Collectables of the future - Which ones????

[trevor1]

If it's specs are almost unbelievable and it looks as if you need it more than oxygen and it's production run was limited because it cost to much to make and although fragile it is absolutely mint in it's colourful box with all it's accessories and paperwork...it could be collectable in the future!
Eg A Phoenix Thunderbolt???

[Lakey]

If it's specs are almost unbelievable and it looks as if you need it more than oxygen and it's production run was limited because it cost to much to make and although fragile it is absolutely mint in it's colourful box with all it's accessories and paperwork...it could be collectable in the future!
Eg A Phoenix Thunderbolt???

Where do you find such a beast????? (apart from the phoenix Thunderbolt) That must be the hundred thousand dollar question..?

Lakey

[Sam Vimes]

I think the word collectible, ( In this instance ) Has to be attached to the word " Desireable "
A test of this, can be seen on the Forum every day, ! IE some gun,s are much sought after ! And other,s sell, give an Example !
Advertise for a Stutzen,Sharp Ace, Older Sheridan, Crossman 600, & see if you get one ?

Surely that is just confusing rarity with desireability/collectability. It's true that I may not get one but then I may be the only one (or at least one of a very, very select few) looking for that particular needle in the haystack. Just because, say an old Webley pistol, is relatively common and proportionally cheaper, it doesn't mean it's less collectable than those you've mentioned. In fact I'd go so far to say that they are more collectable as there will be far more people that will collect them.

On the other hand Advertise for an Airsporter, Webley Mk111, Falcon, Mercury ,Vulcan Etc, Yes you will in Double Quick time !
Some are MORE Desireable than other,s, That doesn,t make them less collectible, Its obvious that the more there are, The Less they will cost
I think though " If " you have an opinion Collectible/Desireable you should tell us all, & not highlight what other,s say !!

I rather think I did suggest what I found collectable although I've shied away from my obsessive leanings and got rid of my fledgling collection. I consider myself interested in anything (reasonably) well engineered and British (made before 1980), with the odd rogue interesting HW or FWB thrown in. I'm fascinated by just about anything airgun but just don't feel the need to buy. I can be happy just looking at various rarities that I stumble across on my travels. I don't intend to pursue the hankering though as I know that once I get embroiled I won't stop. I'm happy to admit that I'm obsessive enough to want one of just about anything Webley or BSA but I'm resisting temptation with the aid of poverty. I'm primarily a shooter and don't like keeping guns purely to look at but not having the time to shoot them. It offends my sensibilities for some strange reason, not that I knock it for anyone else, I hasten to add. I'll make do with my token oldie, Webley MKIII in .177 with PH16M diopter (try finding one of those BTW, .177 MKIIIs are hard enough to find without the diopters I seem to recall having seen about five .177s for sale on here over the years), and leave it at that unless something really intriguing and stupidly cheap comes my way. All that said, I am hankering after a small British boys rifle, Webley Falcon, BSA Merlin or the like, as my nephew is getting to the age where he's pestering for a go. Truthfully, that will be as good an excuse as any and little more.

[Garvin]

I rather think I did suggest what I found collectable although I've shied away from my obsessive leanings and got rid of my fledgling collection. I consider myself interested in anything (reasonably) well engineered and British (made before 1980), with the odd rogue interesting HW or FWB thrown in. I'm fascinated by just about anything airgun but just don't feel the need to buy. I can be happy just looking at various rarities that I stumble across on my travels. I don't intend to pursue the hankering though as I know that once I get embroiled I won't stop. I'm happy to admit that I'm obsessive enough to want one of just about anything Webley or BSA but I'm resisting temptation with the aid of poverty. I'm primarily a shooter and don't like keeping guns purely to look at but not having the time to shoot them. It offends my sensibilities for some strange reason, not that I knock it for anyone else, I hasten to add. I'll make do with my token oldie, Webley MKIII in .177 with PH16M diopter (try finding one of those BTW, .177 MKIIIs are hard enough to find without the diopters I seem to recall having seen about five .177s for sale on here over the years), and leave it at that unless something really intriguing and stupidly cheap comes my way. All that said, I am hankering after a small British boys rifle, Webley Falcon, BSA Merlin or the like, as my nephew is getting to the age where he's pestering for a go. Truthfully, that will be as good an excuse as any and little more.

This sums up perfectly the struggles of a reluctant collector, with the head saying one thing and the heart another.

[dvd]

Many great rifles and pistols were mentioned.
I'll mention one that was not mentioned and is a collectible in my books;
The Park recoilless rifles of the early 90's. The emerging PCP's saw them off apparently. I bet they could be a winner now if someone were to produce them again using today's technology.
They had a unique two spring/piston action connected by a cycle chain and one of the better built airguns of the era.
AFAIK The Park RH 93 Mod only 1300 were made.

[Muskett]

Who would have thought that anyone would want to collect a Sussex Armory/Air Arms Jackel?

Standard and popular models with best wood and extras as seen in the mags will be collectable and A1 condition examples will retain their value. Good guns are worth something.

One off's and specials if they look good and shoot well will retain value but gain little. Its popular models that people want; the ones they couldn't afford when younger. However, top match rifles don't sell well if at all even though they were very expensive when new.

I think rifles like Sharp Innovas will decline as they spares become difficult to find. HW80's, 77's are great guns but there are a lot out there. Air Arms and Theobens are lovely guns and will be wanted. Odd rifles like the Park and Stirling will be collected because of the oddity and scarcity but there is a limit to what anyone is willing to pay.

Changes in the law, collections growing too fast (in no time 20 odd guns) where do you store them and inflated prices are the dampners on the future.

Good looking, odd, shoots well, has some history/innovation then its going to be collected. But it doesn't mean there is a profit in it or that its worth much.

Happy new year all.

[Eagleman]

Very interesting thread guys but can I introduce a sour note? What will happen to collecting when and if (as I believe inevitable down the line somewhere) that ALL becomes FAC?

[ogilkes]

I suppose if all goes on ticket then collecting will be a mite bit difficult. I suppose antique guns will remain antique guns, perhaps if enough representations are, made some leeway may be goiven for collectors, but on current performance I doubt it.