Investment in a rifle

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BenchrestJohn

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Maple Ridge, BC
I see lots of guys on EE, where guy sells a $1000 rifle. Then claims it was re-barreled, has fancy rail and maybe muzzle break.
Claims this: Invested $3500, will let go for $2,200.

I belive a good investment inot a rifle is to buy a rare rifle with a nice stock, maybe exotic wood. The rifle has few shots and does not have much of kinks and scratches.

But because you decide you want to re-barrel the rifle and make bunch of trips to your gunsmith, blowing up thousandsome of dollars, that is not an investment.

If someone cuts a barrel off Weatherby Mark V to make it more comfortable hunting, excuse me, that's not $500 invested, but $1000 thrown out of the window.

Any thoughts????
 
yeah but who are we to say?

I mean aslong as its advertised as 'rebarrelled' and whatever, then its a fair ad . id hate to buy a Remington 700 CDL in 280, to find out its a rebarrel job that because I bought online sight unseen , did not pick up.

honesty is the most important factor.


real eyes realise real lies, if you don't think its worth what hes asking, I let them know id offer XX$ but that is all its worth to me.

hth

WL
 
I think my banker would describe modifications to a rifle as an expense amortized over the length of time the rifle is owned rather than an investment. Only collectible firearms are likely work as an investment.

I am in the process of modifying ( or as some would say "customizing") a Brno ZG-47 that was not in collectible condition. I know I'll never get my money back if I sell it.
 
The only "investments" I've realized with firearms were those I bought well below their already established market value. Mods never increase a rifle's value beyond what you invested, and I can't think of a single new rifle sold at its full price that can reasonably be expected to increase in value.
 
Never buy a rifle as an investment, but with time, you cant lose...

Both my TRG 22 and my TRG 42, i bought years ago for a price reflecting the era price would fetch more money than i paid would i sell them now...

If you keep them for a while, they can be consider as interresting on the money side... JP.
 
I see barrels as a consumable item like ammo. While I would pay more for a custom barrel since a good custom is on average more accurate than a production, this isn't always the case.
 
A customized rifle is of value to its owner only in it's use... on resale, the "market value" will become readily apparent and so will the misuse of the word "investment."

However, a point might be made when expressed as an "investment" in life experience and enjoyment rather than as a financial investment, which it surely is not.
 
caramel said:
Never buy a rifle as an investment, but with time, you cant lose...

Both my TRG 22 and my TRG 42, i bought years ago for a price reflecting the era price would fetch more money than i paid would i sell them now...

If you keep them for a while, they can be consider as interresting on the money side... JP.
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I keep trying to BS my wife with statements like this and sometimes they work, but with inflation and reduction in buying power, it's at best a wash in almost all instances.
 
If I "invest" time and money into a firearm, I've done so to make it suit MY purpose. It's similar to someone modifying, tweaking, or altering a car. To anticipate getting your investment back, or even taking a small loss, is unrealistic. Only if you found someone who wanted EXACTLY the item you have and would have done EXACTLY the same to it would you even stand a chance of breaking even. There a few ways to make money on firearms. If you find a collectible at a fair or ridiculously low price, buy it and flip it. I've noticed that prices seem to be regional, so if you find something in one province or area that's scarce or desired in another province, you can make a few bucks. If you have a good network of friends who know you're into firearms, you can hear about estate sales or people divesting themselves of inherited firearms. That's happened to me and friends of mine. I have a pristine 1950 Long Branch and a 1918 BSA that are worth far more now than I paid for them back in the day. Though I didn't buy them as investments per se, I had a pretty good idea that they had no where to go but up, and so they did.
 
If there are expensive accessories that are included in the sale of the gun in question, the seller can't be blamed for attempting to recoup much of his expenditure. The buyer on the other hand, has to decide if the additional cost is justifiable for accessories he may, or may not, want. The buyer always has the option of moving along to the next item, but if the item in question is a BAT action, with a Jewell trigger, a Gaillard barrel, bedded in a McMillan stock, topped with a Near 30 minute rail, and fitted into a Pelican case, he shouldn't be exasperated to discover that the asking price of the custom rig doesn't reflect the going price of a used 700 Varmint. Then again, unless he has grossly undervalued his rifle, the seller should expect to sit on his custom rig for quite some time, until a buyer ho shares his vision comes along with cash in hand. As a generality, a used rifle, is worth 60%-80% of it's retail value.

If the rifle in question is a Savage Axis, topped with the scope and mounts that came with the package, and has a cheap nylon sling attached to it, the seller should not be rewarded with the $1k he's asking simply because he's willing to throw in 100 empty brass, and an Outers cleaning kit.
 
BenchrestJohn said:
If someone cuts a barrel off (insert your fav. rifle maker) to make it more comfortable hunting, excuse me, that's not $500 invested, but $1000 thrown out of the window.

Any thoughts????
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Some may feel a fool and their money are soon parted or there are those who could care less.
Its my rifle and I can do as I please with it.
Seems easy to me.
tight Groups,
Rob
 
gwes2003 said:
Better how? My new production (2014) Model 70's are simply amazing in fit,finish, accuracy.
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Do they have magazine boxes and feed rails designed for the specific cartridge they are chambered for? How about an open trigger. Cut rifled barrel? One piece bolt? Milled steel bottom metal? Properly hand polished metal work? Spring steel extractor?
 
A gun is as good an investment as a car. Pick the correct one, you may do well 20 years in the future. Likely you won't. That said, guns hold their value better than most things. And yes, I believe guns are better than they were 50 years ago. Metallurgy has moved forward in leaps and bounds. Just my opinion of course.
 
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