Milsurp prices (WOW!!)
- Thread starter collector67
- Start date
I enjoy seeing the RC Kar98k ads. They were $350-400 three years ago when I started collecting and now they are starting at about $650.
It makes me wonder what Norwegian capture Kar98ks, mis-matched vet bring backs, and all matching originals go for if this trend continues.
It makes me wonder what Norwegian capture Kar98ks, mis-matched vet bring backs, and all matching originals go for if this trend continues.
FWIW, you have to pay to play if you want nice examples. I likely "overpaid" for all my best guns in some people's eyes, but I typically only buy choice stuff and in all cases, I got my money back when I sold - sometimes with a little extra. You can only buy too soon - I've never seen prices DROP except in 3 cases:
1) Russian SKS's before the big import 3 years ago.
2) M1's before the Districorp/Century import in the late 90's
3) 91/30 Mosins when westifle was selling them for $115.
Mosins and M1's have both gone up from the low point, and sooner or later the SKS will too. Claven2's milsurp investment advice? Get into Japanese and Italian war trophy rifles NOW. When vet bringback K98k's start averaging over $2K (they are in the $1800 ballpark now), more and more ppl will turn to other axis vet bringbacks. Point in case, my first "perfect" early Type 99 was $200 maybe 8 years ago. I just bought one like to for $800 and was glad to get it at that price. Within 2 years, it will be a $1400 rifle if trends continue.
Food for thought.
1) Russian SKS's before the big import 3 years ago.
2) M1's before the Districorp/Century import in the late 90's
3) 91/30 Mosins when westifle was selling them for $115.
Mosins and M1's have both gone up from the low point, and sooner or later the SKS will too. Claven2's milsurp investment advice? Get into Japanese and Italian war trophy rifles NOW. When vet bringback K98k's start averaging over $2K (they are in the $1800 ballpark now), more and more ppl will turn to other axis vet bringbacks. Point in case, my first "perfect" early Type 99 was $200 maybe 8 years ago. I just bought one like to for $800 and was glad to get it at that price. Within 2 years, it will be a $1400 rifle if trends continue.
Food for thought.
Hard to say if it's a good investment in my opinion.
If god forbid restricted owners get grandfathered, our restricted milsurps will probably drop overtime just like 12.6 firearms - Or if say handguns are banned within cities like Toronto, many will hit the market at once and there are other possible political situations that *may* effect the values eventually. I often wonder who's buying Lugers these days, hasn't every 12.6 collector already got a few nice examples by this point? They will continue to drop in price, I can't see any 12.6 pistol as a wise investment. A few months ago I saw a RZM PPK on the EE for only a few hundred dollars.
For those who collected German WWII militaria, that market seems to be tanking. Prices simply got too high, dealers drove up prices out of greed and people just can't sell that stuff for what they've invested even after sitting on items for years. This is scaring other collectors from buying big items, and so many fakes has turned off new collectors. We could see a similar trend. I've noticed some members selling "all original" M1911A1's on the EE with very obvious problems, probably in hopes of fooling a new collector. I've also noticed at gun shows most East German re-build K98's are commonly being sold as and confused for all matching original examples.
-Steve
If god forbid restricted owners get grandfathered, our restricted milsurps will probably drop overtime just like 12.6 firearms - Or if say handguns are banned within cities like Toronto, many will hit the market at once and there are other possible political situations that *may* effect the values eventually. I often wonder who's buying Lugers these days, hasn't every 12.6 collector already got a few nice examples by this point? They will continue to drop in price, I can't see any 12.6 pistol as a wise investment. A few months ago I saw a RZM PPK on the EE for only a few hundred dollars.
For those who collected German WWII militaria, that market seems to be tanking. Prices simply got too high, dealers drove up prices out of greed and people just can't sell that stuff for what they've invested even after sitting on items for years. This is scaring other collectors from buying big items, and so many fakes has turned off new collectors. We could see a similar trend. I've noticed some members selling "all original" M1911A1's on the EE with very obvious problems, probably in hopes of fooling a new collector. I've also noticed at gun shows most East German re-build K98's are commonly being sold as and confused for all matching original examples.
