prices for a shootable antique

cliface

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Just wondering is it possible to find a shoot able antique revolver in around a .45 caliber for around $500.00 or is that an unreasonable low based on the current market?
 
For a .45 caliber? Nope. Maybe get a decent 8mm Lebel or such.
I scored a 41 Colt for somewhere in the neighborhood of 700, but it'll cost me at least 300 $ to get it shooting.
 
To get an idea of what antiques are going for google: Antique Guns
There are hundreds of gun brokers and auction sites out there with current prices and descriptions.
I would really like to get an antique SAA in .45 Colt but will have to settle for a modern clone (restricted)for around $600.
 
Used to be up to 2-3 years ago you could sometimes come across a good deal at a gun show, not so much anymore. If you are looking for an antique handgun in an easy to load large caliber such as 45 your are not going to find much under $1200(more likely $1400-2000). Some nice large cal Colt SAA or S&W breaktops will take you many thousand more.

With your first antique gun, take your time, do lots of research, pick a gun, set a reasonable budget to buy the best quality example that you can afford and start trolling EE, gunbroker, gunshows. Again take your time, there are a great deal of suboptimal specimens out there. Try avoid buying a fixer upper for your first gun because it was cheap. Don't worry too much about the high cost of a quality piece, within reason you will almost always get what you paid or more for an antique handgun when it's time to sell.
 
A pre-1898 SAA wouldn't be Antique Class if .45 Colt, it would still be restricted.

I had to refer to your antique flowchart sticky and there it is:restricted
I am just starting to move toward cartridge revolvers from cap and ball so this is valuable information.
 
A pre-1898 SAA wouldn't be Antique Class if .45 Colt, it would still be restricted.

If one wanted a 45 SAA with "legal" antique status you could look at an original caliber 455 or even 45 boxer. Or perhaps a converted cylinder in 45 S&W Schofield.
 
thanks yes I knew that a 45 colt would be restricted I was just looking for something in around that size but still antique status. thanks for the help I will have to do some more research and save for a while I guess
 
If one wanted a 45 SAA with "legal" antique status you could look at an original caliber 455 or even 45 boxer. Or perhaps a converted cylinder in 45 S&W Schofield.

Or .45ACP with moon-clips or use .45AR brass.
 
thanks yes I knew that a 45 colt would be restricted I was just looking for something in around that size but still antique status. thanks for the help I will have to do some more research and save for a while I guess

You might pick up a bulldog in 44 or 45 calliber for $500 in the EE but more like $650 to $800.
I just sold a beauty nickled H&R in 44 Webley the gun was like brand new it went for $800 it was a 5 shot 44 caliber handgun SA and DA.
So not everything good is expensive its just timeing.

I will have a Cheeper perscribed antique French 1873 Revolver in 45 Acp soon i have to look it over as i just sell guns that i dont want to keep for my own collection like alot of guys here at CGN do.
Them french 1873s are dam fine guns if set up properly in 45 acp are stronger than webley MKIs or MKIIs because there soild frame.
They run a grand and up to about $1450 for a really nice one.

PM me if you have any questions i dont mind giveing advise as long as i know the answer ;)
 
Seriously though... if I were to buy antiques (of any type) in today's reality, I'd wait till the LGR is gone. Many people (myself included) were willing to pay a premium for antiques which often surpassed a gun's actual value, simply because of the fact that there's less hassles and red tape with them as opposed to other classes of firearms (non-restricted/restricted), which most of us also own. Still, I have zero regrets about it... because since I started collecting them, I was able to get myself some real nice 120+ years old historical firearms that are truly unique. But I also realize that I will not be making my money back anytime soon on them and, strangely enough, that doesn't bother me. Getting rid of "Lieberal regi$try" is well worth it. ;)

I predict that, once the LGR is gone, the antiques EE section of the forum will see much less action and a lot more price drops... and maybe we're already seeing that happen right now, slowly but surely. As for long guns, I honestly believe that common antique long guns will be selling, in most cases, a dime for a dozen (figure of speech, of course). Oh well.. that sucks for my late 1800's Mausers and Martini-Henrys, I guess.

:redface:
 
I think handguns would still hold a lot of their value, but I agree on the long guns.
 
I think handguns would still hold a lot of their value, but I agree on the long guns.

