George, the only "investments" of this type either need to be rare, mint condition or have a significant providence. Rare and mint condition are going to cost money unless the seller has no clue of what they are selling. Less likely today because the internet make information so easily available to any who want to find it. Field grade guns and guns we use as shooters will never appreciate very much because they will lack both mint condition and are fairly numerous.
I hesitate to tell anyone to buy Winchester or Parkers because the market is flooded with faked, refinished and upgraded guns. Experts have a hard time picking many of them up and a novice is sure to be screwed buying in this market.
Providence, if well documented, can add real value to a gun to the right market. It must be well documented or it is just a meaningless legend. Just because someone tells you a gun was owned by someone does not make it so. But if you can show that a gun was owned by someone it might make it more valuable to another buyer. After all, the world is full of blue dresses but one above all others was much more of interest a few years ago. I am sure to the right buyer that dress still has a great deal of value. One person who comes to mind would certainly burn that dress and all concerned with it given a good chance.
