A question for collectors

[NowhereMan]

Is a firearm in a discontinued caliber considered more or less desireable? I realize much of an items "collectability" is based on supply and demand.

I'm looking at a Ruger SP101 in .327 mag. Collective thinking seems to be that the cartridge will be discontinued due to lack of interest. Will this make the firearm more desireable or, less?


Dave

[ohiobuckeye]

If we live long enough to find out...might take a while....

[NowhereMan]

Why do you say that?


Dave

[Malysh]

I don't think that is something that can be predicted, but I also don't think that when a manufacturer decides to drop a caliber offering of a model and continues to produce the gun in more popular calibers it automatically will enhance the collecting value of the guns in the dropped caliber.
One just cannot tell.

Colt dropped the 32 & 38 NP calibers from their Detective Special and Police Positive Special guns after WWII . I doubt any Detective Special in 32 NP is worth any more to a collector than the standard 38 Special is, perhaps less. The 38 NP is an exception since very few were made for this model gun after the war.
Another exception would be a German made PPK in 25acp. The gun was extremely popular in 32 and 22lr and 9mmK but Walther found out that it was not popular in 25 early on and dropped it from their line. Most people who wanted a 25 wanted a gun as small as a Colt 1903 or a baby Browning. 25acp Walther PPKs are very rare pistols.

[Colt-SL]

I think it depends on many factors. If the firearm itself is a collectible piece and ammo was plentiful enough at one time then, yes, it could be. The .327 mag is a great caliber. I handload for it so I wouldn't hesitate to buy a nice gun that may be discounted, price-wise, due to be a discontinued handgun. I have had and reloaded for the .32 H&R mag in a S&W 16-4. Very accurate and versatile, it shot, if memory serves, 4 different 32 rounds. The .327 (I had the Ruger and a Charter Arms) was about on an equal par with the .32 mag.

[what would you say]

My two cents: some people can confuse "collectible value" and "most desirable value".. if that makes sense. As I am finding out, the most collectible, most rare stuff is sometimes only wanted by a few. The most desirable, in terms of easiest to sell and price, is the more common stuff. But to Malysh's point, ya never can tell. I recommend acquiring all the choices where possible. That it is in line with the Colt addiction.

[ohiobuckeye]

Why do you say that?


Dave

Rarity and/or obsolete caliber doesn't necessarily make a gun desirable to collectors. The 22 WRF, 38 S&W, 32-20, 41 long Colt, and several other calibers are generally considered obsolete, but the guns chambered for them are usually desirable because of other factors, and don't have any particular value because of the obsolete chambering.
Limited production numbers don't always turn into high dollar guns. The Colt Marshall, 32 OMT, and the 22WRM OMM, are less in number than many other models that were produced by the thousands that bring premium prices. Time and the market place will eventually provide the answer for the Ruger.

[Colt75]

I think the .327 Magnum is on the fast track to the dust bin of history. To the hardcore Ruger Collectors this could translate into a collectable gun. As always, JMHO.

[John Fugate]

Is a firearm in a discontinued caliber considered more or less desireable? I realize much of an items "collectability" is based on supply and demand.

I'm looking at a Ruger SP101 in .327 mag. Collective thinking seems to be that the cartridge will be discontinued due to lack of interest. Will this make the firearm more desireable or, less?


Dave

The firearms is not desirable to begin with, lack of interest is why its something is discontinued. Look at the past, short runs of odd caliber odd configuration guns seem to always bring a premeium years after they are discontinued. If your looking for an investment, look at the numbers. How many have been produced ? If they made a million of these,, then its unlikely the demand will ever catch up with the supply. If they made a million of these there will still be close to million left in 20 years. If the production was low, then you may be in business. If you want to invest in anything buy the rarest configration if possible at the time in new perfect condition, and make sure you get all of the pieces of the puzzel, hang tags,manuals,end labels,boxes, etc. All that will make the difference when you take it to market. As a rule of thumb Ruger is not the best choice for a substancial return on your money. If you are looking to invest,, there are better places to put your money. If your in love with a Ruger .327 buy one and shoot it,, I dont seeing these things doing very much, they will probably outrun inflation at best.

John " Buy a Colt" Fugate

[pecosriver]

My experience has been that the price of ammo (percentage wise) rises faster than the firearms chambering it.