Putting guns in an auction ?

masshunter

Active member
Anyone here have any experience selling a gun thru an auction ?
I have an antique Winchester short rifle w/ letter and 7 special order features. Its hard to get a straight answer from dealers that just want to buy it cheap, and I thought that even with a commission I still would come out ahead. I see similar stuff at the gun show asking big dollars but they haven't sold them yet. Any ideas ?
 
I've bought and sold quite a few, the better job you do of talking about what you have, it's virtues, the shape it's in compared to the norm, the better it will sell to the higher end of what it's worth. It helps to have an idea of it's true value to set the opening starting point, but more important is what you want. If you consider what you want or need to get on the low side and you are being realistic things sell pretty quickly.

Figure in shipping because a dealer will have to ship to another dealer, they can want a fair amount for handling the transaction.

The last thing I'd say is that just because it doesn't sell the first or second time it's listed doesn't mean you are asking too much, it may simply mean that there isn't the right buyer at that particular time. It might sell at a different time and the person who wants that gun will consider it a steal. It's never a good idea to "have" to sell because you need the money quick, prices automatically seem to go down.
 
Thanks Woodguru, I was thinking more of the big houses like Julia, or Rock Island. Its a real good piece, and I've never really been a collector, and with no one to leave it to maybe I should move it and buy something I really will use.
 
Originally Posted By: woodguru
Figure in shipping because a dealer will have to ship to another dealer, they can want a fair amount for handling the transaction.


Maybe in California but most states don't require that. I have shipped several guns myself.
 
Originally Posted By: masshunterThanks Woodguru, I was thinking more of the big houses like Julia, or Rock Island. Its a real good piece, and I've never really been a collector, and with no one to leave it to maybe I should move it and buy something I really will use.

You will not go wrong with either one of those listed, they will give you an appraisal, based on that you can set a minimum or pay to have them ship it back to you if you think it's more than they do
 
Thanks, I've been all over their sights, haven't found anything close, not many "Short Rifles" In the morning I'll give them a call. Though when I take it out I may get cold feet.
 
I've sold quite a few through auctions. You have to remember its an AUCTION. I've bought things at absolute steals and been sitting next to the seller that basically got screwed. And I've had $200 guns go over $700. It's hit and miss with bidders, you have to protect yourself. Taking your stuff home isn't thecworst outcome, you can get drastically different results the next time.

If you have something so rare that no one knows what it is, it's worth pennies on the block. But rare with 6 collectors or dealers bidding, whole other story.


Put reserves on anything you're not willing to give away. But yet have to be reasonable, if you reserve at an astronomical amount you're wasting your time probably.
 
I've bought guns at auctions many many times. It always seemed to be that if the guns were listed items in the paper they went for more than their value, if unlisted get them cheap usually. I've only sold guns at an auction once. An auctioner friend of mine called and told me that he was handling the sale of the founder of a large sporting goods manufacturer and catalog gun collection. I stuck a bunch of unwanted guns of mine in with it. Did very well on all 40 something, 15-20 percent more than what I had expected. I believe this was because of publicity of the sale and people had come with deep pockets. Like stated above go with one of the well know sales and you should do OK.
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Originally Posted By: reb8600Originally Posted By: woodguru
Figure in shipping because a dealer will have to ship to another dealer, they can want a fair amount for handling the transaction.


Maybe in California but most states don't require that. I have shipped several guns myself.

I wondered about that, up until a few years ago I was able to ship ground to dealers, seemed like they always had to be accepted and logged in by a dealer though.
 
Thanks for all the advice, and keep it coming . I sent some pics to John Julia of Maine, and they are interested, got to call on Monday, I guess the next big firearm auction is in March. They have an office in the Boston area, about 100 miles from me, may have to bring it there for appraisal. I spent a couple hrs looking thru past sales, very interesting and a real education. I will put a reserve, I don't have to sell, but if they say $8-$12,ooo. it will go in the auction, if they say $1200. it stays.
 


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