This analogy might not make any sense to a lot of you, but it does to me, so let's give it a try.
In the old car world, what brings the big money, an all original '69 Hemi Roadrunner, or a '69 Sattelite cloned into a Hemi Roadrunner? Or better yet, a full on hot rod, with custom interior, big tires and a blower sticking out of the hood? All three would be stupid expensive to build/restore, scary fast, and great at the car shows. An original car with the right VIN will be more expensive in the beginning, but the restoration costs are the same to build the clone. The difference is, the clone will never be worth as much. The full on hot rod, might be the coolest of the three, but it is a money losing proposition. The styles change, and what is cool today, will look silly in 10 or 20 years.
Guns aren't really any different. In 1990, If you bought an Olympic AR15 for $500, and a Colt for $600, which one do you think is worth more today? Saving a hundred bucks on the price, might cost you a grand down the road. Colt Pythons weren't that much more than a S&W, but they sure are now. Let's not even get into the HKs.
Just something to consider.
In the old car world, what brings the big money, an all original '69 Hemi Roadrunner, or a '69 Sattelite cloned into a Hemi Roadrunner? Or better yet, a full on hot rod, with custom interior, big tires and a blower sticking out of the hood? All three would be stupid expensive to build/restore, scary fast, and great at the car shows. An original car with the right VIN will be more expensive in the beginning, but the restoration costs are the same to build the clone. The difference is, the clone will never be worth as much. The full on hot rod, might be the coolest of the three, but it is a money losing proposition. The styles change, and what is cool today, will look silly in 10 or 20 years.
Guns aren't really any different. In 1990, If you bought an Olympic AR15 for $500, and a Colt for $600, which one do you think is worth more today? Saving a hundred bucks on the price, might cost you a grand down the road. Colt Pythons weren't that much more than a S&W, but they sure are now. Let's not even get into the HKs.
Just something to consider.