Should I or shouldn't I tell them...

[rwsmith]

I'm Mister Honest.....

I'm Mister Honest and I don't think you are obligated in any way to tell them what you know about the gun. Settle a fair price and be happy.

 

[Mcwsky09]

Im perplexed here....If i could save a bunch of $$$ I would just fill out the papers, get it at the "lower Price" and be happy. Regards Ernie

I believe the dilemma is that as an antique the OP could save some money and time and paperwork but then opens the door to the seller changing the price in the wrong direction.

So the choice is either - buy it as agree price with paperwork plus FFL transfer fee - or risk paying a higher price if the attempt to avoid the 4473 results in the seller looking more closely at what he is selling.

 

[Engineer1911]

The obvious

You must be at the point in your life where one more or less Form 4473 will not make a difference. Complete the form and buy the rifle. It is not your job to educate the seller, accept a "Pawn Stars" bargain and walk out the door.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

You have no obligation to do their work for them and tell them what they have.

 

[HalfStack]

Sometimes the pawn shop have no idea on some things they're selling but they didn't feel the need to research so it's a buyer's market. Get it.

Case in point, I saw a beautiful B C Rich Mockingbird with the price of $199. I looked the guitar over and realized that this is a genuine B C Rich with B C Rich pups and all, not a Korean copy that they sell also. I went to my bank and got the money and came back.

It was gone.

 

[LVSteve]

The prefix and sn puts it at 1896-7.

But does the actual manufacturer also make it antique? Ran into this with a Chilean M1895 recently. IIRC the Loewe rifles are antiques but the DWM ones are not.

Beware Turk 1893s, too. Most have barrels marked in the 1940s. Now we all KNOW that Turk 1893s were made pre 1899, but the receivers were nearly all scrubbed of the original Turk dates that were in a foreign script. Even if they are still there, the shop owner will CYA and go by the date he can read. BTDT, paid the NICS fee.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

The shop put their price on the gun. They will make a profit. Enough said.I was at a gun shop many years back. They had 2 1851 Colt Navies for $249.00 each. I'm still kicking myself for only getting one.

 

[handejector]

An amusing thread.
Informing the shop of the value is NOT the OP's topic.

His topic is the fact that he does not want to do a 4473 on a gun when the law does not require it.
No 4473 is required for an antique.

However, he is afraid the magic word- "ANTIQUE" will make the price go UP.

It is a moot point.
They have already entered it into their firearms log.
They have to show a disposition in that log.
For every other gun in that log, they show a 4473 or an FFL.
They do not have an option to show "Antique entered by mistake".
They will not sell it without getting a 4473 or an FFL.
So, you might as well keep quiet about the Antique status and take the hit. Unintended consequences can bite ya!
AFTER you own it, educate them if you want to.

 

[vigil617]

The definition of a fair price is what the seller is willing to accept and the buyer is willing to pay, neither party acting under duress.

You left out the operative part of this well known description:

"...both parties being fully informed...."

My take on this dilemma is somewhat different than most of the rest of the posters, though I respect the points they make about the seller making the decision on how to price the pistol.

To me, it's not right to take advantage of the situation without informing the seller that the item is an antique and probably worth more than is being asked.

You would be asking for the opinion of the Forum members if there wasn't a bit of doubt in your own mind about the fairness of buying the pistol when you know it is worth more.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It's a really good rule.

 

[Fat Frank]

[QUOTETo me, it's not right to take advantage of the situation without informing the seller that the item is an antique and probably worth more than is being asked.[/QUOTE]

Being an antique does not necessarily make it worth more money. It only necessarily makes a difference in the required paperwork.

I have owned several Winchester model 1892s, and 1895s some of which were antiques and some weren't. The prices I paid, or received when I sold them, had little if nothing to do with whether or not they were antiques. It was based on their configuration/condition/desirability etc.

And, as handejector said,
"It is a moot point.
They have already entered it into their firearms log.
They have to show a disposition in that log.
For every other gun in that log, they show a 4473 or an FFL.
They do not have an option to show "Antique entered by mistake".
They will not sell it without getting a 4473 or an FFL.".

