I read something onec that stuck with me.

The value of an ounce of gold in 1910 would buy a custom tailored suit or a fine rifle.
The same ounce of gold in 2010 is worth the value of a custom tailored suit, or a fine rifle.

Makes me think that if you have a fine rifle, it is just as good as having an ounce of gold on hand. Even better to my mind ebcause teh rifle has a useful inherent value that gold does not.