Which handgun holds it's value best?

[Mike Cork]

I don't buy and sell them so I just don't have a clue. I was asked the other day if a Smith and Wesson would hold it's value better than a Ruger? I said, I personally think a S&W is worth more but I didn't think it mattered. Unless you were getting into something like a 50 cal Desert Eagle, in which case it would be worth what a buyer is willing to pay, I figured all handguns depreciate.

I'm sure there are weapons out there that can't be bought new anymore, or there is such a long wait time to get one that there might be value or appreciation with the right buyer.

None the less the question got me to thinking if there was a way to buy home/self-defense and a savings account at the same time?

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Not really, not if you're getting a modern production handgun. At least they don't lose very much value as compared to other items commonly bought used, such as cars and boats.
My 44 magnum is from the 70's, and has appreciated a bit in a way. Back then, I think they cost a couple hundred bucks. These days this particular model costs around 600-700 new I believe, I haven't bothered checking in a very long time, they could cost more.
I could sell mine and reasonably expect to get similar to what a newer used version would fetch, around $500 or so the last time I checked.

With a new, quality, current production handgun from a reputable maker, you can USUALLY expect a depreciation of 10%-25%, but the cool thing is, they generally don't depreciate much more beyond that. So if you spend $1000 on a handgun, you could possibly get $800-$900 for it a year from now, or ten years from now as long as it's well cared for.

To get something that's going to gain value, full autos are great investments. Years ago I looked at a full auto MP5 and they were only $12,000 on average. A few hours ago I handled one that looks like crap and is battered all to hell and the asking price was $30,000.

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[WTodd]

Day in and day out it's Glock because they're pretty much bulletproof (pun intended).


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[SteelHorseCowboy]

Day in and day out it's Glock because they're pretty much bulletproof (pun intended).


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It's an absolutely great gun, but actually depreciates more than many others. Partly because instead of making some few select changes to specific models, they revamp the entire lineup every few years.

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[WTodd]

It never breaks down and will fire no matter how dirty it is


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[SteelHorseCowboy]

Yes, but that's not the question at hand. The question is about which guns may gain, hold or lose value. GLOCKs tend to lose value rather quickly, with rather significant drops in their used values once a new generation is released.

There's no question about their reliability. I'm pretty sure the original 17 prototype is still alive and kicking.

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[WTodd]

I haven't noticed a loss in value BUT I haven't shopped used Glocks extensively

I'm actually in the market for another Glock so I hope you're right so I can get on fairly inexpensively


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[Burbarry]

I would say most 1911s hold value year over year even used.


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[twocold]

love my colt 45

[SteelHorseCowboy]

I haven't noticed a loss in value BUT I haven't shopped used Glocks extensively

I'm actually in the market for another Glock so I hope you're right so I can get on fairly inexpensively


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Look for a police trade in. The vast majority of them are only fired enough for qualifications, usually less than 200 rounds per year, but depends on the department they're coming from. My stepbrother's department only required a 60 round qualification course once a year.

Put this together with the fact that GLOCK offers plenty of training to police armorers, it's pretty well guaranteed you'd get one mechanically immaculate with plenty of holster wear.

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[SteveTX]

Brand vs brand I don't think just the brand as long as its a major brand will be any real value difference. I'm speaking in comparable guns. Sure a specific model in one may be the cherry one of that company but all the major companies have their successes and their failures. Name brand quality models all generally hold a pretty equal % of value.

As far as a home/self-defense and a savings account at the same time. I don't try and put these two categories together. As with most things when trying to multipurpose something usually has to be compromised. An example would be I wanted a extremely reliable self-defense gun but that gun was a extremely common gun that a billion were made of making demand very low and such the $ value. Or buying a great gun for holding its value its awesome to look at and fondle while holding its price extremely well it is a old gun with no safety or a poorly designed safety. Not a gun you would want around a family necessarily.

A home/self-defense and a savings account weapon each have their purpose and one is the most important purpose to me. What I want to protect my family or my life will not be based on what I want as an investment and most likely it wont be for anyone seriously looking for either of the two categories you listed. I can combine looks and investment, hunting and looks, or hunting and cost per round also work. Lots a categories I will combine but few go with self-defense. That category I don't care what it looks like, its $ value next week, month, or year, or what the ammunition costs.

I'm not saying you cant get a gun that will do both but I would say it will be a more or less expensive piece for home/self-defense. One thing to think about is these home/self-defense guns need to be shot regularly and quite a bit so they become very comfortable to use. At 3am in the dark 1/2 asleep is no time to be getting lessons on where the safety is or any other part of the gun. Most well used guns are not your typical guns that bring more value as they are used. Yes I know many old guns that have been shot a lot are very collectable and rare. But that class of gun isn't what I think Mike is referring to.

Simple answer is get a name brand quality gun that is comfortable to grip and hold in a large enough caliber that stops a idiot and don't worry about what the resale is or will be. Get a gun that will protect your loved ones based on how it performs.