-Steve
Coyote Ugly
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
It depends on what milsurps a person buys for the flavor of the day. The Junky Garands that were $650 a few years ago seem to be $1000-$1400 and people gobble them up like they have Bieber Fever! A $99 SKS is still a $99 SKS.
Coyote Ugly
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
People love throwing stupid money out the door. Like Garands....see my posts on the US Garand price lately???
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> $525.00 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...1-Garands-starting-at-525-00&highlight=garand
By the same rationale, for an entry level RC K98 that has doubled in a few years, then at the top end people must love bending over and paying double or triple as well for an all matching example. If the bottom end goes up, so does the top end. If you are stupid at the entry level with paying those prices, you'll be sh/t house crazy at the top end level and empty your bank account.
Although I share everyone's frustration (at times) with mounting prices, I disagree the bottom is out of the market. Jean Plamondon posted 3 matching vet bringback K98ks on his site about 3 months ago for $1800 a piece. Within 48 hours all three were sold.
The last M1 I bought cost $500 and given the millions made, that's all I think they are worth so I don't buy them anymore. The M1 market is doing just fine without me in it though.
The reason Axis stuff is so sought after, at the root of it, is that vet bringbacks are a finite quantity and because those countries lost, much of their weaponry is rare in as-issued condition. most of it was either destroyed or overhauled post-war by countries who receiver reparations.
I rather doubt you will see K98k bringbacks come down in price. 1911A1's though, could well drop in price - all it takes is some country like the phillipines or Vietnam to dump a bunch on the market and the prices of average examples will sink like a stone.
MauserMike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
If you think inflation has been 40% in the last 5 years, I think you need to go back and look at the numbers again. Gas was actually higher in 2008 than it is now. It also only one driver of inflation.
Milsurps have definitely gone up. My latest bet is these 91/30 PU Sniper rifles. When they dry up, I'm predicting prices will go up.
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Agreed, overall inflation has been at <2% compound over the past 5 yrs. Commodities will always be volatile.
For me it's all academic anyway. I'm just buying what I like and want to keep - with no plans to sell much if any, any time soon.
I don't collect for the purpose of investment return. Its a hobby and just like any other hobby, it takes cash to play. I'm a benefactor of shooting fine old rifles with historical value ( to some). Although I've made returns, it just goes back into hobby. The best returns I've made are on surplus ammunition. I've sold dozens of crates of .303 ammo for ten times the purchase price, still have a stack that I'm hanging onto for personal use. Several stacks to the ceiling of 7.62x39 crates that I paid $110 for 3 years ago is worth what today? it doesn't fuel my bank account, it fuels my hobby. I have a safe full of old Mosins and LEs, some still packed in grease, these will go to my nephews when they are old enough. Some young man will possibly enjoy the fruits of my passion many years after I'm gone. Who's Grandad or uncle made purchases for them so they can enjoy the historical value well into the future? Whats the value of that? If you've been investing for income returns, you would have done much better investing in pork bellies this year.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
And how long has it been since WW1,WW2, Korea, Vietnam?
- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
I get such a huge kick out of this. Its what makes collecting so exciting for me. Its called collecting for a reason. Buy low sell high. Start at low end and trade up until you have nice examples of high standard. I collect mostly originals, other than the few LE's and the otherwise unobtainable Ross I'm restoring. I am an opportunist with all of them, and to me that's the collecting side of the hobby. If its not a good opportunity I don't buy, and I don't buy unless I have excess funds and can splurge so I don't have to sell because I've made things tight in the wallet. What's to complain about? One thing is for sure, no modern army is going to tool up to build 100 year old weaponry. They aren't making any more and my generation seems to be more and more interested in collecting originals so I think it can only get better for collectors who already have nice pieces. And as a collector you should only get better with age. Plus the internet helps us learn faster all the time so I think it is helping us younger guys see trends quicker than the guys who've been at it longer had opportunity to.
