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I wind up asking myself, if I were a begining collector, with the prices being out of sight on so many of the tradtional collector firearms, what would I collect today. I would have to say that a prime example of a relativily rare gun shouldn't cost more than $1500.

Smith & Wesson N Frames..Pinned and Recessed discontinued by Smith around 1982...a coupla years ago they were hard to give away in the $425 range..which was clsoe to what they cost new...now $595...the 4 and 5 screws approach the $1200 to $2000 range and are good values.

Walther WW2 P38s..Steel Frames..for years they were around $350 to $400 in the 90s the market was flooded with them as the German Police traded them in and prices dropped...now WW2 without import marks (imported before 1968) are in the $650 range up..with tons of variations to keep yourself busy for years. I bought a HP variation at auction for $275 in the late 90s...it was even listed in Braxtons book on the subject. Also PPs and PPKs apply...that Nazi stuff sells

High Standard 22 Autos...in the early 60s 95% of all target shooters shot High Standards...only the Smith 41 put a dent in sales. For years U could find HSs for $275 to $375 not anymore...prices are now $475 to $1500 depending on model and rarity...in 2004 a 10X went for $2300 at auction. For the quality of gun the number of variations this represents a prime area of collecting in the futher.

Colt Post War 1911 up to and including Series 70s...hurry as the best are now in the $1000 + range...38 supers, 45 & 38 NMs, Aces and NIB 45s...this is a NO BRAINER...

Winchester Post 85 Mdl 70s.(Classic, with claw extractor, higher the grade the better)..along with the 94/22s...No longer made, and probably will not be made again in America. These are for those who are willing to wait.

Belgium Browning HPs...this is a gut feeling...for years prices were in the $450 range now they are $600 to $900 @...European quality

Rugers..this is a field that hasn't reached maturity, but has become an established collectable..Rugers were always a utilitiarian gun of modest price and good for the money quality. when I started colleting nobody thought much about Rugers except to shoot. I remember that a Hawkeye or Bearcat would bring a premium on resale, and that was it. Today the early 3 screws and non altered guns are collectable...I have a friend down in ole Miss that has bought 65 of them in the past 2 years. Most are less than $1000 each with the exception being over that amount. He told me that one collector paid $1800 for a box alone, and about $1200 for the gun to put in the box.

Winchester MDL 12 Pump shotguns... These guns for the past few years are hard to give away...I paid $400 for a 12 GA in nearly new condition with a Pacmayer Butt Pad in the early 90s in 2005 I could hardly sell it for $475...These guns are FANTASTIC quality for the money..in 1964 Winchester discontinued making them as they were too costly to mfg. This state of affairs has to change sooner or later, the quality of th egun is just too good.

Colt DA Revolvers..Officer Models, Early Troopers, 357 Mags, Pythons, Diamond Backs even Anacondas...I have a thing for prewar Officer Models, these were handfitted guns of superior quality...do U think anyone cares...every Colt collector has a coupla of them as represenatives that they most likely bought cheap along the way, but no one collects them and prices have risen only slightly over the years.$450 to $1100 with the prewar 32 Officers MDl NIB at $1700. By comparison a postwar S&W mdl 16 is at least $2300 NIB and a prewar is in the $15000 range (only 100 made). The exception of course are the Engraved and Special Order guns. Only the Diamond Back and Python show any interest as they have recently been discontinued..with prices now approach the $1000 + range. Talk about the Cadilliacs of Revolvers for a song...I give up trying to tout these guns...