Gun Prices

[prairiefire]

A neighbor of mine, now 76, and an avid shooter and gun collector for 50 years has a huge collection of firearms that he intends to auction off or consign thru a local gun shop. He was wondering how best to set prices for these pieces that would be fair. He has looked at the Blue Book and brought up prices of comparables on gunbroker. Would those sources be the best for determining values? Some are collector's pieces in excellent shape, a few were never fired and some are junk - but close to 200 weapons. I offered to help him clean and organize his stash. Should be a fun time and hopefully help the old guy out with his medical bills.

 

[ORD]

Re: Gun Prices

Depending on the quality of his collection and what he has estimated the "approximate" value to be, he may be well-served to check with one of many companies that offer services for appraisal and sale/consignment of firearms collections (usually for a percentage fee). Some of these outfits will just buy complete collections outright and then they'll sell them on their own time/terms/prices. If he is older and not in the best of health, it can be a terrible burden both in terms of time and work, to sell and ship that large a volume of firearms (not to mention the time/efforts involved in just organizing, cleaning, etc. which you have generously volunteered to help him with). I have been through this with a relative's estate and approx. 250 rifles/shotguns/handguns and to say it was a PITA would be an understatement (fun, yes...but a HUGE PITA)!!

As for your/his appraisals...I think that a combo of Blue Book (or similar source) compared with a historical review of GunBroker prices (log in an review sales/prices for the last several months) is an excellent way to start. Blue Book gives you a rough estimate and GunBroker gives you a current "market" value of what people seem to be willing to pay for similar firearms.

 

[shooting4life]

Re: Gun Prices

And when looking at gnbroker you have to look at completed auctions where someone actually won the gun. Not the cash listings that are double over value that just get relisted without a bidder.

 

[SilentSoul308]

Re: Gun Prices

I've sold several guns and as long as their not "rare" or considered antiques a good search on gunbroker or comparable site should do fine.

 

[prairiefire]

Re: Gun Prices

Good call on looking at completed auctions. Thanks.