10 Firearms Collectors Regret Not Buying When Prices Were Low

Collectors talk endlessly about “the one that got away,” and in firearms that usually means a model that once sat on a rack for pocket change and now trades as a blue-chip asset. From surplus workhorses to classic revolvers, prices have climbed far beyond what many enthusiasts expected. Here are ten specific firearms that repeatedly show up in regret stories because their low entry prices quietly turned into serious money.

1. M1 Garand

The M1 Garand is the textbook case of a rifle collectors regret not buying when prices were low. The Civilian Marksmanship Program describes how the Garand, regardless of condition, has become a very hot item, with demand strong enough that prices are subject to change. Earlier buyers remember racks of affordable service grades, while latecomers face higher costs and tighter availability.

Surplus fans also recall that the bulk of rifles the Civilian Marksmanship Program sold were Garands and that they were considered pretty cheap compared with commercial .30-06 options. As more people chase World War II history and American-made steel, each price increase widens the gap between those who bought early and those still waiting. The regret is not just financial, it is missing a direct link to a defining service rifle.

2. Mauser K98k

The Mauser K98k has shifted from common surplus to premium collectible, which leaves many collectors wishing they had grabbed one sooner. Market analysis of collectible military gun notes that K98 rifles have moved into the investment tier alongside other classic service arms, with average values climbing steadily. The same report highlights the strength of the SVT, and that context shows how German bolt-actions now sit in serious auction territory.

Another guide to long-term value singles out the Mauser K98k as a standout for holding and growing its price over time. Collectors who passed on mismatched or Russian capture examples when they were inexpensive now see even those variants commanding strong bids. The trend reflects a broader shift in milsurp, where authenticity and wartime markings turn what was once a budget shooter into a centerpiece of a collection.

3. Mosin Nagant Rifles

Mosin Nagant Rifles are perhaps the most famous “should have bought more” surplus guns. A widely shared video on military surplus rifles points out that the days of $99 Mosins are gone and notes how collectors now chase German K98ks for $2000 instead. That same commentary reminds viewers that while some surplus is still affordable, the era of crates of Mosins at rock-bottom prices has ended.

Another discussion of budget firearms regrets bluntly states that All imported milsurps ever, including Mosins, are now roughly x3 to x4 their old prices even after inflation. A separate piece on milsurp optics jokes that You did not get that Mosin ( Mosin-Nagant ) because it is a precision rifle, but because it was cheap, rugged, and could probably survive anything. Those cheap, rugged rifles have become symbols of missed opportunity for new collectors.

4. SKS Rifles

The SKS followed a similar path, moving from bargain semi-auto to respected collectible, leaving many enthusiasts kicking themselves. One regret thread about past deals lists Mosins, SKS, Mausers, Enfields and other imports as examples of guns that were once budget buys but are now several times higher in price. That same conversation frames SKS carbines as part of a broader milsurp wave that early buyers rode for very little money.

A modern surplus guide still lists SKS Rifles at $589, alongside Lee Enfield Rifles at $599 and Mosin Nagant Rifles at $499, with a Swiss K31 at $699 and an M1 Garand at $1949. Those figures show how far SKS pricing has climbed from the days when crates arrived as inexpensive alternatives to new-production semi-autos. For collectors, the SKS regret is amplified by how many were available and how few were set aside in original military configuration.

5. Colt Python (Pre-2005)

The Colt Python, especially Pre-2005 production, is now a textbook Investment Guns That Increase example. A detailed guide to investment guns explains that when Colt stopped producing the original Python in 2005, prices on the secondary market surged. It specifically calls out the Colt Python (Pre) era as a prime case where scarcity and reputation combined to push values sharply upward.

Another analysis of which firearms hold value highlights the Colt Python (Especially Pre-2005) as a premier revolver for appreciation. That same source notes how the Mauser K98k is a standout, showing that top-tier handguns and rifles can behave like collectibles rather than mere tools. Regret stories often mention an OG python with 6″ barrel sold for $700 in the 2000s, which now looks like a fraction of current asking prices.

6. Browning Hi Power

The Browning Hi Power spent years as an overlooked duty pistol before collectors realized how quickly supply could dry up. One report on surplus police trade-ins describes how several wholesalers began selling off crates of Hi Powers at rock-bottom prices, with many of those Browning Hi Power pistols of genuine Belgian provenance. At the time, they were seen as utilitarian 9 mm sidearms rather than future collectibles.

As production changes and import streams slowed, those crates turned into individual safe queens. Enthusiasts who handled dozens of Hi Powers in gun shop cases now struggle to find original finish examples that are not heavily priced. The regret here is twofold, missing both a historically significant single-action design and the chance to buy Belgian-made quality for what now feels like surplus money.

7. Winchester Pre-1964 Model 70

The pre-1964 Model 70 Winchester is a classic case of a sporting rifle that quietly became a collector’s prize. A technical history notes that the rifle now known as the pre-1964 Model 70 Winchester used Only one size of the pre-64 action, which simplified production but later helped define a distinct and desirable era. That single action pattern, combined with controlled-round feed, created a reputation for reliability that hunters still praise.

As later production changes arrived, collectors began drawing a bright line at 1964, with pre-64 rifles commanding higher prices. Many shooters who once viewed them as ordinary deer rifles now find themselves priced out of the nicest examples. The regret often comes from having passed over clean pre-64 rifles in favor of new synthetic-stock models, only to watch the older walnut guns climb steadily in value.

8. SVT-40

The SVT-40, often shortened to SVT in auction listings, has seen a dramatic shift from niche curiosity to high-dollar collectible. Market data from Rock Island Auction notes that the average value of an SVT-40 over the past 7 years demonstrates the undeniable strength of collectible military gun prices. That long-term trend shows how semi-auto surplus rifles can evolve into serious investments.

Early on, many shooters dismissed the SVT as overgassed, finicky, or overshadowed by more famous World War II designs. As supplies dried up and historical interest grew, those same rifles started bringing impressive hammer prices. Collectors who once passed on SVT examples because they looked rough or unfamiliar now see them as missed chances to own a distinctive piece of Soviet small-arms history.

9. Saiga Rifles

Saiga rifles, especially early imports, have become a staple of regret lists because they bridged the gap between sporting configuration and AK heritage. One widely shared discussion of guns people regret selling includes a Saiga for $400 around 2010, alongside an OG python and other now-expensive models. That $400 figure looks small next to current prices for unconverted Saigas and high-quality conversions.

Regulatory shifts and import restrictions have only tightened supply, turning what were once affordable Russian-made semi-autos into sought-after collectibles. Many enthusiasts remember racks of Saigas that seemed less exciting than traditional AK variants, so they walked past them. As values climbed and imports slowed, those missed opportunities became some of the most painful financial and historical regrets in the modern rifle category.

10. Surplus Lee Enfield Rifles

Lee Enfield Rifles once filled surplus racks alongside Mosins and Mausers, yet they now command prices that surprise newer collectors. A modern surplus guide lists Lee Enfield Rifles at $599, with Mosin Nagant Rifles at $499 and SKS Rifles at $589, which shows how far they have climbed from earlier clearance pricing. The same list places a Swiss K31 at $699 and an M1 Garand at $1949, framing Enfields as part of a broader value surge.

Another regret-focused discussion groups Enfields with All imported milsurps ever, including Mosins, SKS, and Mausers, and notes that even after inflation they are all like x3 to x4 their past prices. Collectors who once saw Enfields as plentiful Commonwealth bolt-actions now compete for matching-numbered examples and rare markings. The regret is sharpened by memories of entire barrels of Enfields that could have been bought for a fraction of current values.