Milsurp prices

headednorth

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Anyone expecting a decline in milsurp prices due to a shitty economy going forward? Do they usually drop when the economy takes a hit? What was the milsurp market like in 2008?
 
Usually the “modern” gun sales take off in times like these. Antique Black powder is very low right now and has been for a while now.
t
 
I entered the surplus market with my first gun purchase at age 18 in 2010, which was a M91/30 for $119.99 at a local FFL. The surplus market spiked seriously in terms of price as a result of the 2012-2013 frenzy. The surplus market has not since recovered and the guns have also not since depreciated. Add on top of that the embargoes with Russia, the WW1 Centenary, and the growth of C&R collecting matched by the lack of guns coming onto the market, and prices often have doubled. Specifically, Lee Enfields and Mosins.

For example, I bought a 1942 Australian No. 1 MkIII* right around the time of Newtown for like $350. That was a bit on the low end of the Enfield market but was pretty representative of what you could buy pre-Newtown. Russian Capture K98ks were around $300-400. Vz. 24s were like $150-200. M91/30s, around $100-150.

Now, a No. 1 MkIII* is like a $500-800 gun. M91/30 is around $200. Vz. 24 is going to start around $400. American guns don't seem to have went up that much but they've been hovering around $650-1000 since I was 18 in 2009-2010, except for M1 carbines. M1 carbines aren't available from the CMP any more as far as I know.

Low prices occur when there's low demand and high supply. With all the new gun owners, especially younger collectors who got into C&R guns because of Mosins and new gun owners post-Newtown, and with a much smaller supply of newly imported guns, I expect prices in the C&R market to either stay the same or keep going up. Where the deals are going to be is if anything's imported en masse or if a guy has to liquidate because he got laid off.

There's also the added uncertainty of the virus's effect on international trade and thus importation of guns and the upcoming election.
 
Almost all mil surp guns go up forever, it just matters how much and how long. Oh the stories of, "What I could have bought and for ridiculous prices." are but just memories.

Can you imagine I tried to talk a pal into buying a pristine, USN 1939 blued 1911A1 in 1973. It was at the local store. He said it was too expensive. I bought it and it hurt to do so at the time. $260.00.



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Not seeing any softening of milsurp prices. Some good benchmarks are CMP forums classifieds and BunGroker advanced search for sold items.
 
Nope. Pistols and MSR's are flying off the shelves, but the only way milsurp prices will go down is if there's a new source of supply that suddenly brings in shipping containers full of milsurps. Limited supply keeps the price stable otherwise. When something first comes in - think the Yugo 8mm M24/47's and M48's a few years ago for example, the price is low. As soon as the supply is gone, the price doubles.
 
Almost all mil surp guns go up forever, it just matters how much and how long. Oh the stories of, "What I could have bought and for ridiculous prices." are but just memories.

Can you imagine I tried to talk a pal into buying a pristine, USN 1939 blued 1911A1 in 1973. It was at the local store. He said it was too expensive. I bought it and it hurt to do so at the time. $260.00.



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I’m hoping you still have the Navy A1. Would love to see some pictures!
 
I might be posting more of my milsurps for sale, if I can get double i will be happy.
Thinning the hurd , was planning to do so before this mess. Shipping is a real pain and expensive.
 
I might be posting more of my milsurps for sale, if I can get double i will be happy.
Thinning the hurd , was planning to do so before this mess. Shipping is a real pain and expensive.
I just went thru a list of my guns and it is likely that I will list a few C&Rs for sale. I won't ship, it will have to be local with preference to those holding a C&R FFL.
 
Right now? Probably not the time to sell unless you have to. I was planning on selling a few items as a spring cleaning project, but now I will just hold onto them for the near future.
 
Right now? Probably not the time to sell unless you have to. I was planning on selling a few items as a spring cleaning project, but now I will just hold onto them for the near future.
They are duplicates (C&Rs) plus a few non-C&Rs that I just have no need to keep. I'll still be left with plenty of other guns.
 
:cool: Oh I do. The best part is the reason I asked my pal to buy it was that I already had my dad's issue 1939 blued navy. I bit the bullet back then and I now still have 2!

Next time they come out of the safe, I will comply.


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That’s as some real good luck! Been getting into the A1s the last few years and I think a 1939 Navy is on the list for someday. Look forward to seeing the pictures.
 
:cool: Oh I do. The best part is the reason I asked my pal to buy it was that I already had my dad's issue 1939 blued navy. I bit the bullet back then and I now still have 2!

Next time they come out of the safe, I will comply.

uhhh you got something better to do these days than post some gun porn for us???
 
I have noted an increase of some estate collections recently. I suspect just normal passing as people get along in age. Prices have not been set for a quick sell. I would expect some people who have been hit hard financially will need some ready cash to get thru these tough times. LGS will not a viable sell option for a little while, perhaps longer. Setting for consignment sale will be problematic for a while. Listing and selling on forums like NES will be a good way to score some quick cash. Probably the best option for several weeks.

I just saw Dr Fauci predicting between 100 -200K US deaths from Covid-19. Between that and a likely world-wide recession, I would expect a softening of prices in many collectibles (not just C&Rs) coming in 2020 and into 2021.
 
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