What Actually Constitutes 'Rare'....?

Twisted Canuck

Twisted Canuck

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I'm just curious what others ideas are on the subject of 'rare' firearms. I notice the word is routinely used in the EE for guns I wouldn't personally consider rare at all, generally as a gambit to obtain an inflated price. I have perhaps 2 pistols I would consider 'rare', one is a S&W that is a limited release, one of 150 but of more recent production (2001), with a letter indicating such. The other is an older (1967) nickel buntline Frontier Scout, with both .22 LR and Magnum cylinders.....it is one of 18xx (can't remember the exact number now, I'd have to check my book). I have a friend who wants to sell a 'rare' Winchester 94 Goldrush from 1975 (he isn't a member on the forum, not trying to disrespect anyone here) and it is one of 10,500. I know because I got the information for him. I wouldn't consider that rare (just shiny!), because you just know most of them have never been shot and are still sitting in their dusty boxes somewhere.

So what is a truly 'rare' gun? An old one that was mass produced but is now hard to find in mint condition? Or a truly limited run of a firearm, regardless of vintage? Is a gun 'rare' because it has a minor cosmetic change to it (FDE?) compared to the other half million produced that were just black? Or is it rare just because you really really want one, and they don't come up often?

What exactly does rare mean to you?
 
To me: rare = not many available to acquire, if any. When the opportunity presents itself and funds are available i do not hesitate to pull the trigger. Value will only continue to rise as a law of supply and demand.

Condition, edition, and quantity produced are irrelevant. It's all about availability and desire.

A good example: SKS-D . Not particularly valuable, plenty have been produced, they are no longer made, and not readily available. I just bought another one, mint condition, and paid handsomely to get it, (relatively). I didn't care, I just wanted it. I'm going to shoot it a lot, and pass it down to my kids.
 
I like the definition of not many available to acquire. I think this could apply to the gun (limited numbers) or the condition of a gun that is hard to find in high condition (ex. Mint condition first gen SAA) or a combination of both scarcity and condition. I have a few in my collection that I would call rare. A 1936 prewar Colt National Match, a Colt custom shop Service Model Ace in e-nickel (I've heard only 200 made in this configuration) and a 1929 Colt Commercial mainly due to condition.

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Rare. Hm. Usually produced in limited numbers, or so long ago that attrition and age has made an unfired example a rare find. Could be in a firearm where there were limited chamberings in a certain calibre. Like a Ruger #1 stainless varmint heavy barrel laminate in 204 ruger comes to mind. Or a Walther Running Boar .22 ;)

Cosmetics alone do not dictate price. Unless it is of limited production and it is 99% or NIB condition
 
Gatehouse said:
Rare doesn't necessarily = valuable :)
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In Canada you are probably right, now in the US a whole different kettle of fish. Check out iron framed Henry's...or a Winchester deluxe rifle in 1886 in 50-450-100, or a Louis Daniel Nimschke engraved Colt, Winchester or Sharps from the last century. Very very rare commanding huge dollars down south. Any civil war firearm that can be traced to someone famous or a famous battle, yikes. Sadly if a Canadian owned such a piece, it would have to go south to get the maximum dollar.
 
Gatehouse said:
Rare doesn't necessarily = valuable :)
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And it doesn't necessarily mean that there were very few made; it could also mean that they are "rare' in Canada (so few imported), or just "rare' because so few come up for sale.

It could have a number of meanings.

If your not sure, just ask the seller, or do some research on it yourself. The internet has more than just #### on it.
 
If I am selling it you bet I will advertise it as rare find, but it I am buying the same item, I will call bu!!#### every time. It's all in the eye's of the buyer
 
The term "Rare" and "Rarly Seen" often get mixed up. Ive got a couple pistols that are "Rarly Seen" but I wouldnt consider them to be "Rare and extra valuable"
 
I usually don't even look at ads that say rare. That's just code for "it's rare to find another gun like this that is that is this much overpriced"
 
Until recently, in the liquor business you'd see Scotch whisky with the word "rare" on the label. Considering that they ship it around the world by the boatload, it's hardly rare.

Similarly, you used to see the word "Napolean" on brandy bottles. It was meaningless, but it did help to sell product.
 
1. coming or occurring far apart in time; unusual; uncommon:
a rare disease; His visits are rare occasions.
2. thinly distributed over an area; few and widely separated:
Lighthouses are rare on that part of the coast.
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Lol@ the "It means they're asking too much money!!!" crowd.
 
"Rare" is an often overused descriptor that suggests something is worth more than something else that may be very similar but is common. Sometimes "rare" is appropriate, though. There is no standard in the firearms world, but what others have suggested holds true: if something was produced in low numbers, or produced in quantity but reduced to low numbers by attrition, feel free to call it rare. And what "low numbers" means is anyone's guess.
 
I saw a rare shotgun once at an Orangeville Ontario gun show years ago - a Remington 812 single shot. When I told the vendor it was made for about 30 different resellers from CIL to Sears by CBC Firearms in Brazil and they made about 6 million of them his response was "well, it's rare to me". No reduction in his rare price though.
 
"Rare" in the gun world (at least to me) can mean either in unusually good condition, or very limited production/availability (usually a combination of both). A good example would be an 1894 production Winchester Model 94. While millions were made, a very early one in decent shape is highly collectible.
 
I have a muzzleloading double shotgun with the locks engraved "Hudson's Bay Company", the top rib "The Imperial Extra Special".
I'd call that rare. Have never seen another.
Rarity, desirability, and value don't necessarily go hand in hand.
 
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