doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The Boomers are headed for the exits...

Ted recently implied that American (& even some British) low to mid-grade 12-gauge doubles are starting to get fairly inexpensive. I have (quite recently) noticed that American bamboo rods are starting to follow a similar precipitous decline in prices. For years, when I was selling bamboo for Mark Reynolds, I tended to remain willfully ignorant of the finer-points of the really expensive rods (Paynes, Garrisons, Gillums, Leonards, etc.) because of the outrageous prices some of them would command (I mean, really...$10k for a plain-Jane Garrison?). Well, fast-forward to today where well-used Leonards are now commanding the same prices as some of my better Grangers. It's not that these rods are aren't worth a little more, it's the fact that so-many of them were made over the years and so-many of then still remain quite viable. The old codgers (mostly "collectors") that have hoarded them for many years now, are now either done fishing (or... are done living) and they (or their children ) have started to flood them them onto the market. What's interesting to me is that the more "blue-collar" stuff (Grangers, Heddons, etc.) seems to be holding it's own or even still climbing out a bit (nostalgia is a funny thing, eh?).

Any way, as my title for this thread implies....the times, they are a changin.

My son, and, likely your boy, as well, will participate in my hobbies. But, they are not “driven” for lack of a better term, as I was at a similar age. Chris discovered what works best for him, had a very good first season as a high school junior in his schools trap league (lettered on the varsity squad in one season) and really doesn’t seek anything more. He reluctantly eats a bit of meat, has never killed anything, and will tag along for a hunt with the dog and I if nothing else is going on. Fishing? Not really interested.

It is going to be hard to sell him most of the things I loved my whole life. I’d guess most of his private Catholic school friends are interested at an even lower level.

I’ve tried. He knows what a SBE is, knows how it operates, (hell, he owns his Grandpas version) and understands clearly the differences between it and an 1100, and an A5. Has near zero interest in the doubles. He grabs the painted Mossberg 12 he begged me to shoot, steps up to the line, and, more often than not runs 25 straight. After two rounds or so, he is thinking about his buddies, or, his mountain bike, and the gun gets put away.

He is so different than I was. Not a good thing, not a bad thing, just a thing.

Best,
Ted

I saw the same thing happen with antiques while living and working in New England. When we first moved there twenty years ago the prices at the gigantic Brimfield (MA) antique shows (as well as at stores across the six state region) were high and stayed that way. By the time we left nine years ago it was shocking how much they had declined. I saw the same thing that you both mention. The generations following the Boomers seemed to be saying, “What’s the big deal?”

Prices for singleshot rifles, custom or otherwise, are in decline. Much more so than English doubles. Actually, I think the English doubles are seeing a little bit of a resurgence since covid.

It may be my imagination, but it seems that younger people do not have much interest in vintage "stuff" of any type. Cars, guns, houses, furniture, etc. Maybe they will develop that later in life, but right now, I do not see it.

You cannot give away what was a $10.000.00 Persian rug 30 years ago to one of them.

The younger crowd does not care for “brown” furniture either. The IKEA krap is more their taste

Prolly have to pay one of them to take an Oldsmobile.


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Saw that title a thought maybe the Covid got somebody.

They ain't that dumb.

That you, Lonny?



Best,
Ted

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Queer.

Baby boomers are aging out of their hobbies faster every day. Guns, muscle cars, fly rods, fully restored tractors and many other forms of collectibles are seeing less interest every day. It’s black guns and high end gaming systems that are the rage.

In top of that the UK is seeing the bottom fall out of doubles for the aging issue and now the end of lead shot. It is just easier to buy a cheap OU or Turkish black semi auto. I have bought a few nice doubles that five years ago would have cost twice what I paid for them. It is a buyers market for those of us with any interest. But I too am nearing the end if my buying. My son is still buying but in another five years his major purchasing will have filled most of his needs for the next decade. After that it may just be running in new interest or absorbing my collection to add to his. His brothers and sisters do not have much interest now and will be just as happy with the equivalent in cash.

My late mother had a fine China and rug collection that was worth more than her house. Mid six figure collection. Nobody wanted anything other than money. The prices it would bring was about 20-30% of what it was worth just 20 years ago. I was glad she did not see it. I kept everything and gave the family money instead with the understanding that anyone could have anything she had just for the asking. Decade later I still have it all. Antiques, China and rugs are just no longer things others want. I sold her largest rug to a dealer near DC because I did not have a room large enough to put it in. That rug did sell for a very hansom price but only because it was so big and an antique rug in pristine condition. Most likely it now lays in some Embassy in DC. That’s who the dealer told me would have interest in it.