Determining gun valuation - Appraisal

[P-Squared]

Tucker, if this is in the wrong thread, go ahead and let me know.

I was stopped by one of my customers in the grocery store tonight and asked where he should go to get one of his guns appraised. Evidently he inherited this and needed to know where to go to get a feel for what it's worth. Shame on me, I wasn't really paying attention, but I do remember that it has gold inlays and blah, blah, blah. I told him I would reach out tonight and see if anyone could steer him to a solution.

Thanks for any help you can lend, or directions you can provide.

 

[Marinevet1]

It really doesn't matter what the gun is appraised at, unless it is for insurance purposes.....gun values vary greatly depending what part of the country you live in. The thing that matters is what someone is willing to pay for said weapon...

A good source is a search for "sold"guns of the same type on Gunboker.....not asking price.

 

[Niles Coyote]

If it's factory, blue book of gun values. That will tell him what it's value is. Searching sold listings on gunbroker will tell him what it's worth in the retail market.

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

there are no less than 78 gun libraries at most large CABELAS.....they do not appraise they do not consign......however they do purchase firearms, and you can utilize said trade on another firearm.....

savvy the latest blue book for somewhat RETAIL numbers......like an above post, it all depends on your geographic area.

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

they do not pay retail from blue book numbers...........

 

[sirhrmechanic]

And by description... the gold inlays, etc. could mean very high-grade 'something' or some gun offered by the Franklin Mint or Bradford Exchange or similar.... which is worth very little. Most of the cheap-o commemoratives have little or no value except to someone who really wants it.

But the above advice is good. PM me some pix and I'll see if I can give a ballpark... or at least suggest whether it's worth a full-up appraisel or whether it should be relegated to 'enjoy it because it won't sell for much' status.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[P-Squared]

Thanks guys. I give my customer a call this morning with the advice.

 

[Tucker301]

I use Gunbroker (sold), as mentioned above to determine market value. Asking price can often be fantasy.

 

[K-tech]

The thing that matters is what someone is willing to pay for said weapon...

A good source is a search for "sold"guns of the same type on Gunboker.....not asking price.

Nailed it right on the head. Determining value is not a cut and dried matter

 

[P-Squared]

Thanks guys. I called my customer today and gave him the info on the blue book and gun broker. I passed along that unless it's for insurance, it's only worth what someone is willing to spend. He acknowledged that and shared he was just trying to determine what he should insure it for. I figure that's and 'A' and 'B' conversation between him and his insurance agent, and I was going to 'C' my way out of it.

Again, thanks for the information.

P

 

[Nik H]

I use a combination of Blue Book and Gunbroker "sold" prices. Blue Book tends to be a little low to a lot low depending on the gun. Gunbroker gives you a real world assessment of what people are paying. It really depends on why you want to know the answer...appraisal or sale...

 

[Quarter Horse]

It all depends on what it is. If it's a normal production firearm than the BB is helpful and auction reports are a better guide. As soon as you get into collectables, really high end recent manufacture, the obscure, etc. the metrics change. Only people who are constantly monitoring specific markets have any hope of being accurate and I have found many of those people to be reticent to provide information. The people that work firearms for Christies, Bonhams, Rock Island, etc. may be legitimate experts in sum narrow purview but their real value is that they have connections to other specialists they rely on. Another thing to watch is trends. A number of years ago Belgian Superposeds started escalating up. About five or eight years later they went the other way, rapidly.

Look at the sale estimates for major auction houses then look at the selling prices. Usually they're pretty accurate and quite often they're wildly wrong. I wouldn't buy a Python right now but I'm not selling mine any time soon. WTF

 

[Prebanpaul]

The only answer on here that are right are the last 90 day auctions on gunbroker with multiply bids and have ended. Anything else is a fantasy.