I really don't see anything more to it than that.

 

[Bugkiller99]

An amusing thread.
Informing the shop of the value is NOT the OP's topic.

His topic is the fact that he does not want to do a 4473 on a gun when the law does not require it.
No 4473 is required for an antique.

However, he is afraid the magic word- "ANTIQUE" will make the price go UP.

It is a moot point.
They have already entered it into their firearms log.
They have to show a disposition in that log.
For every other gun in that log, they show a 4473 or an FFL.
They do not have an option to show "Antique entered by mistake".
They will not sell it without getting a 4473 or an FFL.
So, you might as well keep quiet about the Antique status and take the hit. Unintended consequences can bite ya!
AFTER you own it, educate them if you want to.

Only on my third cup of coffee and I've learned something today.
Thanks Boss!

 

[BearBio]

[QUOTETo me, it's not right to take advantage of the situation without informing the seller that the item is an antique and probably worth more than is being asked.

Being an antique does not necessarily make it worth more money. It only necessarily makes a difference in the required paperwork.

I have owned several Winchester model 1892s, and 1895s some of which were antiques and some weren't. The prices I paid, or received when I sold them, had little if nothing to do with whether or not they were antiques. It was based on their configuration/condition/desirability etc.

And, as handejector said,
"It is a moot point.
They have already entered it into their firearms log.
They have to show a disposition in that log.
For every other gun in that log, they show a 4473 or an FFL.
They do not have an option to show "Antique entered by mistake".
They will not sell it without getting a 4473 or an FFL.".

I really don't see anything more to it than that.[/QUOTE]

That might be true and explains something that happened to me: I was at Cabelas (doing a trade in the parking lot) and went inside. They had a "baby Russian" for $300. Nickeled, good shape and would go with my Laramie quite well. So I bought it. I pointed out it was an antique and the clerk muttered something about "store policy". OK, their right.

To the original poster, "What would Rick and Chumlee do?"

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Whatever you do don't use the word "vintage" that's a sure pricer upper! I would just bite the paperwork bullet and buy it.

 

[sipowicz]

And only say "I want it." Never put "really really really" in there.

 

[finesse_r]

If this were an individual I would be inclined t tell them about it.

However, dealing with a pawn broker who is in the business of buying and selling guns, I would not tell them. Pawn brokers are second only to bankers as thieves that prey on the unwary. So I would not treat them any better than they would treat you.

 

[MOONDAWG]

I got an almost new pair of giant silk bloomers for only a dollar off my widowed neighbor after his wife passed....seller beware!

Well...did they fit?

 

[BigBill]

I had a pawn shop owner tell me he loves ripping off the survivors of the family when the dad passes on and the guns are left behind and the family doesn't want them. The pawn shop low balls there offers anyway.

Haggle the price on it, keep quiet and enjoy your prize. Educate no one it could spoil your future deals. They could look it up online too but there lazy. There loss is your gain.

Sorry but my dealings with a pawn shop has done this to me when buying guns.

 

[kozmic]

An amusing thread.
Informing the shop of the value is NOT the OP's topic.

His topic is the fact that he does not want to do a 4473 on a gun when the law does not require it.
No 4473 is required for an antique.

However, he is afraid the magic word- "ANTIQUE" will make the price go UP.

It is a moot point.
They have already entered it into their firearms log.
They have to show a disposition in that log.
For every other gun in that log, they show a 4473 or an FFL.
They do not have an option to show "Antique entered by mistake".
They will not sell it without getting a 4473 or an FFL.
So, you might as well keep quiet about the Antique status and take the hit. Unintended consequences can bite ya!
AFTER you own it, educate them if you want to.

As you know, we're all here to amuse you big guy!

I'm just an easily confused, somewhat naive, small-town yankee. His motives eluded me, but his perceived inter conflict was equally baffling. I had a hunch sumthin' was up, but couldn't connect the pieces. Thanks for the 'splainin' it.