Have milsurp prices ever crashed/substantially dropped?

Quote Originally Posted by PinkyPlinker View Post
I’m surprised Swedish Mausers came down a bit. I think they are quite undervalued. Lovely shooting, well built, and beautiful. They should be at least commanding RC K98 prices.
I'm surprised at this too. Supply seems to have dried up. Its just a matter of time though and they will be back in style

The clean, matching numbers rifles haven't come down in price other than the very odd time you see one on the EE or at a gunshow and the seller is either desperate for a quick sale or not up to speed.

It took a long time for the Swedes to find their pace but once they did it hasn't slowed down much. I used to hear the old lament "I'm not interested because they were never battle proven." Not true, they saw combat with the Finns, Danes and Norwegians, maybe others.
 
Coffice said:
If Carcanos ever go up in price I'll be rich fellas, rich!
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One of the most unappreciated and under estimated milsurps available today. You can thank the Americans for that one. Their propaganda from 75 years ago is still working.

Ammunition for the Carcano rifles was seldom available in shootable quantities. In 1973 I purchased 2500 rounds of 6.5 and 1000 rounds of the 7.35. All of it was on chargers. All of it was corrosive primed but shiny.

I shot off every single one of those cartridges over a three year period and went to look for more. None to be had and it was still being manufactured for Middle Eastern and North African nations. Word was they also gobbled up all of the surplus on the markets according to Alan Lever, who told me that it was to expensive for him to bring here because those nations drove up the prices.

When push comes to shove, there really aren't that many Carcano rifles of any variant around. A lot less than Lee Enfields and Mausers.

The Carcano saw a lot of combat and the troops that were issued the rifle liked it a lot. If they were properly trained in its use they were quite formidable to be up against. When they were first issued, they were pretty much state of the art and one of the first to use the charger system for loading. Contrary to popular belief, they are NOT WEAK. They were considered to be strong enough for Steyr to build in 8x57js and PO Ackley found out they were almost as tough as Arisakas.

Arisakas??????? Ten years ago a matching numbered rifle with intact crest could be had regularly for $150 in VG to EXC condition.
 
"Well, to my knowledge India was making SMLE variants right into the mid seventies. I've been wrong before though."

Bearhunter is, as usual, quite right in that. They still have a plant which can turn out an SMLE at the drop of a rupee and they manufacture every part (minus the Body) on a regular basis, both for military and civilian use. They just don't SELL to anyone except a GOVERNMENT, although new Sporters are listed for domestic sale (in 8x50R, of all calibres) to suitable licensed purchasers.

They just refuse to sell to individual private purchasers so, mentally, I must have crossed them off my list. Mea culpa, domine; mea maxima culpa!

And I need 20 sets of SMLE wood and the demons burned down the shop with my profiler in it.

I am heading back to my Sock Closet (if I can get in), either to sulk or to plot. Let you know shortly!
 
BirdCity said:
That hasn't been my experience; the parabellums I purchased in the 80s and 90s have doubled and tripled in price.
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When you factor inflation, if you have 12.6 pistols that tripled price I guess it's a reminder of how dirt cheap handguns in Canada were back then. I suppose it would be more accurate for me to say that in cases like yours they didn't appreciate as much as everything else when the new laws came into effect. Lugers would be worth a lot more today if not for 12.6, and from a collectors stand point the re-barreling kills it for me.

I don't have 12.6 so take this with a grain of salt....but if you own 12.6 pistols wouldn't the best time to sell be sooner than later while there is still a decent pool of people who can buy them?

-Steve
 
12.6 is the 426 Hemi Wow Factor that everyone wants, but few have. I'm not worried about losing, only gaining, I can export if I had to or want to, or 12.7 to a family member.

Now you know the rest of the story! :cool:
 
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Trusting the opinions of people on CGN concerning future value of milsurps is about as reliable as flipping a coin. Trust me ;)
 
Steve1987 said:
I don't have 12.6 so take this with a grain of salt....but if you own 12.6 pistols wouldn't the best time to sell be sooner than later while there is still a decent pool of people who can buy them?

-Steve
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I suppose so, if monetary considerations were the primary motivator. My 1942 Mauser parabellum is one of my favourite pistols; I don't want to part with it. Given my age (I'm within a few years of being one of the youngest possible 12.6 holders), I'd say I still have a few years left to enjoy it. My 1917 DWM parabellum is the reason I have my 12.6--not looking to part with that one anytime soon, either.
 
Steve, as you know from our offline discussions and my own avtar Lugers are my thing, yours is the 1911 and 1911-A1 .Wont discuss 45 prices but I do know and follow luger pricing pretty close.

The value in lugers is not the 12/7 exemption trying to postpone the inevitable, the value is in pristine matched 12/6 examples. The main reason is under BATF rules the 12/6 luger is exportable to our southern neighbours bearing in mind u will get hit with import marking regulations. Two correct matched magazines, not force matched but factory correct. The Krieghoff Lugers in 12/6 which all were command the top dollar. Navy 12/6 also but try and find correct magazines for these---tough tough tough, first you have to find a bona fide example--not a enhanced piece.

Early K date and G date marine examples will hold their own with most colt 45 unless u own a Singer or maybe an NAA example. Right now the USA is awash in Lugers as many old collections are on the market so this I suspect is the reason some owners have elected to rebarrel their lugers for reclassification to restricted--opens up the Canadian market, does this destroy true collector value to 12/6 holders ---yes it does, however it is a way out of a depressed market and a convenient legal avenue for non 12/6 holders to obtain a Luger without selling off your first born to obtain a restricted 1906 or similar naval example.

Top condition artilleries also command a good buck but hardened collectors like myself want an all encompassing example, the stock has to be serialed to the Luger--correctly serialed not force matched and with the accompanying leather with two correct magazines.

Certainly not chastising anyone here or trying to say what to do with your firearm collections come dispersal time, most important I believe is to continue to support our own firearm lobby groups to stall government actions that further swart our collection values, they have the 12/6 and its not going to change. whats next rotary magazines in a savage 1895 or 99.
 
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