[Ripon]

Over the years I have heard countless bullion critics say you can't eat gold / silver ets. There is a common prepper theme in that you don't dare barter guns, and one could argue that with 300 million firearms in America that guns post SHTF will be plentiful. "Laying in the streets" is a term I once saw promoted by a prepper.

I speak or ask only in terms of dollars right now, this minute, and of course that can change quickly. However if you had $1375 to spend it's easier for many to buy and hide an ounce of gold. It's hard to buy a gun "for some" but for $1375 you can buy a nice AR and accessories like magazines and precious ammo. Or as I debated my brother I bought a P series 9mm, magazines, and ammo and still had enough for 25 ounces of silver vs his ounce of Gold.

When we move beyond SHTF and turn to bartering I suspect Gold will do much better then a P series Ruger or AR when trying to buy land, equipment and large ticket items. Until then I just like having an arsenal over a coin collection.

 

[jimb1972]

I think anyone who invests exclusively in either will most likely be in trouble, I like the Ruger and silver option better than either gold or guns exclusively, plus guns are more fun to take out of the safe and play with than precious metals.

 

[wesley762]

I still say lead covered brass. And if you really where going to invest in PM I would say Silver over gold. Silver has more real world uses vs gold.

 

[PrepConsultant]

Over the years I have heard countless bullion critics say you can't eat gold / silver ets. There is a common prepper theme in that you don't dare barter guns, and one could argue that with 300 million firearms in America that guns post SHTF will be plentiful. "Laying in the streets" is a term I once saw promoted by a prepper.

I speak or ask only in terms of dollars right now, this minute, and of course that can change quickly. However if you had $1375 to spend it's easier for many to buy and hide an ounce of gold. It's hard to buy a gun "for some" but for $1375 you can buy a nice AR and accessories like magazines and precious ammo. Or as I debated my brother I bought a P series 9mm, magazines, and ammo and still had enough for 25 ounces of silver vs his ounce of Gold.

When we move beyond SHTF and turn to bartering I suspect Gold will do much better then a P series Ruger or AR when trying to buy land, equipment and large ticket items. Until then I just like having an arsenal over a coin collection.

If it is a true SHTF global or even country scenario. I wouldn't worry about buying land. There will be such a population decrease that you just might be able to homestead land again..

 

[Denton]

Silver and gold is a store of wealth with thousands of years of proven record of being money, and not currency. No matter what the decoration on the bullion, it is still worth the silver or gold. Not so with currency, whatever the form.

A weapon is more of a currency as it will degrade over time and with neglect. Having said that, my weapons insure my precious metals as well as my currency.

The notion of preferring one (weapons) over the other (precious metals) is absurd, to me, no matter how the question is arranged and rearranged. At work, I don't just use a screwdriver. I find it to be a painful way of measuring voltages. :lol:

 

[dannydefense]

I think I'm stubborn, but honestly it's a rock. Pretty rock, but it's a rock. Unless you can throw it at a deer hard enough...

 

[Denton]

I think I'm stubborn, but honestly it's a rock. Pretty rock, but it's a rock. Unless you can throw it at a deer hard enough...

No, it is a metal, not a rock.

Why is it that people have understood the value of gold for centuries, yet preppers can't even understand what our forefathers knew?

Why is it that China has been hoarding tons of gold, while building its military - at the same time? I'd like to think I am as smart of a communist.

 

[Denton]

And, sexier. Much more sexy than your run of the mill commie. Look how my bones shine!

 

[dannydefense]

No, it is a metal, not a rock.

Often referred to, however incorrectly, as a rock.

Why is it that people have understood the value of gold for centuries, yet preppers can't even understand what our forefathers knew?

I understand it, but I'm stubborn. Gold and silver have no inherent value. None. We assigned it that value. There's no reason any other metal couldn't become the dominant currency if everything was reset.

I know we need some form of currency and as such it makes the most sense. I just don't like where it leads; diamonds. Another pretty rock. We'll kill for it, or ignore the fact that many died for it, because it's pretty. Diamonds are excellent tools, but we'd rather set them in gold and wear them.

Silly rocks.

(Don't tell anyone that I have some, they'd probably think I was a hypocrite or something.)

