Browning Citori Hunter appraisal

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Freyr_255

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 97.1%
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Location
Northern BC
So I have a Citori grade 1 hunter with invector chokes that I got off an old guy who was selling off his guns before leaving the country to retire. I'm up in the air on keeping or selling this one as I just don't know when I'll ever use it given current life circumstances. So I'm looking for some opinions on value as I'm horrible at judging things like this as it's a brand new gun essentially with cosmetic neglect rust issues.

It has neglect rust pitting on the side of the barrels at the base and some on the sight rail but it is purely cosmetic. There is a few spots on the barrel as well that were little spots of neglect rust and some wear marks from the fore end. The bores/chambers are like mirrors without anything marring them and the receiver is in essentially very good/excellent condition without any rust and light handling marks on the stock if you look in the right light(butt pad is hard and should be replaced). The fore end has a long scratch that runs it's length, which is really more of a light indentation for most of it. Fore end metal is in excellent shape and never had any rust. It has 3 chokes, full, mod, IC and according the choke storage tube it is rated for steel shot. This gun probably only ever had a few hundred rounds through it as knowing the guy he bought it to hunt with. As well the action is still stiff with newness and the lever sits well off center. And It has the original case.

Pictures are in the link below. I noticed after I posted them and looked again that there's a fair amount of lint from the gun case stuck in the oil that can look like rust. Be aware of this and use appropriate judgment.

Serial is ###### NM153 which makes it a 1990 manufacture grade 1 hunter with 3" chambers and 26" barrels.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/186332486@N07/77wmT8
 
$800-$1000 depending on how quickly you’d want it sold. The rust pitting is an expensive fix so most buyers would just live with it. Gun looks new mechanically but it’s been neglected and/or used carelessly.

Patrick
 
phinton81 said:
$800-$1000 depending on how quickly you’d want it sold. The rust pitting is an expensive fix so most buyers would just live with it. Gun looks new mechanically but it’s been neglected and/or used carelessly.

Patrick
Click to expand...

Just looked at EE to see what is listed, my initial appraisal of max 1600 seems a little high in the current market and would have to adjust it to closer to the 1200 mark. I would say that 800 -1000 isn't far off if you want it sold today.
 
Based on what I see in the photos, that is some pretty bad looking rust and pitting. I would rate this gun as “good” at best.

A 1990 DOM means it will most likely have the old Invector chokes which hurts its value. I would say $800-$900. I think you’ll do better selling the gun and case separately.
 
1963beretta said:
Based on what I see in the photos, that is some pretty bad looking rust and pitting. I would rate this gun as “good” at best.

A 1990 DOM means it will most likely have the old Invector chokes which hurts its value. I would say $800-$900. I think you’ll do better selling the gun and case separately.
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Agree. I would sell it less the case also
Typical example of being put away in the case and under the bed or in a closet for many years

Cheers
 
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Agreed, this gun is in good/very good condition and the "cosmetics" count more than other things to most people. Too bad, some people just don't look after their things and are usually the first ones to complain about the drastic loss of value this brings. This would make a good field gun for someone who treats their guns in the same way that this one was treated, maybe $800-900 on a good day. The case is an addition and adds no value to a gun like this, sell it separately to help make up for the value on the gun lost by neglect.
 
Well - The pitting has gotten into the internal surfaces of the gun, see the photo of the monoblock and ejectors. I'd be curious to know what the firing mechanism looks like. Have you fired the gun?
Personally, I would be reluctant to purchase the gun without knowledge of the functionality... Even then, I would be reluctant to pay more than 1000$, case included.
 
cosmic said:
Well - The pitting has gotten into the internal surfaces of the gun, see the photo of the monoblock and ejectors. I'd be curious to know what the firing mechanism looks like. Have you fired the gun?
Personally, I would be reluctant to purchase the gun without knowledge of the functionality... Even then, I would be reluctant to pay more than 1000$, case included.
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The gun is completely functional. Rust is restricted to the external barrel surfaces only. The receiver is almost pristine. It's like something got on it or it just wasn't well oiled in the one area. The rust on the ejectors appears to just be surface rust on the external faces. Internals appear to be ok.

*Edit*

Just for clarification, this gun is mechanically almost new. The rust is literally on surfaces that do not affect the functioning of the firearm. At most you could argue that the stuff around the chamber mouth might, but if I tried hard enough I could probably make it disappear with steel wool and minimal remaining blemishes.
 
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Freyr_255 said:
The gun is completely functional. Rust is restricted to the external barrel surfaces only. The receiver is almost pristine. It's like something got on it or it just wasn't well oiled in the one area. The rust on the ejectors appears to just be surface rust on the external faces. Internals appear to be ok.

