I don't claim expertise at all but I have been studying and collecting firearms for quite a few decades now, and I think that the field is really broad. In the years I made quite a few big mistakes that I still regret, especially if you collect more than say two o three different types of guns, you need a lot of knowledge and experience not to mention money since generally you get what you pay for, so if you want a good "collectible" piece you shouldn't be afraid of opening your wallet.
I collected Lugers for a few years, and I think they are probably one of the most difficult types of guns to collect, due to their numerous variations, I still believe that top collectible Lugers can only be collected by top collectors.
To me a handgun can be considered a collectible only if it has these four qualities:
a) Scarcity: it's a rare item
b) Historical Significance: played some role in history
c) 100% Original: modified or customized will lose value and sometimes aren't even good shooters.
d) Condition: at least "fairly good"
YMMV
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"Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.
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