 

[Fuzzee]

I only see buying gold if you've got all the supplies you could possibly need, not only guns, but everything and still have a large surplus of cash left over. That's what's worth turning into gold for after shtf when things level out again and there is law and order again. I say law and order because anyone trading with gold will be a target for someone when shtf hard. "Oh, if they've got that gold, they've got to have more. Let's hit them and find out. Best to kill them all too. Loose lips sink ships and I don't want my ship sunk later." For me it would really have to be a very large surplus, because there's always something else I know I could use like a blacksmith setup and a large amount of steel to make tool and weapons with. Or horses, other livestock, etc.











:stackredboxes:

 

[PrepperLite]

I think anyone who invests exclusively in either will most likely be in trouble, I like the Ruger and silver option better than either gold or guns exclusively, plus guns are more fun to take out of the safe and play with than precious metals.

Agreed!

I was until lately in the crowd of "PMs are useless post SHTF". After doing research and talking with friends I do say Silver would be the way to go. Even if you are just going off spot coins are interesting to collect and not disappointing if you are looking to put away $50-100 a month away in PMs.

 

[Ripon]

But let's say that is the point. You have everything you can percieve as needed. You even have gold and guns already. Now you want to set aside $1375 more. Is the gold or the gun the better addition?

 

[HuntingHawk]

Simple question. How many people have a tester for gold or silver purity? How do you judge value without knowing the purity?

I believe come SHTF initially gold & silver will have no value. Can't eat it & won't keep you warm at night. Only upon recovery might gold & silver start to have value. Only true value of gold is in electronics. Only true value of silver is to silver solder with.

 

[Doomsday]

Gold and silver has always maintained a constant value in reference to materials and labor. Theoretically you could by the same number loaves of bread in 1970 with an ounce of silver as you can today. Due to inflation money/currency will not! This is the reason to have gold in silver in a SHTF situation. As much as you think that you are prepared there will always be food that goes bad, equipment that will break down or some service that you will need.

No matter what you use to barter, gold, silver or 22LR you will have a target on your back! Guns first silver down the line!

 

[PalmettoTree]

Gold and silver has always maintained a constant value in reference to materials and labor.

That simply is not true.

 

[PaulS]

Gold has always had value because it doesn't corrode. Silver is a better conductor of both heat and electricity but silver corrodes. Contacts in electronics are usually silver with a plating of gold or in high capacity switches it is silver and cadmium - to prevent corrosion and wear. Gold is used in jewelry because it is easy to work and it doesn't corrode. It's pretty and it lasts. It will wear quickly so it is often strengthened with other metals. Gold is relatively rare and so is silver but not the rarest metal by far. Gold has always maintained its value against inflation and it is likely that it always will.

As far as prepping goes precious metals are the only way to maintain your wealth beyond land after the SHTF returns to some level of normalcy. You can always use gold or silver to pay your taxes. It is unlikely that any form of currency will hold its value through a SHTF event and after. Diamonds might well be another form of wealth that might retain their value but (BIG BUT) they are always more in demand during good times than they are in economic downturns. Much like art and books their value is moderated by the free wealth of others but during the second world war many pieces of art and books were saved at great risk and cost because they were "valuable" in a world after the war.

I like silver to store wealth in much the same way that I like canning jars to store food. Gold is better for storing larger quantities of wealth in smaller space.

 

[tango]

Gold and silver have always had value and always will.
First-- get your beans, bullets and, band aids, then get some PM. I think silver (pre 64 coins) is a better way. It comes in various sizes, better for barter, and is cheaper to accumulate.
Some say PM's will have no value post SHTF, I say not much will have as much value---

 

[PaulS]

I don't deal in coins. They have a face value and that can get in the way. I have silver in various forms and gold in non-denominational "coins" is one of them.

 

[Scotty12]

I tend to think that gold may be valuable in the intermediate time frame, but that won't really mean jacks**** when people start starving. Having said that if you use the gold wisely before it becomes worthless like everything else except food and sometimes ammo and fuel you can possibly extend yourself a lot longer. It's a matter of timing.

 

[HuntingHawk]

The seller has the advantage in any deal. They can charge whatever price they want. You might need something & they say 10 times what you think the gold is worth. "Take it or leave it".