Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at investing in discontinued Browning stainless steel guns. (See the Tangibles Investing section at the end of this column.)

 

Precious Metals:

Gold To Peak At $1,400 On Risk Aversion By Year-End — Capital Economics

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Gold Price Forecast: Gold Lower Even As Fed Loses Credibility

 

Economy & Finance:

Next up, Global growth to slow in 2019. “The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its forecast for global growth in 2019 during what it says is a ‘delicate moment” for the world economy.”

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There Is Too Much Debt In The World – World Bank.

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House Prices in 12 of California’s Most Expensive Coastal Counties Fell in March from a Year Ago. Here are the Charts

 

The Political-Economic Intersection:

Bernie Sanders announces: OPTIONS TO FINANCE MEDICARE FOR ALL. JWR’s Comments: Note his planned top income tax rate of 52% and “Taxing capital gains and dividends the same as income”. I really hope that this socialist buffoon gets the Democrat Party nomination. With policies like these, he will be unelectable.

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Chase Bank shuts down ‘alt-right’ accounts


 

Commodities:

Global steel demand continues to grow in slowing economic environment

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Some of the predictions for copper in 2020 look strong. But with a recession looming, I’m bearish on copper.

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Nick Cunningham: The Case For $100 Oil

 

Cryptos:

Rich Bitcoin Trader Risks Death Penalty for Building Home on the Sea

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Binance Delists Bitcoin SV, CEO Calls Craig Wright a ‘Fraud’

 

Tangibles Investing (Browning Stainless Steel Guns):

Many gun models end up being discontinued because tooling is needed to produce newer models, or just to simplify product lines. Some discontinued guns are hard to find, and bid up in price. Most notably, Browning has recently replaced their A-Bolt rifles with the AB3 and X-Bolt models. Most shooters consider those changes just minor improvements. The older models are perfectly serviceable, and spare parts are still available. Some discontinued left-handed bolt action models are particularly sought-after, and command a premium price. And, needless to say, many left-handers like lever-action rifles, and Browning makes those.

Astute gun investors will watch for discontinued models that are in either new or like-new condition, preferable still in their original factory boxes. Because of their weather resistance and durability, most survivalists prefer stainless steel guns. Survivalists also tend to favor gun chambered for the most common cartridges, for the sake of re-supply, in times of shortage.

As previously mentioned, Browning has discontinued their entire Hi-Power pistol line. The prices of original Browning-made Hi-Powers are escalating. There are still a few stainless steel factory-made Hi-Powers still out there at reasonable prices. But I anticipate that they will fetch very high prices in just a few years.

Take a look at some of the discontinued models listed here, paying particular attention to Browning stainless steel guns in practical, readily-available chamberings. (For instance: Don’t buy a 7mm’08 when you could instead buy a .308 Winchester.)

Sometimes that discontinued models can be found still on dealer shelves at discounted “close-out” prices:

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Browning Discontinued A Bolt Models

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BLR Rifles No Longer In Production

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Browning Discontinued Hi-Power Pistols

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Browning BPS Shotguns No Longer In Production

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Discontinued Browning SA-22 Rimfire Rifes

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Buck Mark Pistols No Longer In Production

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T-Bolts Rifles No Longer In Production

 

Provisos:

SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for our detailed disclaimers.

 

News Tips:

Please send your economics and investing news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who particularly watch individual markets. And due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” investing news. We often get the scoop on economic and investing news that is probably ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!




4 Comments

  1. JWR said, “I really hope that this socialist buffoon gets the Democrat Party nomination. With policies like these, he will be unelectable.”

    I wouldn’t be so sure, should Bernie get the nomination, that he’d be unelectable. This is the former USA we are talking about where ANYTHING could happen.

    Just sayin…..

  2. I agree. Don’t kid yourself about Sanders being unelectable. 1/2 of the country votes for the democratic nominee no matter who it is and no matter how crazy or corrupt they are.

    1. Agreed.

      We are fighting the current crop of (Socialist) Democrats but we are also (IMO) still fighting a nearly 100 year old, highly successful propaganda machine launched early in the 20th Century which painted the Republican Party as ruthless, greedy top hat wearing businessmen (think the little Monopoly character).

      As a silly little example, what party did greedy Thurston Howell, III of the old TV show Gilligan’s Island belong to?

      On a more serious note, Amity Shleas, records in her book “The Forgotten Man” that although the Schechter Brothers fought the FDR administration all the way to the Supreme Court and won to beat back the devastating price controls being pushed on them and other businesses, to the best knowledge of the Schechter family, the Brothers voted for FDR every time he ran for President.

      And of course I was taught as virtual fact in school (I am 57) that the Republican Hoover sat on his hands and did nothing substantial to fight the Great Depression but Democrat FDR saved us all both from poverty and the Nazis.

      I could go on and on but this indoctrination was deep and strong and started occurring far before we entered what we now view as a hyper partisan world. It occurred when we thought Walter Cronkite and others like him were unbiased. It occurred in “The Good Old Days” and became part of our cultural DNA. It is only in the last 10 or 20 years that any serious challenges to this narrative have been broadly presented.

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