How best to sell most of my guns.

[REParker]

I guess not surprising to find others in this boat but found this thread interesting because I have been wrestling with the same dilemma lately. Between aging out and losing interest I need to do something with my S&W collection before my family gets stuck doing it. Moving them one at a time myself is way too time consuming and tedious. Im thinking consigning to an auction house is my best option but I really want S&W collectors to get first options on them.

Keep your eyes open for a really fine Model 38 Airweight Bodyguard...not a new one. I'm in that market currently. I have a C&R FFL so it can be shipped directly to me from your FFL.

 

[Highmaster]

Do your homework. Visit local gun shops and pawn shops.

I frequent a friend’s pawn shop quite frequently. He sells a lot of consignment guns. He charges 15%. Long time customers pay 10%. He sells consignments in the store, Gunbroker, and or Armslist. He’s very successful.

10%-15% is well worth the hassle. They sell the gun, do the paperwork, and ship it. You collect a check.

A few years ago a late friend of mine sold his large collection (about 100 ) , hand guns and long guns . He contacted Locust Fork ( Gunbroker ) who sent a driver to Virginia . The driver packed all and hauled back to Alabama for sale on Gunbroker . I think the commission was 10 % .
Sold at a rate 2 per week by Locust Fork . She is a professional photographer and displayed very well.

 

[DHernandez]

Another option, what i have dine, is I created a book that lists all if my firearms. It has a page for each one and has a photo of the firearm, a closeup of the SN, a description of the gun (year, make, model, sn, caliber, finish etc) and the current value of the gun. Then I tabbed them off by sections (rifles, NFA items, collector grade revolvers etc). That way if something did happen to me, my family would basically have a catalog of my firearms as a starting point and could decide what to sell or keep. Its also kinda fun to take stock if your items once in a while. Then you don't feel the to dump off your collection and can still enjoy things. As I get older I like to grab an old gun put if the safe and clean it up and admire the craftsmanship.

 

[greenwellg]

Good friend passed in 2010. On one trip I took 58 rifles to Classic in Virginia Beach. Only problem now is their sellers fee is just under 20%, Not sure what it was then but I think 15%. They sold every one on their auctions but I think they spread them out to two auctions to not overload the bidders and drain available capital.

 

[Mike LaNier]

A quick note on my experience; Back in 2011 I donated a bunch of firearms to the NRA Foundation as my health was presenting issues; the NRA took the guns, auctioned them off, and the money (a) provides an annuity for me and my wife until we both pass, then (b) goes to whatever NRA program you designate; in my case, the NRA ranges. The annuity is not large, but a welcome addition to our retirement.

The NRA used the Greg Martin Company in San Francisco for the auction; Frankly, they were a bunch of crooks, hammered guns down to shills in the audience for fractions of what they were worth; I saw some of my guns on the internet within a week! Thankfully, we were informed the NRA does not use Greg Martin anymore, which is a good thing, and despite that, we have made out financially OK, although I may live to age 90 just to beat the odds!

I know a lot of folks are not huge fans of the NRA, but along with the 2nd Amendment Foundation, they are the only folks working to protect our 2nd Amendment rights. For example, the Board members of our local gun club were sued by a neighbor who objected to the noise (he built his mansion downrange of a shooting range that had been on site since 1968). We won, of course, but the NRA and the 2nd Amendment Foundation worked hard and spent money to protect the club, and by extension, us Board members. Just a thought.

 

[Max123]

Nope, they steal them.

LOL , true