The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

HALODIN wrote:I was looking to buy one a year or so ago. I think you're looking at £3k for one that is mostly OK and £5K for one with provenance and is OK.

OUCH!

My first (and only) experience with a genuine 4(T) was in the 1960s in the north of Scotland though a friend's father (whom Dromia would have known) who was the local doctor and an RFD. He'd bought four when the MoD released a large batch at either £28 per rifle or £22. I can't remember which, there was a discount scale depending on the number purchased. Anyway, he sold three of the four and the profit got him his own 4(T) effectively free.

A good investment if you bought at the right time!

Laurie I can remember seeing that rifle when being in said doctors house, I am sure it was that that made me want to have my own.

When I bought mine it was hundreds of pounds not tens, now it is thousands, an investment indeed.

This is my thread from April last year, it's worth a read. Personally I wouldn't encourage anyone to buy a rifle as an investment, buy it because you want it. Using the economy as a barometer, we are certainly much closer to a peak than a trough and so you are likely buying near the peak.

http://www.full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=12384

I have to say that all the guns in my personal collection have been sound investments although never bought as such, but their value has far outperformed any savings over the past two decades.

I would agree though that the No4T prices are silly especially with the plethora of fakes around now that will eventually collapse the market.

Guns can be a a very good investment, the down side is that if selling you may have to wait to get the price and also value is totally dependant on our surreal firearms law and where that goes.

I have had more than my monies worth of pleasure from my firearms so they owe me nothing and the tidy profit I get when selling is a bonus.

Whilst I have absolutley no idea whether it's an original or recreation there is I believe a No4T at Fultons.

Certainly was there and for Sale 2 weeks ago and appears to be on their website currently (£2.5k).

Pigsy

Reproduction scope cover, mount & sling. The woodwork has been replaced... Poor pictures, but it doesn't look good. My advice is if you find just "one" suspect part, assume it all is and inspect it with a fine tooth comb. Don't make excuses for pieces, authenticity speaks for itself. I don't believe this was ever a No.4 T. Caveat emptor...

.303 No4T Long Branch Bolt Action Rifle. - £2450.

.303 No4T Long Branch Bolt Action Rifle, manufactured in 1943. Part of a major arms cache that was imported from Italy 6 years ago. Originally believed to have been left in Italy by the Canadians after the war. No.32 Mk1 Scope and repro mount fitted shortly after importation. £2450.

http://www.fultonsofbisley.com/firearms ... -rifle-303

At 7% IR's, prices double every 10 years, at 3.5% they double every 20 years, that's compounding inflation for you. You need to look at the real price rather than just the nominal price, i.e. you can't ignore inflation. £500 in 1994 when measured in today's money is £867.81 @ 2.9% per annum.

BOE Inflation Calculator

dromia wrote:I have to say that all the guns in my personal collection have been sound investments although never bought as such, but their value has far outperformed any savings over the past two decades.

I would agree though that the No4T prices are silly especially with the plethora of fakes around now that will eventually collapse the market.

Guns can be a a very good investment, the down side is that if selling you may have to wait to get the price and also value is totally dependant on our surreal firearms law and where that goes.

I have had more than my monies worth of pleasure from my firearms so they owe me nothing and the tidy profit I get when selling is a bonus.

Yep a good rifle purchase will easily beat that.

In fact there was an article in the FT not so long ago about how good an investment firearms were.

Like most investments the trick is knowing when to sell.

Yes you have the collectible element as well, but like fine wines and paintings, the price is usually a function of disposable income or how well the economy is doing. When everything's going well, people have spare cash and then there's more cash chasing the same amount of goods, it pushes the price up.

If you're buying for an investment, knowing when to buy is equally important.

Funnily enough the market and price of firearms in pretty resilient when it comes to recession and belt tightening.

I suppose that is because most people in the market has disposable income to start with also there is a trend that when times get harder people still want to pursue that which they enjoy if they can.

Whatever the reason you won't have seen many gun business's closing because of the current recession, unless they were on the financial edge anyway.

My modest business still manages to turn a meagre pound despite peoples shortage of cash. And when I put pieces from my collection on sale they all go within a few months at the asking price.