Market Trends: Bidders Big on ARs and Concealed Carry Handguns

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John Slagle – KIKO Auctioneers, Canton, Ohio

Typically, gun auctions muster up images of firearms with a patina and of historical vintage.

Earlier this year, however, it was much more recent guns that drew top bids at an event.

At an KIKO Auctions, bidders made it plain they wanted AR and military-style rifles and pushed up the prices accordingly.

According to KIKO firearms expert John Slagle, the auction house recently sold a Heckler & Koch model 91 Rifle for $1,900; a pair of Springfield Armory M1A rifles, one for $1,700 the other at $1,500; a Bushmaster XM15 for $1,125 and a DPMS LR 308 for a cool $1,000.

Huh, and the AR buying frenzy was suppose to have been over in 2014.

“They were used rifles, all in very good condition,” Slagle said. “And we were a little surprised at how the bidders kept going at it.”

Self-defense handguns were sought after, too, especially Glocks and SIG Sauer models.

A Kimber Ultra Carry lightweight 1911 in .45 ACP recently commanded $825, a difference of less than $200 from the new-in-store price.

Editor's Note: This brief originally appeared in the January 27, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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