*Edit*

Just for clarification, this gun is mechanically almost new. The rust is literally on surfaces that do not affect the functioning of the firearm. At most you could argue that the stuff around the chamber mouth might, but if I tried hard enough I could probably make it disappear with steel wool and minimal remaining blemishes.
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should have cleaned it up a bit before asking for opinions on value as people only see what is there not what it could be
 
Will not be an easy sell due to the combination of invector chokes, rust and 26" barrels. You would be better off to sell the case separately. Just my $0.05 Good luck.
 
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pmatuk said:
should have cleaned it up a bit before asking for opinions on value as people only see what is there not what it could be
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I generally don't buy and sell much because I find many firearm owners to be a fickle crowd that's focused on not using their firearms as intended, but rather keeping them as show pieces for the range/collection. It gets old dealing with that mentality IMHO. Right now I'm just doing some clearing out of stuff I don't use so I guess I'll have to deal with it lol!

Thanks everyone for the input. It's much appreciated. :cheers:
 
With all due respect, most the gun owners on this site believe that proper cleaning and gun maintenance is an important aspect of gun ownership. Guns that don’t show proper care will not sell at the prices that well cared for guns would sell at. Nothing wrong with buying and selling used guns, but like buying and selling a used car....cars in better shape will command higher prices then cars that have not been well maintained or have signs of rust.

Now I know you said you didn't own the gun, but the previous owner must have used that gun well and put it away wet. Wood can easily be cleaned up and fixed, but rust and pitted metal is a different animal.
 
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phinton81 said:
$800-$1000 depending on how quickly you’d want it sold. The rust pitting is an expensive fix so most buyers would just live with it. Gun looks new mechanically but it’s been neglected and/or used carelessly.

Patrick
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Should sell for just shy of the 1K iffen if someone just had to have the 26'' barrels.
Thats the draw back for me, 3 inch magnums and 26 inch barrels.
My ears are ringing just a tad louder with those short barrels in the blind.
They are great shooters all day everyday.
Rob
 
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I guess I'll never understand why some people ask for opinions on the value of a gun and when they get a consensus on that value they need to argue against that value because it doesn't agree with their preconceived ideas. Freyr-355, you now have a reasonable estimate of value, exceed it if you are prepared for disappointment and frustration. Accept that the short barrel in today's market is not popular in a gun like this and negatively affects value. If the condition of this gun doesn't bother you and you consider this to be 'normal use' and maintenance, valuations will continue to be a problem.
 
Ashcroft said:
I guess I'll never understand why some people ask for opinions on the value of a gun and when they get a consensus on that value they need to argue against that value because it doesn't agree with their preconceived ideas. Freyr-355, you now have a reasonable estimate of value, exceed it if you are prepared for disappointment and frustration. Accept that the short barrel in today's market is not popular in a gun like this and negatively affects value. If the condition of this gun doesn't bother you and you consider this to be 'normal use' and maintenance, valuations will continue to be a problem.
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Agree. The gun is not in the condition that he wants it to be in.
 
This may provide some insight if there is any doubt.

NRA MODERN GUN CONDITION STANDARDS:

NEW: Not previously sold at retail, in same condition as current factory production.
PERFECT: In New condition in every respect.
EXCELLENT: New condition, used but little, no noticeable marring of wood or metal, bluing perfect, (except at muzzle or sharp edges).
VERY GOOD: In perfect working condition, no appreciable wear on working surfaces, no corrosion or pitting, only minor surface dents or scratches.
GOOD: In safe working condition, minor wear on working surfaces, no broken parts, no corrosion or pitting that will interfere with proper functioning.
FAIR: In safe working condition but well worn, perhaps requiring replacement of minor parts or adjustments which should be indicated in advertisement, no rust, but may have corrosion pits which do not render article unsafe or inoperable.

Using this standard NRA grading guideline, the subject Citori would be graded as fair
 
1963beretta said:
This may provide some insight if there is any doubt.

NRA MODERN GUN CONDITION STANDARDS:

NEW: Not previously sold at retail, in same condition as current factory production.
PERFECT: In New condition in every respect.
EXCELLENT: New condition, used but little, no noticeable marring of wood or metal, bluing perfect, (except at muzzle or sharp edges).
VERY GOOD: In perfect working condition, no appreciable wear on working surfaces, no corrosion or pitting, only minor surface dents or scratches.
GOOD: In safe working condition, minor wear on working surfaces, no broken parts, no corrosion or pitting that will interfere with proper functioning.
FAIR: In safe working condition but well worn, perhaps requiring replacement of minor parts or adjustments which should be indicated in advertisement, no rust, but may have corrosion pits which do not render article unsafe or inoperable.

Using this standard NRA grading guideline, the subject Citori would be graded as fair
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I shook my head a little hit when I was reading assessments of it being in good-very good condition. I'd rate that gun as fair condition and price it at 900 hoping to get 8, but expecting offers of 7-750.
 
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