I love all guns even the "assault" ones if there was such a thing. Guns are like a lot of things though like fishing reels. Some love certain brands and others dislike that brand. Have to see what feels right to you.

Just built this one the other day. I'm late getting into the AR game but I just wanted one or 2. Not a pistol but very effective stopping power, easy to control and shoot, and I could sell it easily and get every penny I put into it back. I still would take the 12GA over a pistol or AR for in home self defense any day.

[Sandman7925]

Brands matter but so does model.  A S&W with and actual pin on the hammer is valuable. Ruger revolvers are bomb proof and hold value well.
Ruger is great company. The last of the great American gun companies not owned by an equity firm.


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[Princeton_Man]

I have to agree with most everything said. I believe revolvers like the Colt Python or the S&W Mod 29 will hold value better than most autos will.


If you're looking to buy a gun as an investment you'll need to get a good deal on it, lock it in a dry safe, and wait 20 years.

If you're buying a handgun for self defense you're going to practice with it and carry it. It's going to be a used gun and will bring a used gun price. Buy for performance, reliability, feel, etc. I like Sigs and Glocks. Go to a range where you can rent variety and try them or go shoot with a buddy who owns a good selection.


You can make a few $$ buying and selling a gun here and there. I sold several dozen surplus 30rd mags during Obama's gun purchase incentive promotion. Paid something like $4-5/each and sold them for $15/each. I think the real money was made on .22lr ammo! 

[Deadeye]

Mike there is not to much to add to what has already been said.

Most guns you will never see a Profit from unless they are used very little and kept a long time. Even then the Price is in the eyes of the Buyer.

I have an old Remington Model 722 Rifle in .257 Roberts. We had a Gun Shop Owner years ago offer $800.00 for it sight unseen, yet it's real Book Value is only in the $300.00 range. I wouldn't even sell it as it was my Dad's hunting rifle and I plan to pass it down to one of my Grandsons.

For simplicity it's hard to beat a Revolver. Today's models even have Hammer Safeties that don't allow them to go off if dropped on the hammer, the trigger has to be squeezed to open the Hammer Bar.

As to brands the higher dollar ones may hold more value like a Kimber, but a S&W or Ruger will hold their own.

Semi-Autos like Glock, Springfield, Ruger, Taurus all are very good duns that will last for years. Just stay aways from the Cheap Ones like Skky, Jenson and even Keltec. Yeah I know lots of Keltec are sold and have happy owners, but mine shot the Recoil Spring right out the front of the Slide. When I took to Coco where it was made they told me that they had a bad bunch of slides go out and this was happening. I asked a bout a Recall and they said no they were just fixing them as the came in. That told me they really had no QC and all they cared about was the Sale. Never buy another one fo sure.

Whatever you end up with, shoot it enough to know the gun. When you need it is not the time to fumble for a safety or remember how to line up the sights.

[the_huber_show]

Lots of good comments! 

The only other thing I would say is area will play with pricing too.  I know here in Missouri used Glocks do not depreciate very much.  I tend to find better deals and more depreciated price on cheaper carry handguns.  Example: Shields, Bodyguard, etc.



End of the day no matter what you carry or have as a defense weapon as long as it works for you and meets what you need is the most important.



I have a Hi-Point 9mm as a home defense handgun.  I have shot this in IDPA competitions and steel competitions.  They get a bad name for being cheap and having malfunctions.  I have found it likes certain ammo so that's what I shoot out of it. 

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Hi-Points also have about the best damn warranty and customer service of just about any product, including many non-gun products. Some tool manufacturers have warranties that compare, but they don't always throw in extras. Hi-Point will often throw in some extra mags or ghost ring sights.

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[Mike Cork]

Thanks for all the inputs guys. Laurie and I love our S & W's, we are having a problem with a Ruger right now but have talked with the company and they are going to take a look and fix it (They've beeen great to work with).

I always browse the weapons and wonder, with so many options, where's the best money spent I'm not really in the market for a new one, but do have money burning a hole in my pocket and was looking to a new weapon but didn't want to just buy another one like what I already got.

[SteveTX]

Hi-Points also have about the best damn warranty and customer service of just about any product, including many non-gun products. Some tool manufacturers have warranties that compare, but they don't always throw in extras. Hi-Point will often throw in some extra mags or ghost ring sights.

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Ruger imho is on this level with taking care of a customer. I dont know that they ever gave mags or stuff away but I just want what I bought to work. Here is how my first Ruger experience went.

I purchased a P95 out of a pawn shop took it out and it wasn't perfect but it was a well used older gun. Called Ruger they asked me a few things trying to see if it could be fixed without sending it in. No luck they asked me to send it to them so I did. About a week later my gun comes back completely refurbished. Like every gun I own it literally will eat any brand or style ammunition you throw at it and does it so effortlessly. Extremely fast service, friendly service, beyond a doubt quality repair, and the bill was $0.00. Now that is service I can deal with. Remember it was a pawn shop gun and a old shot up one at that.

