Investing in Guns: Some Tips (But It's a Bad Idea)

Despite an overall downturn in gun sales due to economic factors and a perceived sense of safety, there's a significant surge in demand for specific vintage and collectible military firearms. These include models like the M1 Garand, M1903 Springfield, Carcano M91, Mosin Nagant, SKS, K31, Kar98k, military surplus AKs, and vintage ARs. Their popularity is driven by scarcity, increased availability of associated ammunition, and a shift away from modern, 'cookie-cutter' firearms towards historically significant pieces.

This video from TheYankeeMarshal explores whether firearms owned by celebrities command higher prices at auction. The speaker, an experienced individual, differentiates between a firearm's intrinsic value (craftsmanship, materials) and its non-intrinsic value (provenance, ownership history). Using John Wayne's Colt Single Action Army as a prime example, the video illustrates how celebrity association can significantly increase a firearm's market value, potentially tripling or quadrupling its price beyond its inherent worth.

This video provides a comprehensive historical analysis of best-selling gun brands from 1960 to 2026, detailing market shifts, key innovations like polymer frames, and the rise of global manufacturers. The expert-level presentation, with its deep dive into historical context and technical evolution, offers valuable insights for firearm enthusiasts and industry observers alike.

This video provides an overview of the SHOT Show 2026, highlighting opportunities for industry engagement, deal discovery, and spotting market trends. It showcases various exhibitors and product types, emphasizing the event's focus on innovation and professional networking. The show is noted as being held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from January 20-23, and is not open to the general public.

This video explores the concept of a market cap for used and collectible firearms, concluding that there is no definitive ceiling. The discussion highlights how supply, demand, rarity, historical significance, and cultural impact all contribute to a firearm's value. Factors like undiscovered caches, production numbers, and even pop culture references can significantly influence prices, making the market dynamic and often unpredictable. The speakers emphasize that knowledge and understanding of a firearm's provenance and unique features are crucial for accurate valuation.

This video, featuring firearm experts Ian McCollum and Len Antaris, delves into identifying valuable investment handguns. They discuss a generational shift in collecting, moving towards 20th-century military and service pistols. The experts highlight specific overlooked models from Spanish, Russian, and Chinese manufacturers, as well as rising interest in 9mm double-stack pistols from the 70s/80s. They also touch upon the unique opportunity presented by US military surplus Sig Sauer M17/M18s and the potential risks associated with market flooding.

This guide details the specific technique for separating two MAS-36 rifles that have been inadvertently locked together by their bayonets. It outlines the historical context of this issue, the modification made to the bayonet to resolve it, and the step-by-step procedure for disengagement. The technique requires precise alignment and the use of a pointed tool to access the internal release mechanism, as demonstrated by firearms expert Ian McCollum.

This guide details the loading and firing procedure for the M134 Minigun, as explained by Ian McCollum. It covers manual indexing of the barrel cluster, feeding the ammunition belt, engaging controls, and firing. The guide also touches upon the weapon's spin-down inertia and the function of modern clutch systems. Expert instruction from a recognized firearms historian highlights the technical aspects of operating this powerful weapon system.

This guide details the operational features of the H&K G11 K2, a prototype assault rifle known for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt. It covers the selector settings, magazine capacity, integrated optics, and the internal action designed for recoil management during high-rate-of-fire bursts. Expert insights from Ian McCollum highlight the historical context and technical innovations of this advanced firearm.

This guide details the operation of the German L.Gr.W.36 50mm light mortar, as demonstrated by expert Ian McCollum. It covers assembly, leveling procedures, ammunition handling, and live fire execution, emphasizing the difficulty in visually tracking the projectile. The instruction highlights the importance of proper setup for accuracy.