The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

**44 AMP** · January 7, 2018, 02:42 PM

No matter where in the world you are, the value will be determined by market demand. The more difficult it is to legally buy and own the item, the more that affects market demand.

The rarity affects asking prices, but cannot and does not set the demand.

Under current US law, there is a "three tier" system for full auto firearms. We can use the classic Tommygun as an example, in all three cases.

one "tier" is guns that are registered with the govt, but not on the civilian registry. These guns are held by dealers, and govt organizations, and are only allowed to be sold to dealers and govt. organizations, not to the public. The "value" of a Tommygun on that list is pretty low, less than a couple thousand, and maybe only a few hundred dollars. The reason is low demand. The only people who can buy them are govt/ police/ and dealers who sell to those customers, and those customers don't want Tommyguns, these days, so the price is low.

Another Tommygun (identical other than ser#), but on the Civilian Registry, able to be owned by private citizens (in compliance with the rest of the laws_ go for $20-40,000 or more, because the supply is small, and fixed, and the demand is comparatively high.

A third Tommygun, never registered with the govt (and under current law, not allowed to be!) is worth 10 years in jail. It cannot be legally sold (in the US) and its illegal to own.

Other places around the world have their own laws, and the degree of effect those laws have on the market value of a full auto varies, but there is always an effect.

I understand the question, and the interest behind it, but reality is no one can give you anything more than a guess. Go ask the Magic 8 ball, or a gypsy fortune teller, their answers are just as possible as anything we might predict here.

Good Luck!

January 7, 2018, 02:42 PM	#15
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,871	No matter where in the world you are, the value will be determined by market demand. The more difficult it is to legally buy and own the item, the more that affects market demand. The rarity affects asking prices, but cannot and does not set the demand. Under current US law, there is a "three tier" system for full auto firearms. We can use the classic Tommygun as an example, in all three cases. one "tier" is guns that are registered with the govt, but not on the civilian registry. These guns are held by dealers, and govt organizations, and are only allowed to be sold to dealers and govt. organizations, not to the public. The "value" of a Tommygun on that list is pretty low, less than a couple thousand, and maybe only a few hundred dollars. The reason is low demand. The only people who can buy them are govt/ police/ and dealers who sell to those customers, and those customers don't want Tommyguns, these days, so the price is low. Another Tommygun (identical other than ser#), but on the Civilian Registry, able to be owned by private citizens (in compliance with the rest of the laws_ go for $20-40,000 or more, because the supply is small, and fixed, and the demand is comparatively high. A third Tommygun, never registered with the govt (and under current law, not allowed to be!) is worth 10 years in jail. It cannot be legally sold (in the US) and its illegal to own. Other places around the world have their own laws, and the degree of effect those laws have on the market value of a full auto varies, but there is always an effect. I understand the question, and the interest behind it, but reality is no one can give you anything more than a guess. Go ask the Magic 8 ball, or a gypsy fortune teller, their answers are just as possible as anything we might predict here. Good Luck! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.