How to value "collectibles?"

[bobsguns]

Yep. I'm not going to drag 50 N frames to Oklahoma! Many places and opportunites for those gems to be stolen...from your vehicle while at a motel, to in the venue itself apparently!

35+ years working gun shows here.

The only time a gun was stolen from my FFL boss was by a night security guy. All one has to do is run a small, plastic coated cable through the trigger guards. Use short length (say 3') so you can unlock the cable & pull the gun loose should you need to show it. Loop each end of the cable so as to provide a secure point for the locking device. Wants to see another gun? Then lock the first one back up & proceed to the next one.

Wire cable can't be broken with bare hands.

Theft resistant isn't brain surgery, gents. It can be done quickly & affordably.

As for the motels, just take the guns into the room when one stops for the night. Use basic non-marked boxes to hide what's in them. Maybe go through a drive-thru for you food, so you don't have to go back out to eat.

 

[Legendarylawman]

If done the best on Guns International. They charge 20 bucks for a listing. That's it. After that, it's between you and the buyer. Sure, I've been low-balled, but you just tell em no. I doubled my money on a derringer from some guy in Texas. I live in Wisconsin. You have to get more people to look at it to get the money you want. Just my experience..

 

[HH940]

Watched a guy drop a collectible S&W onto a cement floor at a gun show years ago. The seller was quite the man and asked him to buy it, which he would not do. He did get $50 from the guy, though. Wasn't enough for me, because I then would not have bought it.

Dry firing, slamming cylinders shut, sitting them down on the muzzle, it goes on and on. More power to the sellers from me, as I wouldn't do it unless I was hurting. I have bought a good bit at gun shows, but handle them with great care like they are my own. Meeting people and talking to old friends is fun, too. Good luck.

A gun is worth what someone is willing to pay for it, or it goes back in inventory.

I did gun shows with a friend years ago, and people would move the "Do Not Handle" card to pick up the gun!

 

[H Richard]

I have found that a nationally (on-line) auction has more exposure, and therefore more bidding which normally realizes higher prices. The auction house I use takes at least 20 photo's from just about every angle. They pay all advertising, fee's, shipping, etc. I feel it is well worth the % they charge. and in several cases I realized many times expectation in the sold price.

 

[Malkovich]

Your best bet is a well known, top tier Gunbroker consignment seller.

Yes, they will take something on the order of 18% off the hammer price, but the truth is that you get a LOT of value for that percentage.

If you are interested in what that percentage buys you, we can talk about it. It's worth it.

Can you suggest a few dealers, I have a pair I'm considering selling.

 

[kimporter]

Been looking for a 3 inch m27,I'd love to have it

 

[Gdogman]

When it comes time for me to sell my collection, I would want to get them back to association members so I plan on listing them here FIRST and them on to a consigner after. I have purchased well over a 100 Smiths some RARE and some HIGH CONDITION here and have had a great run. Still in contact with many of the sellers!!!!

 

[65-2x2]

Your best bet is to try selling here on the forum first and see if you get any bites.
If it's been up for a month with no bites, then you can see what you can get by consigning with either a red or blue velvet background.
Good photographs make a huge difference, from what I have seen.

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In addition to your background suggestions I would note that a greazy grey blanket also works great.

 

[65-2x2]

I have suggested to my wife that she contact two local auction houses that seem to do well on the national scale. Whatever she realizes from the sale will be all profit to her. My brother had contacted one of the two about the sale of a particularly nice piece. They came to his house and offered to buy his entire collection. (about 30 pieces) He sat down for a few minutes with a calculator, made a high proposal, accepted a counteroffer and they paid him, mostly in cash, on the spot, they were a few thousand short, so they wrote him a check for the balance.

 

[SHODriver]

I haven't really been following collectible S&W prices closely, but in my search for another old model Python they're taking a nosedive at auction. I think part of the depreciation is market related and the other part of it is that the new model Pythons are scratching the itch for a person who wants a gun that looks like the old one without the price tag. There's still people with plenty of money out there as I recently saw a Ron Power Grand Master Deluxe close out for more than $3k. A little more front end work will also likely get you better results. High quality and well done photos will ensure more people are willing to look at what you're selling and feel more comfortable spending a large amount of money on a gun. That being said, if you're not taking plastic I think you're likely to lose multiple interested parties just because they want the convenience or they don't actually have the ability to pay with certified funds or a personal check for the closing price.

 

[1Celticfozzie]

That being said, if you're not taking plastic I think you're likely to lose multiple interested parties just because they want the convenience or they don't actually have the ability to pay with certified funds or a personal check for the closing price.

This definitely true with some of the high dollar items

 

[03hemi]

Been looking for a 3 inch m27,I'd love to have it

Uh oh, bid'n war com'n, I already made him an offer.

 

[pharmer]

In the last 10 months I have sold (gun only non original stocks):
4" nickel 29-2 maybe 90% for $1200
6" blue 27-2maybe 95% for $1000
4" 28-2 maybe 80% for $600
8 3/8" "Hostiles" 29-5 maybe 95% for $1000
"CEN" prefix 640 ND for $500
I have no idea what they were worth as I sold them for exactly what I paid for 'em
I wasn't using them, hopefully the new owners will. Joe

 

[davek42_43130]

Your best bet is a well known, top tier Gunbroker consignment seller.

Yes, they will take something on the order of 18% off the hammer price, but the truth is that you get a LOT of value for that percentage.

If you are interested in what that percentage buys you, we can talk about it. It's worth it.

I think GB charges 5%.to sell, buyer pays 1% to buy

 

[bobsguns]

I did gun shows with a friend years ago, and people would move the "Do Not Handle" card to pick up the gun!

They don't do that crap at TN gun shows. Good way to get slapped like a sissy.

 

[bobsguns]

I have suggested to my wife that she contact two local auction houses that seem to do well on the national scale. Whatever she realizes from the sale will be all profit to her. My brother had contacted one of the two about the sale of a particularly nice piece. They came to his house and offered to buy his entire collection. (about 30 pieces) He sat down for a few minutes with a calculator, made a high proposal, accepted a counteroffer and they paid him, mostly in cash, on the spot, they were a few thousand short, so they wrote him a check for the balance.

My FFL now does this. We picked up over 100 guns last weekend from a shop in Myrtle Beach from a shop that was closing.

 

[kimporter]

Uh oh, bid'n war com'n, I already made him an offer.

Lol,didn't make an offer was expecting him to tell me what he was asking