What is the value of my gun? How high will the loss in value be in a few years or will the value perhaps even increase? How much should I insure my gun for in order to be adequately covered in the event of damage?

Many people have certainly asked themselves these questions and realized that a reliable and neutral valuation is not easy to obtain. Many factors play a complicating role, such as the condition, caliber, etc.
In this article, we want to take a closer look at this topic for hunting bolt action rifles that have been on the market for at least 15 years.
 

Since 1999, Dipl. Ing. Ulrich Kastner, author of the former DWJ Marktspiegel für Jagd-, Sport- und Sammlerwaffen, has been working intensively on the topic of data-supported evaluation of weapons.

After more than 20 years, there is no longer a bound edition of the Marktspiegel. Since May 2023, the market review has been available digitally on the new internet platform worldofguns.de. For over 34,800 models from more than 3,170 manufacturers, there are currently not only condition-dependent values, but in many cases also a chart of the performance. The data is updated at least 4 times a year. There are also illustrations for 17,500 models and technical data for 18,200 models.

Basis of the valuation

The data is based on the systematic evaluation of realized auction and sales results. The price paid by the buyer is decisive. Auction fees and shipping costs are always included. Hunting rifles with optics are not included. This evaluation only includes hunting rifles that are manufactured in series. Weapons with customer-specific modifications or special engravings etc. are not included.
In this article, the focus is exclusively on hunting bolt action rifles that have been on the market for at least 15 years, whose current value in mint condition is at least €1,000 and for which there are sufficient results to make a reliable statement.

In the following tables, the value development is indexed. The value given in % is the value by which a gun today is above (>100%) or below (<100%) the value of the gun approx. 15 years ago. It should be noted that the statement does not assume any change in condition.

Here is a concrete example: A Blaser R93, which cost €1,900 15 years ago in mint condition, is now worth €2,500 in mint condition, which corresponds to 131% of its original value. If the condition has deteriorated somewhat due to use, a slightly lower value should of course be applied.

For all the models listed, it can be generally stated that the values develop relatively
constantly upwards or downwards.

Table 1: Top ten hunting repeaters with positive value development

Among the top ten, the grip repeater from Sommer & Ockenfuss stands out in particular. This is now also a sought-after weapon that is of interest to hunting gun collectors. It is also worth noting that the top ten only includes German and Austrian manufacturers who have been on the market for a relatively long time with their high-quality products.

Table 2: Bottom ten hunting repeaters with negative performance

As this article only looks at hunting repeaters that are now in mint condition for over €1,000, it is not necessarily surprising that only companies that are known for their high-quality products are listed here. You can also see that most of the repeaters listed have been on the market for a very long time and are no longer in production.

Table 3: Top ten detailed analysis for Blaser R93 variants

Table 3 takes a closer look at the Blaser R93. It is noticeable that the versions popular for everyday hunting use have developed very well. Of the variants, some of which are significantly more expensive, 3 representatives are listed in the top ten (Grand Lux, Luxus and Attache).

Conclusion

Whether a hunting rifle will develop positively or negatively in value with good care cannot be determined across the board by the manufacturer; the model also plays a major role. If the caliber is also included in the evaluation, then even here there are still differences. In general, it can be said that hunting rifles with a popular caliber perform better than those with a less common caliber.

Incidentally, this effect also applies to hunting rifles sold with optics. While the condition rather than the age of the gun determines the value development, the age of the optics plays a major role. Optics that no longer meet today's standards in terms of light intensity and features hardly play a role in the value, as they are often replaced by the buyer with a modern lens after purchase. However, it is also clear that when choosing a firearm, you should not only pay attention to functionality or a favorable price, but, if your wallet allows it, you should also opt for a higher-quality firearm in favor of better value retention or perhaps even a potential increase in value.

The most important factor influencing the value is the condition. Good care and careful handling pay off in any case.