The Value of Used Airguns

[Steelhead]

After being in the hobby now for some years, I have bought/sold/kept a few different airguns. I started out with a big bore and progressively moved into small bore. One of my friends coincidentally owns an FX Royale and we were surprised that we both had PCP's even though we didn't know the other had one. I got a used .25 Armada from a Guild member and joined the small-bore ranks.

Fast forward to now and I have sold a few, got a few more, and continue to be immersed in airgun shooting and hunting. The depreciation of airguns was a bit of a surprise, but it shouldn't have been. Firearms are still working off of the basic platforms that they've used for a century. Small improvements and custom machining, sure, but a Remington 700, a Savage 99, or a Browning BAR for example all hold and have held their value very well through the decades. By contrast, my friend's 7-8 year old FX Royale with its aluminum air tube isn't worth that much at all. I've seen this with numerous other airguns too that, for all intensive purposes, are considered out of date and obsolete.

A tangible example of this are Quackenbush guns. They were the cat's ass for big bore, but (putting aesthetics aside) they are out of date and due to the design limitations of the day they can only generate so much power and accuracy. I can outshoot a Quackenbush all day with my Texan, both in accuracy and fps. That's not a condemnation of the Quack, just a progression of technology. How long can a gun like that hold it's value? Will it ever go up? If one is not using it, should he or she consider trying to unload it while there's still interest or is it better to hang on to it?     

Another acquaintance bought a Daystate Renegade at ShotShow a few years ago. It's a funny story, but the purchase was made during an afternoon of excessive drinking and a 'WTF did buy?' moment when he woke up. He never used it and asked me to try to sell it for him. I think he paid somewhere around $1400-$1800 for it, but I couldn't get anyone to even look at it for half of that. Daystate moved on from the Renegade to other models and that beautiful gun just holds no resale value.

I never got into airguns to wheel and deal or make money on guns. However, I'm starting to realize that for an average shooter and not a collector of antiquity or rare guns that guns are to be used and they have a shelf life. That shelf life can last to the point that they need work (performed by others) that outweighs the value of the gun, OR as a shooter you know that what USED to be the best last year is now secondhand.

This concept isn't a revelation, but we tend to lump 'guns' and 'shooting' into one category and when talking airguns and firearms they certainly are not when it comes to holding value. That doesn't diminish the joy of the hobby for me, but it DOES change the way I approach purchases now. I have noticed that myself and others have 'trimmed the fat' of their airgun stable and narrowed it down to the key pieces that are used. Closet queens serve absolutely no purpose (unless of course it's an antique, but that's an exception) and only lose value while they sit.

I'm curious what other's opinions are on this.     

[Alan]

Kevin, what you notated is about the gist of it all.

Like you, I've gone through a few airguns in the last 9 years, and spent more than I ever imagined I would. I consider this interim, a learning curve. Geez, looking back, I've done the same scenario with other hobbies, so I suspect it is a human nature thing!

You and I both own an FX Impact in .25 caliber, and I still shoot mine, albeit I also have a new Mk III. My plan is to repurpose the Mk II into a backyard plinker. That is, to reduce the velocity, use lighter pellets, etc., so I can sort of skirt the local laws around here about such things.

As for the Mk III, it is getting even more mods soon, hence more money will be spent! It is just a case of making the best of what you have by adding things. Isn't any different than car racing (don't ask me about the monies spent on that mess!), or playing golf. My neighbor (who golfs a lot) just spent several grand on a new set of clubs. To each his own. All of this is just the cost of enjoying one's hobby.

Needless to say, anyone (sober) really into his/her hobby will go through the same situation. This begs the question...

Was that new trowel really better than the one you already owned?

[steveoh]

I have a firearm I paid $450 for in the mid 80's. That was a chunk of change for me. It sells for 2-2.5k now. 

I recently sold my .257 Citrus for quite a tidy profit. Sold my Sumatra and really lost no money on that deal though I shot it a lot over the past 4-5 years.

Take your time selling and you might get what you want.

Sold my neighbors boat that she was on the cusp of donating to Goodwill or KQED as a tax write off. She and I both made a nice chunk of change off that sale. We worked hard but it was worth it.

I recently sold a BMX style Trials bicycle I bought new around 1987. I paid maybe $250 for it, and just sold it for $600.

I guess I'm a better salesman than I used to be as I have given stuff away like my beloved 66 Chrysler and a Moto Guzzi Lemans ($$$$).