1980 Market for the P-38!!!

[Birdmann]

Do you guys remember back in the 80's when you could almost not give a P-38 away? I had an ac all match #2113 that I sold for $200. What a dink!!!

[towboater]

Hindsight's 20/20
I've sold many guns that I wish I hadn't.

[searcher451]

I can name that tune in three notes, though I have to go back earlier than the 1980s to do it. I once bought a WWII P.38 for $65 and later sold it for $95 ... a tidy $30 profit. I thought that I was in hog-heaven at the time and have kicked myself, and hard, ever since.

[AoxoMoxoA]

Originally Posted by searcher451

I can name that tune in three notes, though I have to go back earlier than the 1980s to do it. I once bought a WWII P.38 for $65 and later sold it for $95 ... a tidy $30 profit. I thought that I was in hog-heaven at the time and have kicked myself, and hard, ever since.

Note to self: No matter what, never sell Walthers...

[searcher451]

Originally Posted by AoxoMoxoA

Note to self: No matter what, never sell Walthers...

Amen to that ... because if you don't, as the oldies radio station DJs like say, the hits just keep on coming.

[Birdmann]

Thanks gang.
I should have realized that the market would have rebounded. I sold an all-match Luger for $200. too!
My new P1 is a keeper.

[Rothenfluh]

Originally Posted by Birdmann

I sold an all-match Luger for $200. too!

R

[rollin59]

Originally Posted by Birdmann

Thanks gang.
I sold an all-match Luger for $200. too!
My new P1 is a keeper.

If ya got any more Lugers, I'll take them off your hands
for FOUR hundred! Each!

[rollin59]

On the "didn't sell" side, in 1993 I bought a new Colt Gold Cup National Match (series 80) to celebrate the start of Clinton's first administration for $600. This year I bought a 1982 (mint) Series 70 Gold Cup for almost twice that! In 2011 dollars, 1993's $600 is worth about $950, about what a nice series 80 Colt would sell for.

I guess the moral is that really nice guns appreciate, and good quality guns at least don't DEpreciate (if you keep them nice). I try to buy classic, high quality guns for both reasons.

Of course if you want to get the inflated value, you have to sell.
General economy and "fashion" dictate what people will pay and how easily you can sell.

Special WW2 guns are pretty hot right now, like P38s, and probably will continue to appreciate at least even with inflation so long as people are interested in buying them. No more being made. Even so, some are in such oversupply (like, arsenal rebuilt import Mosin Nagants) it will be years or decades before they increase in value much.

I buy what I am interested in (and shoot) with no intention of selling. Have only sold about 15% of the guns I've ever bought, most at break-even or small profit. If the value increases over time, that's just a bonus to me.

[Bad_Brains]

I bought my first handgun, a Ruger Super Blackhawk back about 1970 for $158 tax and all. Have you priced them lately? My first Sig P220 cost about $550 new. Wish they cost that now. Bought my first Glock 19 for about $250 new from a buddy's gunshop. People would laugh at you back then saying you carried a toy pistol. Things have sure changed.