Where did all the Milsurps go ???

[Suther]

No one said 4 years ago is now....you guys are to much literally
I'm just saying they shouldn't be the prices they are for what they are supply and demand or not are you gonna go buy a 1999 civic for 30 grand or are you gonna buy the 2020 for 30 grand. Theres a limit to value one day the sks will be 2500 and ull be telling me it's worth that money no it's not sure you have to pay to play. I bouhhtnmy m1 for 1600 could I sell it for more yah probably would I mean I could but then I'm just adding to the inflation of something that isnt worth that. The problem is people controlling the market not the value in the firearm.

No. Its not like a 99 Civic. The 99 Civic is a used Savage model 10 - perfectly functional, plenty available, worth the same now as they were 10 years ago, and if you want a brand new one you can do that too.

Milsurps are 66 Mustangs and 56 Thunderbirds. Uncommon to rare, not made anymore, high demand, low supply. They look awesome, you love being seen with it, but you're worried about dings and scratches and broken parts can be a big headache.

 

[MattE93]

You did just compare something still in production where a new model is possible to something not in production. No new Mausers, Mosins, or carcano coming out, not in the last 80 years. The way I feel milsurps is this. $800 to me is super reasonable for nice piece of history and for a rifle that is of better quality by miles than anything you can buy for $800 new. My guess is if Mauser were made today they would retail for around $2000 that’s just how good the build quality is so I honestly view milsurps as bargain firearms relative to what they should cost

 

[oops]

Offer large amount of money.........you would be surprised what comes out!

 

[quinnbrian]

Go buy an SKS in the USA...it’s the other way...$500.00 plus for a beater, with good shooter running 600-plus.

 

[JP]

…….

 

[Horilka]

@OP You seem to be somewhere between denial and anger. Closer to denial with your "it's not worth.... that much". Sooner you get to bargaining the more chances you'll have to score something. As alternative you can wait another couple of years and revise your current attitude. But this hobby keeps getting more and more expensive. And microeconomics everyone is referring to still applies - supply is mostly second hand market. They don't make them anymore, and they still got damaged, lost, destroyed, bubbaed. They say you never overpay for milsurplus, worst case you just pay tomorrow's price today.

 

[bush1]

Yah but for 600 plusbid rather invest in a ar for 3 gun. Like I said I'm more looking for beat ones that I can refurb a little instead of buying something and running hundreds of rounds through it and destroying the value

Op, just how are you going to refurb that beater your looking for?
Pretty much anything that’s not made any more will have an increased price if you’re looking for one.

My 53 Pontiac went for $1500 back in the day. I’ll sell it this summer for 6G. Just a fact of life.

If you’re just looking for cheap guns, there’s lots of sporter milsurps around and they shoot just as well as the collectables.

 

[MattE93]

The irony in this thread.... I don’t understand why milsurps are so expensive but I want to take an original one and “restore” it further driving up the price of originals

Even restoring less desirable or beat up guns lessens the value in a trickle down manner. Removing a beat milsurp from the market by restoring lessens the number of lower grade milsurps driving up their price. This in turn drives up the price of higher grade milsurps relative to the lower grade

 

[Horilka]

Doing anything apart of careful bore cleaning and oiling of metal parts to milsurplus is heresy. Too many people "increasing value of investment" by polishing metals parts, re-bluing them, sanding and/or refinishing the stock, removing patinas and installing aftermarket crap...

 

[Suther]

Doing anything apart of careful bore cleaning and oiling of metal parts to milsurplus is heresy. Too many people "increasing value of investment" by polishing metals parts, re-bluing them, sanding and/or refinishing the stock, removing patinas and installing aftermarket crap...

Yupp! The only exception to this would be restoring sporters, but most sporters have been permanently modified by chopping off bayonet lugs, shortening barrels, etc. And other than Enfields finding the stock pieces required to un-sporter something (assuming that's the only thing that's been messed with) is not easy or cheap.

 

[EL34/6L6]

No matter the timeline we're in...you need to buy now, to avoid paying more later.
That much is true and will never change.

If there was currently a source for cheap milsurp rifles, who here is going to post that honey hole and do you honestly think there would be any left if that were the case?

Good luck on your search, but the longer you sit on your hands, the more the rifles you're chasing are going to cost.

 

[quinnbrian]

Even restoring less desirable or beat up guns lessens the value in a trickle down manner. Removing a beat milsurp from the market by restoring lessens the number of lower grade milsurps driving up their price. This in turn drives up the price of higher grade milsurps relative to the lower grade

I bought a $200.00 Lee Enfield No 4 mk1 about 3-4 years ago...to date, after me restoring to it’s former glory, I’ve got $1200.00 into the rifle, that,... on the open market, might be worth $800-1000.00....maybe, and I enjoyed every minute! Looking for all the parts, making new friends....etc. A bargain or a cheaper mulsurp rifle is just that ...one that needs a lot of work, or is left as-is and used. Unless you run into someone that doesn’t know what they have and well sometimes that just isn’t right!

 

[STEELCITYSLICKER]

Milsurp, being one of the most dangerous genres of rifles out there have became more reclusive over the last while as the current government works to define what constitutes an "assault rifle."

As their early definition includes statements like "rifles designed for the military use", your old Mausers and Lee Enfields have gotten self-conscious about their ancestry and are not as likely to poke their head out of the safe as much.

That is my theory.

 

[MattE93]

I bought a $200.00 Lee Enfield No 4 mk1 about 3-4 years ago...to date, after me restoring to it’s former glory, I’ve got $1200.00 into the rifle, that,... on the open market, might be worth $800-1000.00....maybe, and I enjoyed every minute! Looking for all the parts, making new friends....etc. A bargain or a cheaper mulsurp rifle is just that ...one that needs a lot of work, or is left as-is and used. Unless you run into someone that doesn’t know what they have and well sometimes that just isn’t right!

Sorry but I wouldn’t pay anywhere near $1000 for your restoration unless it is a very rare variant. Not when I can buy all original examples for $750.

It’s great you had fun doing it and met some great people and if that is your thing all the power to you, but I don’t think this is a great way to make money on rifles

 

[tokguy]

Sorry but I wouldn’t pay anywhere near $1000 for your restoration unless it is a very rare variant. Not when I can buy all original examples for $750.

It’s great you had fun doing it and met some great people and if that is your thing all the power to you, but I don’t think this is a great way to make money on rifles

I think he was saying he enjoyed it despite not making $$$. Could be wrong... didn't seem like he was tryna sell it...

 

[MattE93]

I think he was saying he enjoyed it despite not making $$$. Could be wrong... didn't seem like he was tryna sell it...

I understood that and if that’s all you want out of it great! But there is zero chance a restored enfield is worth $800.

 

[quinnbrian]

Sorry but I wouldn’t pay anywhere near $1000 for your restoration unless it is a very rare variant. Not when I can buy all original examples for $750.

It’s great you had fun doing it and met some great people and if that is your thing all the power to you, but I don’t think this is a great way to make money on rifles

And that would be my point.....

 

[cyclone]

I understood that and if that’s all you want out of it great! But there is zero chance a restored enfield is worth $800 yet.

Fixed yer post for ya....


After all, we've all seen what happened with Garands....

 

[quinnbrian]

I think he was saying he enjoyed it despite not making $$$. Could be wrong... didn't seem like he was tryna sell it...

And your right tokguy

 

[quinnbrian]

I understood that and if that’s all you want out of it great! But there is zero chance a restored enfield is worth $800.

And at this point, I can part out the rifle and get my money back...but that’s not going to happen. And there would be the problem...you get what you pay for! And that is all...