FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1989
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Show Schedule
Pre98 Antiques Pre98 Antiques
Select category
  • Select category
  • Books
  • Colt
    • Colt General Officer & Rare US Property Pistols
    • Colt M1911 & M1911A1
  • Gone But Not Forgotten
  • Guns of World War One
  • Handguns
    • British
    • Commercial
    • German
    • Italian
    • Japanese
    • Other Countries
    • Russian
    • US
  • Holsters & Militaria
  • Long Guns
    • British
    • German
    • Japanese
    • Other Countries
    • US
  • Luger
  • Magazines
  • MAUSER
  • Militaria
  • New Arrivals
  • Pre98 Classic Sold
    • Sold Holsters
  • Walther
Login / Register
0 Wishlist
0 items $0.00
Menu
Pre98 Antiques Pre98 Antiques
0 items $0.00
Browse Categories
  • New ArrivalsNew Arrivals
  • ColtColt
  • HandgunsHandguns
  • Long GunsLong Guns
  • LugerLuger
  • MagazinesMagazines
  • MilitariaMilitaria
  • WW1WW1
  • WaltherWalther
  • Pre98 Classic SoldPre98 Classic Sold
  • Gone But Not ForgottenGone But Not Forgotten
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Testimonials
  • Catalog
  • Gone But Not Forgotten
  • News
  • Contact Us
Click to enlarge
SOLD VERY EARLY PRODUCTION (#247) US WW1 ISSUE REMINGTON UMC MODEL 1911 PISTOL, NAMED OFFICER CARRY IN WWI & WWII! $4,650.00
Back to products
SOLD ULTRA RARE AKAH BROWN THEUERMANN DROPPING HOLSTER FOR THE WALTHER PP PISTOL $750.00

Pre98 Antiques Military Firearms Collecting Outlook for 2020

Add to wishlist
SKU: 01/06/2020-1 Category: New Arrivals
Share:
  • Description
Description

As we close the book on a very active 2019 it’s time for our annual look back and forward to review the events of the past year and what we expect to occur this year.

2019 was a record breaking year

This was a great year of opportunities for advanced collectors as a lot of old “boomer” collections were liquidated in the first half of the year and some rare and  high condition items came to the market that are rarely seen.  We experienced record breaking monthly sales right through July, the pace of selling was so hot there was no let up until late in the month when things just slowed down considerably.  There is always a summer slump until Labor Day when business gradually builds back up during the fall but this year the market stayed relatively quiet through October into early November and this was the case with all other dealers as well.  The reasons for this slowdown are not well understood, perhaps everyone was just burned out from all the frenzied buying earlier in the year or perhaps everyone took a pause due to the unsettled political and economic outlook of the late summer.    Strong favorable trade winds returned in Mid November and this past December was frenetic and record breaking.  All things considered 2019 was a record year for us here at pre98.

2020 will be strong but unsettled.

We have been in this market for over 30 years and based upon what we are seeing we can tell you what we believe is likely to happen this year.

Firstly,  we do not anticipate there to be as many old collections liquidating this year.  There was a confluence of events last year that put a glut of guns and collections on the market and we just do not see any evidence that trend will continue, if it was we would already be seeing it in the pipeline and in upcoming auctions and that just has not happened.    While we expect the over supply in average condition military collectible guns to continue well into 2020  (which is a boon for average collectors) we expect demand to far outstrip supply in the rare/premium grade artifacts that we specialize in.  It will take all of our tradecraft to ferret out a steady supply of top tier museum grade inventory for our clients insatiable appetites.

Secondly, you should expect sales to continue to be very strong; more collectors are entering the market than leaving.  In popular culture movies like “1917”, all the documentaries seen on the history channel and other venues will continue to capture the public’s imagination with 20th century military history.  These stories capture one’s imagination;  History Sells Guns!  Just as our past helps us to sells guns, current events will from time to time this year will probably make for a bit of a choppy ride in sales.  We have the uncertainties of a Presidential election year, and suddenly a new war to deal with.  These things will distract from time to time this year and may or may not slow interest and affect sales however these pauses tend to be fairly short in duration when and if they occur.

