Price madness? or what am I missing

It’s OK for milsurps to spike in price, just like real estate!

Now if your house price dropped like a rock, there would be some sad boys on the forum!

Economics 101
 
I personally believe we are in a bubble for milsurp prices. We have gotten to the point where it isn't even condition based. People are just buying because one has come up and are paying the same price for a low end example (mismatched, poor condition, 'desporterized' etc.) as they wood for a high end example (matching, VG+ condition, etc.). Most collectors I know aren't buying anymore unless a very specific firearm they have been looking for comes up. Personally I have only bought 3 firearms in the last 2 years for my collection, which is next to nothing in comparison to what I used to do. Odds are I won't buy another this year unless something comes up at a really good price or it is one of the rare items I have been looking for.

Might not be today. Might not be tomorrow, but at some point I think the prices are going to correct, likely around the same time the housing market does.

You just described the housing market. 2 houses, identical in size and lay out. One is completely redone and updated and the other hasn’t been touched since 1982. They sell for the same price.
 
Ok, i will put my flame suit on as there will be a bunch of people who will get bent out of shape with what I am about to say.

There are very few real collectors on this board. There are a a lot of acquirers and followers here though. I have seen lot of very nice guns firearms come up for sale, at very good prices but they aren’t part of the mainstream. People are buying Mosiins, Garands, RC Mausers, SKS’s, run of the mill Enfields etc, but leave some of the rarer pieces alone. The majority are missing some real gems. They are all playing follow the leader and the leader isn’t all that clued in.
 
Ok, i will put my flame suit on as there will be a bunch of people who will get bent out of shape with what I am about to say.

There are very few real collectors on this board. There are a a lot of acquirers and followers here though. I have seen lot of very nice guns firearms come up for sale, at very good prices but they aren’t part of the mainstream. People are buying Mosiins, Garands, RC Mausers, SKS’s, run of the mill Enfields etc, but leave some of the rarer pieces alone. The majority are missing some real gems. They are all playing follow the leader and the leader isn’t all that clued in.

I cannot agree more. 3 years ago was on EE an Israeli Mauser refurbished and converted to 308 caliber by Israeli Arsenal to amazing condition and never issued. Because was listed to 600$ did not sale. Was my chance to take it, I never seen on the market a Israeli Mauser that can be compared with my purchase. May be one day I will post some pics.
 
There is one group of milsurps that is not climbing in price, the prohibs. And for good reason, as I am one of the younger ones having just got into collecting in the early 90s. But for those that were in their senior years then, well their collections are either being melted down or sold off. More sellers then buyers I think.

I am happy to buy up a few more 12.6 pistols, but myself and the other guys in their late 40s/early 50s who have 12.6 can't be expected to buy them all up as time passes.

It would be nice if the conversation about future firearms law reforms includes the 12 classes of prohibs. We need to do something soon or the prices on these things will totally bottom out, or the majority end up in the RCMP smelter.
 
There is one group of milsurps that is not climbing in price, the prohibs. And for good reason, as I am one of the younger ones having just got into collecting in the early 90s. But for those that were in their senior years then, well their collections are either being melted down or sold off. More sellers then buyers I think.

I am happy to buy up a few more 12.6 pistols, but myself and the other guys in their late 40s/early 50s who have 12.6 can't be expected to buy them all up as time passes.

It would be nice if the conversation about future firearms law reforms includes the 12 classes of prohibs. We need to do something soon or the prices on these things will totally bottom out, or the majority end up in the RCMP smelter.

If they are converted to deactivation instead of smelter will have a good reseal value.
 
There is one group of milsurps that is not climbing in price, the prohibs. And for good reason, as I am one of the younger ones having just got into collecting in the early 90s. But for those that were in their senior years then, well their collections are either being melted down or sold off. More sellers then buyers I think.

I am happy to buy up a few more 12.6 pistols, but myself and the other guys in their late 40s/early 50s who have 12.6 can't be expected to buy them all up as time passes.

It would be nice if the conversation about future firearms law reforms includes the 12 classes of prohibs. We need to do something soon or the prices on these things will totally bottom out, or the majority end up in the RCMP smelter.

Well, really, that was the idea all along. Worth keeping in mind when they grandfather your AR, instead of giving you a tax credit for 10% of its value. They'll do the same with hunting rifles, trap guns and every other firearm, eventually. Once they've restricted access to areas outside of cities, there's "no reason" for owning those either, no place to hunt = no reason to hunt. It's coming, sooner than you think.
 
By George, I think I've got it.

My milsurps are worth twice what I paid for them (at least), likewise with my crates of milsurp ammo. I would be a big time dummy if I were to shoot them when they are worth so much. lf I sell them I should expect to not be able to replace them at twice what I sold them for. Sooooooo, oil them up, look at them and sigh. Go shoot my22 before it gets banned by the government.

Good times!:bangHead:
 
The reason is that our government is anti-gun and, in the future, they want us disarmed. Guns will be hard to get in the future and very expensive. Same for cars and houses. We are losing our freedom and going toward communism.
So, people are buying firearms and ammunition as fast as they can! I bought my Russian SKS 10 years ago for $180 including a box of 1200 cartridges!
 
Whole number of factors at play here. People trying to get stuff before its potentially added to the OIC (SKS, Garands, M1 Carbines, etc). People with excess money from not being able to travel eating up the supply. "preppers" awaiting the next big "pandemic". No more big shipments of milsurps coming in and lots of people hanging on to their collections hoping to cash out at a later date.
 
If you search around online you can find old forum threads from 5-10 years ago saying the exact same thing. It seems extremely unlikely to me that items with a very high demand and limited supply will suddenly drop in price. The only things that would cause that would be a sudden surge of “new” milsurp on the market, or a massive decrease in demand. Both seem unlikely to happen, but you never know.

Newer “collectors” like myself have wanted some of these guns since we played COD when we were 12, and now we have the money to buy them. You have to pay to play so that’s what we’re doing. Then no one wants to lose money so this will reinforce a new price floor.

Yes we know back in the day you could buy 10 Garands for a nickel, I wish I was in the market back then, but we have to live in the present. Way she goes.
 
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If you search around online you can find old forum threads from 5-10 years ago saying the exact same thing. It seems extremely unlikely to me that items with a very high demand and limited supply will suddenly drop in price. The only things that would cause that would be a sudden surge of “new” milsurp on the market, or a massive decrease in demand. Both seem unlikely to happen, but you never know.

Newer “collectors” like myself have wanted some of these guns since we played COD when we were 12, and now we have the money to buy them. You have to pay to play so that’s what we’re doing. Then no one wants to lose money so this will reinforce a new price floor.

Yes we know back in the day you could buy 10 Garands for a nickel, I wish I was in the market back then, but we have to live in the present. Way she goes.

The massive decrease in demand will come with the rise in inflation and the subsequent need for cash when many will be on the verge of default. One easy way to tell if we are overpriced here is by looking at our prices in comparison to the Americans. Its at the point where I could (depending on the lot) order a lot of 4 rifles from RIA, import them, and sell 3 of them and keep the 4th one for basically free even with the added fees, exchange rate, import fees, and shipping. The problem being that is a long process to take, but I think it might be the next way I order.
 
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