An Old School RuneScape player shocked the flipping community this week after discovering a forgotten Adamant bolt investment on an old alt account—resulting in an incredible 2300% return on investment.
The story was shared by a Reddit user on r/OSRSflipping, where it quickly went viral. What started as a small, forgotten purchase during a market crash turned into a life-changing bank boost more than a year later.
How the Investment Began
At the time of the original purchase, Adamant bolts were in freefall. This was during the height of Soul Wars bot farming, when:
- Millions of bolts were entering the game
- Supply was completely flooded
- Prices collapsed to around 10 GP each
- Many players believed the item was permanently ruined
However, the Reddit user had a different mindset. Instead of panic-selling, they realized that Adamant bolts still had one major advantage:
They are always used to make ruby and diamond bolt (e).
Because of that, the user decided to buy a large stack and hold. Shortly after, they stopped playing—and completely forgot about the investment.
The Surprise Login That Changed Everything
More than a year later, the player logged into an old alt account and checked the bank. That’s when the shock set in.
Their forgotten bolt stack was now worth over 140M GP.
Even more surprising, the user admitted they had also invested on their main account but sold those bolts far too early. The forgotten alt account ended up being the real winner.
Naturally, the reaction across Reddit was instant.
Why Adamant Bolts Recovered So Hard
Several important factors helped drive the massive recovery:
1. Bot Supply Eventually Slowed
Over time, Soul Wars bot activity dropped. As a result, artificial supply dried up.
2. PvM Demand Never Left
Adamant bolts remained useful for:
- Ruby bolts (e)
- Diamond bolts (e)
- Crossbow combat
- Mid-level bossing
Because demand stayed consistent, the market only needed supply to reset.
3. Time Removed the Manipulation
Unlike short-term flips, this wasn’t about hype or updates. Instead, it was a true long-term natural correction.
Community Reaction: “That’s Like Finding Bitcoin”
The reactions on Reddit ranged from disbelief to pure envy. Many players joked that they hoped their own old accounts held similar surprises.
One user summed it up best:
“That’s like discovering you had Bitcoin.”
Others shared similar stories—some successful, some painful—of items they sold too early or forgot about completely.
What About the GE Tax?
Even with a flip this large, the Grand Exchange tax landed around 2.4M GP. While that sounds steep, most players agreed it barely mattered compared to a 140M+ payout.
Additionally, several comments clarified an important detail:
The 5M tax cap only applies per individual item, not when selling large stacks.
What This Means for OSRS Investors
This wasn’t pure luck. It was the result of:
- Bot-driven oversupply
- Market panic
- A guaranteed long-term use item
- And most importantly—patience
Most flippers think in minutes, hours, or days. In this case, the profit came from thinking in years.
Is Adamant Bolt Investing Still a Good Idea?
Realistically, this exact opportunity is gone. This required:
- A historic bot crash
- A perfect price bottom
- And long-term holding
However, the strategy behind it is still powerful:
Items with permanent demand that get crushed by temporary artificial supply often recover over time.
RuneFlips Takeaway
This story is a reminder that:
- Panic selling kills long-term profit
- Bots can create rare market opportunities
- Time is often the strongest flipping tool
- And sometimes, the best flip is the one you forget you made
Not every player will hit a 2300% return. Still, every player will eventually witness a market crash that becomes someone else’s fortune.
The only real question is simple:
Will you hold next time—or sell too early?
