FOUR GENRES TO WATCH IN THE
FINE ARMS FIELD
By Joe Engesser
Much like the market for fine art , vintage automobiles , and luxury watches , the collectible arms landscape has demonstrated that a well-cared-for item retains its value and often appreciates . When stepping into the fine arms field for the first time , a new collector is presented with a wide array of options to consider .
The late George Lewis , a famed collector of classic Colt firearms , pursued a collecting strategy based on opportunity and availability . As Mr . Lewis once recounted , “ I found that I was drawn to the little Colt derringer , not because it had an interesting history or because it was beautiful or because there are many variations and models to obtain , but mainly because my pocketbook could afford the derringer , and I could compete with the best of collectors .”
Like many new collectors , Mr . Lewis started small , acquired what he could afford , and branched out from there . Mr . Lewis pursued a then-undervalued genre of gun collecting to great success . Compared to other collectible classes , investmentgrade firearms are obtainable to nearly every financial aspiration , and several segments within the genre appear particularly poised for growth .
54 PORTFOLIO MAGAZINE