I would like to tell you about my first experience at a large gun auction and give you all a few pointers, as well. You want to go to the preview, usually the day before the auction begins. All the guns are on display and you can actually handle them. They all will have a lot # and will be sold in that order. You will need to search the catalog on the auction's site to find what you will want to look at, and bid on. I was mainly interested in S&W, so I scanned through them for each day of the auction. I made a list of the lots that I thought I might bid on, put down what they were, how much the estimate was, and how much I might be willing to bid on them. You need to be prepared, because things happen fast, most auctions will last about 20-30 seconds. Nobody's going to wait on you to make up your mind unless the bids are in the 5 digits. Pre-register, unless you just like giving money away. If you don't, preview will be $35, the auction will be $50, EACH DAY. Pre-register and it's free, plus one guest. Little ones are free. There were more auction employees and security than attending bidders. There are sealed bids, phone bidders, internet and RIAC Live. I know that's over 1500 bidders on that. Buyer's premium 17.5% +Texas sales tax 8.25%. So you can tack on almost 26% to your bid. And that doesn't cover any shipping or CC fees 3.5% Every gun I looked at was clean as a whistle. They can sell almost 100 lots an hour.
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