Size of Collectors' Market in the UK

[Garvin]

Some things I think it’s fair to say we know about the UK vintage airgun market:

1. There are some well-heeled collectors who will pay a premium to have rare airguns quickly and are in a hurry to build their collections, which influences the prices dealers charge
2. Good condition rarities are likely to hold their value / be the last to lose their value if the market crashes / restrictive laws come in etc
3. Good condition rarities are in short supply, so when they do come up competition can be intense / prices high
4. In the UK, English airguns tend to be worth more than foreign guns, depending on rarity
5. Non-production or prototype rarities are not as sought after as production items
6. There is a lot of luck involved in selling vintage airguns at an auction – if two people want the same item at the same time the final price can be high, if not disappointingly low
7. Don’t be in a rush to snap up the first classic airgun you see that was made in large quantities when new – another one will be along soon enough
8. Condition is everything when it comes to value
9. Nostalgia drives a lot of purchases

Edit: 10. Binners' Kempton show has revealed a big appetite for airgun bargains in the Southeast.