Mil Surp investment?

[sdh1911]

I've been a working gunsmith for well over 20 years. I've been collecting U.S. Military guns for near as long. For about the last five years I have found the cost of collectable grade guns has gotten very expensive, so has shooting U.S. mil. ammo. Around May of last year I got to know a guy up at the range where I shoot at and he asked me why I bothered collecting something that has such little room to actually increase in value, hum, point taken. Since then I have re-defined the boundries of my collection to include anything that has been military issued or used by the military of any country in there persuit of marksmanship. So far to date I have purchaced 8 assorted versions of the 91/30, including Finnish guns as well as a real nice WW II period Izzy PU sniper (not import). A real nice shooting Hakem 8 mm. A Lithgow Mk1 #III, a Savage Mk4 No1, 4 assorted versions of the 98 Mausers, A Swiss K31 (I'm looking into a K11), Swedish M96, M96/38, CG 80, Norma target gun and a real nice FSR, two Jap 99's and last but not least 3 AR-15's (previously off the map because of the caliber). I've done all this for what I would have spent on 2 or 3 of WW II M1 Garands and as far as the cost to shoot them, there is no comparision.

I am going at this collecting with conviction. I'm finding it a load of fun to both own and shoot. To say the least I am very happy for making the switch. Now as far as the investment side of it, I suppose having seen what happen to the price of the Siamese Mausers I may be actually making a sound investment, But, I guess time will tell. I only buy guns with above average bore coindition and sound from a structual sense. I only repair what is broken and keep them in original condition. I guess I got the milsurp bug. I'm not sure what will be the next in the safe, but, I'm pretty sure it will be milsurp, Can anybody out there relate?-SDH

Information

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[Claven2]

There is ALOT to be said for buying up ALOT of whatever's currently inexpensive. Many of the best collections out there were put together this way 20 years ago.

In 20 years, the younger guys who have put together a really nice Mosin collection will be laughing as their rifles increase in value. Guys who did this with nice, non-Indian refurb Enfields 5-10 years ago saw their collections often quadruple in value.

Guys who collected Arisakas 10-20 years ago bought them for around $30-50 each. Now an original sling sells for $300 and truely nice examples of some Arisakas sell in the thousands of dollars (like a mint type 44 or 99 paratroop).

When Finn rifles are done at retail there won;t be any more and coparatively few were made. Watch for these to skyrocket in value - it's already begun. Anyone remember $70 M24's and $99 M39's just 2 years ago?

Your US weapons will go up, but they won't double in value any time soon. $1000 is already alot to pay for a nothing-special correct WW2 M1 They made millions of them, and alot are around. Yes, they will more than keep pace with inflation - but other guns have far more top-end space at this time.

[Oatmeal Savage]

Interesting post and response, good information for the novice, me, collector. I have thought of collecting MN's but they don't, and I quote from the bible, turn my crank. I have one which is the most accurate milsurp I have. I will say that the Finns have some of the most unusual wood I have ever seem.