Antique long guns will be affected something fierce, no question about it. The only people left interested in them will be those who don't have a PAL and can't or don't plan on getting it, which is an tiny portion of members on this board (almost nil). So, unless the antique long gun in question is something special that a hardcore collector might want (original Sharps, etc), most common antique long guns will be gathering dust in the EE. Not to mention that reloading for them is a real b*tch in most cases (expensive and scarce reloading components, need to research/test custom loads, etc - it ain't for everyone).

As for antique handguns, those too have a big appeal because of their status. And, with certain types of non-restricted firearms coming in very small formats while being chambered respectable pistol cartridges (like a Mare's Leg in .45 Colt) and costing less than the current starting price on a mediocre centerfire antique handgun, I could very well see quite a few Canadian gun owners steering clear of antiques altogether, which will in turn affect value. It's a very straight forward example of the "supply & demand" principle.

585387.jpg


This phenomena is all due to our political reality dating from the mid-nineties till May 2011. We've been beat down by the leftist elite for so long with senseless gun control measures that many Canadian gun owners were just clinging to whatever sanity was left in terms of gun control and antiques were pretty much the only "legit" avenue to take. Now that we're returning to sanity in a more streamlined manner however (with the elimination of the wasteful and useless LGR by the CPC), one can expect a lot of changes in buying attitudes. Since hunting/target shooting long guns will once again become reasonably controlled (as opposed to over-controlled), many people will migrate that way instead.

Anywho, time will tell... soon!

:D
 
Antique long guns will be affected something fierce, no question about it. The only people left interested in them will be those who don't have a PAL and can't or don't plan on getting it, which is an tiny portion of members on this board (almost nil). So, unless the antique long gun in question is something special that a hardcore collector might want (original Sharps, etc), most common antique long guns will be gathering dust in the EE.

As for antique handguns, those too have a certain appeal because of their status. And, with certain types of non-restricted firearms coming in very small formats while being chambered respectable pistol cartridges (like a Mare's Leg in .45 Colt) and costing less than the current starting price on a mediocre centerfire antique handgun, I could very well see quite a few Canadian gun owners steering clear of antiques altogether, which will in turn affect value. It's a very straight forward example of the "supply & demand" principle.

This phenomena is all due to our political reality dating from the mid-nineties till May 2011. We've been beat down by the leftist elite for so long with senseless gun control measures that many Canadian gun owners were just clinging to whatever sanity was left in terms of gun control and antiques were pretty much the only "legit" avenue to take. Now that we're returning to sanity in a more streamlined manner however (with the elimination of the wasteful and useless LGR), one can expect a lot of changes in buying attitudes. Since hunting/target shooting long guns will once again become reasonably controlled (as opposed to over-controlled), many people will migrate that way instead.

Anywho, time will tell... soon!

:D

No Question about it??? Yes there is....
So your saying that my orignal sharps in 50 70 with a custom hex barrel will be worth less because the LGR is gone? or a ballard or a dozen other guns i can think of.
I cant see that guys that buy Orignal Sharps at + $2000 dont care if they have to register them or not.
The quality antique long guns sell for as much if not more in the USA and anyone can sell a gun to and American if they choose to as long as it meets there definition of Antique.
As far as the more comon Sniders and martinis i dont think they will sell for alot less either because people dont just buy them old guns to by pass the registry eh i know lotsa guys buy them because there neat old guns and fun to shoot.
I never thought Antique long guns were that expensive up here compared to the USA to begin with anyway.

As my example look at Winchester lever guns theres a ton of them that are Antique by Date of manufacture but because of the way our antique regs are wrote you still gota register them and they do not sell cheep as cord wood or a dime a Dozen do they.
 
No Question about it??? Yes there is....
So your saying that my orignal sharps in 50 70 with a custom hex barrel will be worth less because the LGR is gone? or a ballard or a dozen other guns i can think of.

I think you missed that part: ;)

So, unless the antique long gun in question is something special that a hardcore collector might want (original Sharps, etc), most common antique long guns will be gathering dust in the EE.


As for the registration-free status of antiques NOT bringing in more $ in sales, do you honestly believe that? Of course that less government red tape and less hassles/delays is a BIG plus for anyone who wishes to own one of those. And if those Winchesters lever guns you mentioned were reclassified as antiques, their prices would become considerably higher than they are now... I think we can all agree on that.

