jayne]

Bans make things NON-artificially collectible. Regulation (government or industry) can play a BIG part in creating the dividing line between what collectors consider "the good stuff".

there is no ban on the gen 1 glocks, they didn't round them up and destroy them, and they didn't stop making glocks in general, yet they're still desirable. when the .gov says you can't have it anymore it may make it valuable because you can't have it any more or you've lost some functionality that can not be replaced with a substitute product. instant value.

 

[mikehrl]

Quality subcompacts in 9,40 and 45. Especially those with high capacity mags.

 

[haroldg48]

All your smith & wesson Revolvers 80s & 90s I think.

...because I sold them

 

[contender]

Trying to predict this is like trying to understand women. Can't be done.

 

[Ferrisfan]

Here is the "secret" right out in the open.

Prey on "nostalgia for a time that never existed". If you do this, you can figure out collectible markets.


The recipe:

- Mass produced items of a type that were desirable in their time
- Market: People older than 50 with money lying around due to comfort and grown children
- Target market "collectors" wish they could have had "that thing" when they were younger (or had a lesser version of that thing)(or "had that and should have never sold it").


Let's play this out. The '57 Chevy Bel Air. Was it the best car of it's day? No. Was it the best 1957 car? No. But it hit all the elements because the oldsters remembered a day when they had one or a buddy hot-rodded one. Back in 1965, no one cared about some old fifties Chevy except the teenager who could only afford that junker. Later..... highly sought collectible.

Follow same pattern for 60s muscle cars (which are dogs compared to modern vehicles).


Follow same patter for Star Wars toys.

Follow same pattern for 1959 Gibson Les Pauls (now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars yet you can buy a nearly identical brand new one for a few thou).

Follow same pattern for pristine comics/sports cards.



Any time you can get someone in their 50s-60s (with loads of spare cash) to pine for something they desired (or saw as valuable) "back in the day" you have the makings of a collectible market.

Fine china and silver tea service? Was only for the rich, then people got old and they too could afford it.... those folks die off, the stuff is down at Goodwill for $5. But for a while, it was desirable.




Just pick out what folks love, point at the "deciding moment" in the wave, and get one of those before people notice the value, or notice the wave is passing.

I first-gen iPhone fits the bill. No one actually had one (statistically), but it will be a big deal.





With all this info..... what handgun will be collectible? John Wick guns. Kids loved the movies, wished they could be that cool, loved the guns in the movies (and their video games). When they hit 60 and are bored with life but want something they thought was awesome, it will be John Wick guns.


But not just "any" John Wick guns. It will either be:
- The based gun in unmolested configuration (with the box of course)
- A good example that is exactly like the gun in the movie.




If you want to up your game and collect cars.... the cars from Fast & Furious 1 will do the job. Just as I'm being sent off to the home, I am absolutely certain that good-condition mid 90's "ricers" that were never owned by a teenager will be selling at Barret Jackson for a quarter million dollars. So certain that I would put them in my 401K if I were younger.

I will add that whatever their favorite gun in Call of Duty (or equivalent game) was, or the gun that lead to their most "epic" kill. Good luck guessing what that is.

I like the call about the Hudson H9. Because I own a R51, they will never be desirable.

 

[Alabamacoastie]

I asked this exact same question, over a year ago, on Reddit in one of the gun subreddits...

Every response was some version of, "Only a fool would collect firearms as an investment. They will all depreciate in value."

I pointed out Colt snake guns as an example, and I was down voted into oblivion...

 

[Alabamacoastie]

I will add that whatever their favorite gun in Call of Duty (or equivalent game) was, or the gun that lead to their most "epic" kill. Good luck guessing what that is.

I like the call about the Hudson H9. Because I own a R51, they will never be desirable.

You can take Hudson H9 off the list... I bought one on clearance for like $500. It is new, unfired, in the original box with all paperwork. The fact that I bought one specifically as an investment will make it worthless...

 

[GeorgeBush]

All those little short-run Rugers thru TALO or Davidson's or whatever.

 

[ProfMagoo(ret)]

It may be that, in future, any/all firearms will be contraband rather than collectable.

Sorry, maybe a bit negative here on a Friday morning.

 

[Charlie]

Custom builders have only a limited number of years to work their magic in their prime. A well known builder can produce handguns that will be desired by people in the future who appreciate the quality and who are willing to pay big bucks for the quality the name carries with it.

 

[Sleazy P. Martini]

If you want to up your game and collect cars.... the cars from Fast & Furious 1 will do the job. Just as I'm being sent off to the home, I am absolutely certain that good-condition mid 90's "ricers" that were never owned by a teenager will be selling at Barret Jackson for a quarter million dollars.

This is already happening: https://hypebeast.com/2021/7/1995-m...l-one-owner-rare-bring-a-trailer-for-sale-jdm

 

[wvsig]

Any Colt 1911 made prior to CZ owing them. The 70 series stock Govt Model with real rollmarks prior to the Colt Classic are already up to $1500+ Ones with the polished flat and the custom shop box are $1800+

 

[wvsig]

Custom builders have only a limited number of years to work their magic in their prime. A well known builder can produce handguns that will be desired by people in the future who appreciate the quality and who are willing to pay big bucks for the quality the name carries with it.

Excellent point.

These are already up from what I paid for them. @TedYost When he retires they will triple. IMHO

 

[Mr. Bggs]

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

The way some politicians would have it, ALL of them would be collectable "tomorrow".

 

[ulflyer]

I had an R51 and it could be "notional" if not feed the right ammo. Sold it last year.

 

[Mr. Bggs]

 

[Jayne]

View attachment 454679

Good thing I bought one already.

 

[Jayne]

If you want to up your game and collect cars.... the cars from Fast & Furious 1 will do the job. Just as I'm being sent off to the home, I am absolutely certain that good-condition mid 90's "ricers" that were never owned by a teenager will be selling at Barret Jackson for a quarter million dollars. So certain that I would put them in my 401K if I were younger.

While back at a car show with my dad and he was going on about all the cool cars from his childhood represented and why he wanted them now. I couldn't figure out how that would translate, was I going to be walking around a car show in 2053 going "look, a classic 1994 Taurus! my dad had the same car when I was a kid!" ?

 

[Mr. Bggs]

It seems to me most things that end up being collectible are cheaper things that most people don't bother to keep or take care of.
Reminds me of the mario game that sold for 2 million at auction

Unopened copy of Super Mario Bros. sells for a record $2 million

It’s the latest vintage game to sell for big bucks

www.theverge.com

 

[Pogue]

Revolvers and bolt actions. That’s all their gonna let us keep before long.

 

[Frack N Cylons]

I feel like Sig is going to stop producing the aluminum frame P series guns at some point and they'll become very collectible.

 

[cold1]

Looking through old home gunsmithing books and that most of these books would show how to take a cheap military surplus rifle and customize it. Make your own trigger guards, cut and weld the bolt handles, different sights.and stocks. Cutting the barrels to length, etc....

These surplus rifles could be had for less than $20 to your door.

If The writers of these books would see surplus market today and the demand for unadulterated surplus rifles, they would never believe it.

So who knows what will be collectable in 30 years.

 

[wvsig]

I feel like Sig is going to stop producing the aluminum frame P series guns at some point and they'll become very collectible.

They pretty much have. No P228, P225, P245 or P239. They still make the P220, P226 and P229 but they are not the same.

Sig P220 now

W German