Continuing and new trends, gunshows at least as far as collector grade guns are concerned are continuing their steady march into irrelevance.  The largest 2 shows are still doing very well, Tulsa and the Show of Shows but let’s face it the rest of the shows are just very sketchy low end affairs full of gun show losers; you players have better things to do on your weekends.  Brick and mortar shops are also becoming a thing of the past; we are in the ascendance of the very experienced online master dealers with many decades of tradecraft and long contact lists on our smart phones….Brett & I look forward to serving you this coming year.

Related products

EARLY PRODUCTION 1ST PATTERN CANADIAN INGLIS HIGH POWER HOLSTER, 1944 DATED, NICE!

$175.00
Add to wishlist
Add to cart
Quick view

WED DEC 8, EARLY JAPANESE NAMBU PISTOL HOLSTER, NO FIRING PIN POUCH

$495.00
Add to wishlist
Add to cart
Quick view
New

PRE98 MAGAZINE MANIA!!! FREE SHIPPING ON ALL MAGS!!!

OVER 140 MAGAZINES LISTED ON THE SITE….. MANY RARE EXAMPLES  FREE SHIPPING!!! CHECK OUT THE MAGAZINE CATEGORY ON THE LEFT
Add to wishlist
Read more
Quick view

FRI JAN 7, ORIGINAL WALTHER PPK BAKELITE GRIP, NICE COLORING WARTIME

$200.00
ORIGINAL WALTHER PPK BAKELITE GRIP…NICE COLORING, WARTIME…CRACK ON RIGHT SIDE OF GRIP, DOES NOT INCLUDE GRIP SCREW OR ESCUTCHEON…PRICED ACCORDINGLY
Add to wishlist
Add to cart
Quick view
General Officers Pistol that was issued in 1951 To BG Carroll H. Deitrick
General Officers Pistol that was issued in 1951 To BG Carroll H. Deitrick

MON APR 5, US WW2 1908 COLT GENERAL OFFICERS PISTOL, ISSUED TO MAJ GENERAL CARROLL DEITRICK, MINT!

$7,650.00
In 97%+ very sharp condition we have a very rare US WW2 production Colt M1908 General Officers Pistol that was
Add to wishlist
Add to cart
Quick view

MON FEB 8, VERY SCARCE KARL MOBIUS (1876-1953) BRONZE OF A GERMAN SOUTHWEST AFRICA COLONIAL TROOPER, WWII VET TROPHY

$2,100.00
At about 1 foot tall, we have a WWII vet war trophy Bronze sculpture by noted German Karl Mobius of
Add to wishlist
Add to cart
Quick view

The P.38 Book…(The Walther Pistols – 1930-1945) Warren Buxton…Volumne One

$185.00
The P.38 Pistol , The Walther Pistols 1930-1945 Volume one by Warren Buxton. Book is in near mint condition with
Add to wishlist
Add to cart
Quick view

TUES OCT 26, ORIGINAL WW2 U.S. 1911-A1 ENGER KRESS MARKED SHOULDER HOLSTER FOR THE COLT 1911A1

$275.00
Add to wishlist
Add to cart
Quick view

Passionate Caretakers of Our Historic Military Firearms and America’s Wartime Heritage.

19 Battery Drive
Winchester, VA 22601
Phone: 703.628.5862
Newsletter Signup

Useful links
  • Privacy Policy
  • Returns
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us
Recent Posts
  • Sunday, January 19 – Weekly News Update
    January 20, 2020
  • Sunday, January 12 – Weekly News Update
    January 14, 2020
  • Pre98 Antiques Military Firearms Collecting Outlook for 2020
    January 6, 2020
Copyright 2023. Pre98 Antiques. Designed by Web Strategies.
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Testimonials
  • Catalog
  • Gone But Not Forgotten
  • News
  • Show Schedule
  • Privacy Policy
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Wishlist
  • Login / Register
Shopping cart
Close
Sign in
Close

Lost your password?

No account yet?

Create an Account
Home
Shop
0 Wishlist
0 items Cart