I promptly went and bought new my SR45 after that. I will support companies that back their products especially when the product is a excellent product. 

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Thanks for all the inputs guys. Laurie and I love our S & W's, we are having a problem with a Ruger right now but have talked with the company and they are going to take a look and fix it (They've beeen great to work with).

I always browse the weapons and wonder, with so many options, where's the best money spent I'm not really in the market for a new one, but do have money burning a hole in my pocket and was looking to a new weapon but didn't want to just buy another one like what I already got.

Which Ruger model, and what's it doing?

Steve, I've had one bad experience with Ruger's CS, and I'm pretty sure it's just because I caught someone on a bad day.
Front sight flew off my LC9S at the range. I found it, reinserted it with a dab of loctite under it. About a box of ammo later it had walked all the way to one side. I put it away and called Ruger. I was told they wouldn't warranty it since I tried to repair it myself.
This was after they'd sent me parts for a 40 year old revolver, of which I'm the third owner of, for FREE, so I could repair it myself.

I got that front sight repaired. Got it situated where it needed to be, then took a sharpened punch and peened the dove tail ears down onto it.

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[SteveTX]

Which Ruger model, and what's it doing?

Steve, I've had one bad experience with Ruger's CS, and I'm pretty sure it's just because I caught someone on a bad day.
Front sight flew off my LC9S at the range. I found it, reinserted it with a dab of loctite under it. About a box of ammo later it had walked all the way to one side. I put it away and called Ruger. I was told they wouldn't warranty it since I tried to repair it myself.
This was after they'd sent me parts for a 40 year old revolver, of which I'm the third owner of, for FREE, so I could repair it myself.

I got that front sight repaired. Got it situated where it needed to be, then took a sharpened punch and peened the dove tail ears down onto it.

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I'm sorry to hear that. I use to frequent a Ruger forum that was not affiliated with the Ruger company. They had hundreds of posts/stories where Ruger was extremely nice and easy to deal with like my experience. But yes unfortunately we are human and maybe someone was having a bad day when you called.

Mike if you don't mind I also would like to know what model and issue you are having? I would bet Ruger will make you happy they over all try very hard to from the couple dealings I have had.

[the_huber_show]

Thanks for all the inputs guys. Laurie and I love our S & W's, we are having a problem with a Ruger right now but have talked with the company and they are going to take a look and fix it (They've beeen great to work with).

I always browse the weapons and wonder, with so many options, where's the best money spent I'm not really in the market for a new one, but do have money burning a hole in my pocket and was looking to a new weapon but didn't want to just buy another one like what I already got.

Ain't no shame in staying with something you like!

My one advice and I am sure you already know this.  Go to the range and shot the gun you're looking at.  I bought a Taurus 709c and sold it less than a week later.  Wasn't right for me as I didn't like the way it fit in my hand and the trigger pull/travel.

[Mike Cork]

I'm sorry to hear that. I use to frequent a Ruger forum that was not affiliated with the Ruger company. They had hundreds of posts/stories where Ruger was extremely nice and easy to deal with like my experience. But yes unfortunately we are human and maybe someone was having a bad day when you called.

Mike if you don't mind I also would like to know what model and issue you are having? I would bet Ruger will make you happy they over all try very hard to from the couple dealings I have had.

It's having a feed jamming problem. It's actually Laurie's weapon, a .380 LCP. She shot maybe 10 boxes (500 rounds) through it before it started having the problem. Of course everyone jumped to the, "it's a woman and a small weapon so she's limp wristing it." But I've shot it and still have the problem. I'll have to post pictures of the jam. Ruger has already sent a new magazine and it didn't help, so they want us to send the weapon in. Which I just haven't got around to doing. Maybe I'll coordinate that today.

[the_huber_show]

Of course everyone jumped to the, "it's a woman and a small weapon so she's limp wristing it." But I've shot it and still have the problem. I'll have to post pictures of the jam.

awe Mike are you limp wristing 


It always sucks sending in a weapon for work as it's a pain in the 

[Mike Cork]

Yeah it is, I've got a buddy that owns a pawn shop so I'll get with him and make it happen. 

[SteveTX]

It's having a feed jamming problem. It's actually Laurie's weapon, a .380 LCP. She shot maybe 10 boxes (500 rounds) through it before it started having the problem. Of course everyone jumped to the, "it's a woman and a small weapon so she's limp wristing it." But I've shot it and still have the problem. I'll have to post pictures of the jam. Ruger has already sent a new magazine and it didn't help, so they want us to send the weapon in. Which I just haven't got around to doing. Maybe I'll coordinate that today.

That is how the P95 I mentioned was. Just randomly malfunction. The limp wrist must be standard response stuff I got the same questions.    It's been a while on mine but I think they replaced a spring maybe. Who knows but they should get ya fixed up those are popular guns.