[bearsftball2003]

Uh hello, there are some customized guns that sell way beyond their cost. Like, Yost, Burton, KGB, Chen, Chambers, Rogers, forgive my sins if I left some off. Unsure about rifle builders, but I am sure there are some. Some place in New York and Montana, can't recall the names

 

[MarkCO]

Uh hello, there are some customized guns that sell way beyond their cost. Like, Yost, Burton, KGB, Chen, Chambers, Rogers, forgive my sins if I left some off. Unsure about rifle builders, but I am sure there are some. Some place in New York and Montana, can't recall the names

WADR, the custom builders of the 1900s have been left behind. Factory guns today outperform the customs of the last century.

As they die or retire, they are not being replaced.

Wilson and Les Baer are great examples. Once the most sought after, their current offerings are just another choice.

 

[bearsftball2003]

WADR, the custom builders of the 1900s have been left behind. Factory guns today outperform the customs of the last century.

As they die or retire, they are not being replaced.

Wilson and Les Baer are great examples. Once the most sought after, their current offerings are just another choice.

Wilson and Baer are semi custom, not the same. Half those guys on my list are younger than me and you.

 

[MarkCO]

Wilson and Baer are semi custom, not the same. Half those guys on my list are younger than me and you.

But that's not how they started.

 

[bearsftball2003]

But that's not how they started.

And that is why they aren't worth as much. A Yost sells for 10,000-30,000 a pistol now. A Baer can be had for as low as $1500 almost the same as with Wilson

 

[MarkCO]

And that is why they aren't worth as much. A Yost sells for 10,000-30,000 a pistol now. A Baer can be had for as low as $1500 almost the same as with Wilson

Marketing has a say too. I've always felt that Brown and Chip McCormick made better parts, but not as "famed". Matt McLearn and Luke Volkmann, some of the very best, not as known, but smaller shops too.

 

[bearsftball2003]

Marketing has a say too. I've always felt that Brown and Chip McCormick made better parts, but not as "famed". Matt McLearn and Luke Volkmann, some of the very best, not as known, but smaller shops too.

Lord I forgot Volkman, please JMB forgive me

 

[tacticaljoey]

Uh hello, there are some customized guns that sell way beyond their cost. Like, Yost, Burton, KGB, Chen, Chambers, Rogers, forgive my sins if I left some off. Unsure about rifle builders, but I am sure there are some. Some place in New York and Montana, can't recall the names

Absolutely correct. Those custom gunsmiths are making a good living but, that really wasn’t the question the OP was asking. If you have custom work done by someone, is the final cost more or less or equal to the value you could get for it down the road. Imho, the absolute best you could hope for is to break even, and that’s probably not likely.

 

[CDW4ME]

I've removed the finger grooves (humps) from my Gen 3 Glocks.
Here is an example.
Obviously it is worth WAY more since it's "customized". 🤑😁

 

[bearsftball2003]

Absolutely correct. Those custom gunsmiths are making a good living but, that really wasn’t the question the OP was asking. If you have custom work done by someone, is the final cost more or less or equal to the value you could get for it down the road. Imho, the absolute best you could hope for is to break even, and that’s probably not likely.

So, a Yost might cost you 5,000, but could be worth 20,000. That's not what the gunsmith charges, that is what they retail on the secondary market. But the question is can you get on their list. If you could, then you could absolutely make a profit on the gun.

 

[Check-raiser]

Absolutely not. Expect no increase in value or potentially worth less.

 

[bearsftball2003]

Absolutely not. Expect no increase in value or potentially worth less.

Yeah, worthless

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1093725492

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1056059994

 

[Check-raiser]

Yeah, worthless

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1093725492

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1056059994

Both relisted. 1st eventually "sold", 2nd has not. These guns are a very rare niche market. The person trying to sell will have to probably list for over a year or two online and hope they dont get scammed with online sales.

Now do that for >99.5% of guns, and my statement stands.

 

[sean4570]

A custom gun is like a custom motor cycle, the buyer has to have the same taste as the seller.

 

[tacticaljoey]

So, a Yost might cost you 5,000, but could be worth 20,000. That's not what the gunsmith charges, that is what they retail on the secondary market. But the question is can you get on their list. If you could, then you could absolutely make a profit on the gun.

I guess if you want to cherry pick the situation that much, you are right in a minuscule number of circumstances.

 

[bearsftball2003]

I guess if you want to cherry pick the situation that much, you are right in a minuscule number of circumstances.

There are probably 10-15 shops for 1911's you can make your money and more back on today. Not to mention previous people like Swenson, Yost now.
Chambers, sell for 10,000-15000 now.

 

[tacticaljoey]

There are probably 10-15 shops for 1911's you can make your money and more back on today. Not to mention previous people like Swenson, Yost now.
Chambers, sell for 10,000-15000 now.

And as you previously noted, most if not all of those shops have insane lead times. To pretend it’s a money maker is just not realistic. But, I digress, at the end of the day, I have grown tired of this argument.

 

[Kentucky Shooter]

The base price holds its own and may even appreciate, depending on the gun of course. Im thinking of a case where someone sends a nice Marlin to Wild West guns or a similar place. A $1000 base price will hold its own more or less.

But the extra you spent to make it your “dream” gun, that money is gone. Unless you get lucky and find the very rare buyer who shares exactly the same tastes as you.