Anyway, I'm not looking for an argument... like I said, let's wait & see what happens. Logic would dictate, however, that less over-zealous gun control on other firearm classes will have a definite impact on what people decide to buy, whether or not antique owners like us agree with it. And don't forget that, in the end, the buyer decides on what they need and what he/she is willing to pay for what they want/need. More viable options to the customer = fewer sales = lower prices. Supply & demand.

Let's just say that if this was the stock market, I'd be selling my shares right now, lol! :D


Cheers.
:cheers:
 
I think you missed that part: ;)




As for the registration-free status of antiques NOT bringing in more $ in sales, do you honestly believe that? Of course that less government red tape is a BIG plus for anyone who wishes to own one of those. And if those Winchesters lever guns you mentioned were reclassified as antiques, their prices would become considerably higher than they are now... I think we can all agree on that.

Anyway, I'm not looking for an argument... like I said, let's wait & see what happens. Logic would dictate, however, that less over-zealous gun control on other firearm classes will have a definite impact on what people decide to buy, whether or not antique owners like us agree with it. Let's just say that if this was the stock market, I'd be selling my shares right now, lol! :D

Cheers.
:cheers:

I know your not into argueing im not either but i just dont think the long guns are bought as much as you think as a way to by pass the registery.
Sure some are thats a given but not all of them.
Look at how many long guns are in the EE compared to handguns, alot less eh there already hard to come by.
I dont think that Antique long guns prices are that much higher here than in the USA.
So guys will just keep them or sell them in the USA.
most will just keep them is my guess.
Old Winchesters sell for more money in the USA than here the ones that are both post and pre 1898.

Antique Long guns are not my thing but to state a guys Antique long gun collection is worth nothing but dimes because of the LGR is abit offensive eh.
 
Offensive? No, that was definitely NOT my intent. I have 2x Martinis, 2x 1871 Mauser carbines, 1x flintlock and 1x Remy Rolling Block... all long guns, all antique. All have cost more than a modern rifle of equivalent or better specs, utility and lifespan. Yes, I bought them out of curiosity and historical value... but their status also played a big role in it. Owning a firearm legally and not being treated like a criminal has a good feel to it, I must say. So yes, their status played an important role. A role that's about to be extended to another class of firearms which can be owned by law obedient citizens, which in itself is great news.

Anyway, I don't expect to be making my money back on them anytime soon... and the same goes for my antique handguns collection, as I do realize that the list of "potential buyers" will be shortened. Not completely eliminated, but shortened for sure. That's my take on it anyway.

But... extra freedom always carries a price tag. I'm so happy about the LGR going the way of the Dodo that I don't even mind losing a few bucks. However it goes, I'll be keeping my antiques as conversation/display pieces.

;)
 
Offensive? No, that was definitely NOT my intent. I have 2x Martinis, 2x 1871 Mauser carbines, 1x flintlock and 1x Remy Rolling Block... all long guns, all antique. All have cost more than a modern rifle of equivalent or better specs, utility and lifespan. Yes, I bought them out of curiosity and historical value... but their status also played a big role in it. Owning a firearm legally and not being treated like a criminal has a good feel to it, I must say. So yes, their status played an important role. A role that's about to be extended to another class of firearms which can be owned by law obedient citizens, which in itself is great news.

Anyway, I don't expect to be making my money back on them anytime soon... and the same goes for my antique handguns collection, as I do realize that the list of "potential buyers" will be shortened. Not completely eliminated, but shortened for sure. That's my take on it anyway.

But... extra freedom always carries a price tag. I'm so happy about the LGR going the way of the Dodo that I don't even mind losing a few bucks. However it goes, I'll be keeping my antiques as conversation/display pieces.

;)

Ok Frist off the Registery being gone is not gona meen you can just buy and sell any firearms willy nilly you will need a Upto date Firearms Licence Thats a given eh.
Antiques will still be antique and they can be Bought and sold and used with no Firearms licence so theres still that going for them right? agreed ?
So it will still be easyer to buy and sell Antiques long guns. + we dont know whats instore for us as far as paperwork goes with modern firearms buying.

Really i dont think its gona be as bad as you think so enjoy your Antique long guns and dont worry so dam much :p
Christ i get gray hair just reading your posts :D
 
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