Good morning. I am not a person with any great knowledge of shotguns. My area of expertise is antiques and mainly rifles. A very good friend has this shotgun in a custom fitted DU case. The shotgun is a 12 guage with choke tubes. It has checkering and a pistol grip. There are gold inlaid snow geese on the side panels and the name "David Smith" etched on the side panels as well. I suspect he is the artist who is responsible for the wildfowl scene. This is in 100% condition. The lady who won it at a DU night is not a hunter. It has only ben removed from the case on occasion to be wiped down. My friend is asking me for an estimate of value. My "Blue Book" has the model at $1,500.00. I don't believe their value reflects the fitted case or the fact that it is a DU shotgun. So....I am asking those of you who play in the shotgun field for a guesstimate. By the way, it is about 10-15 years old. Thanks, Dave
Ruger Red Lable DU Model.....
- Thread starter Dantforth
- Start date
DU guns are rarely worth much more than a similar grade shotgun by the same maker. Being a DU gun doesn't usually enhance the value and depending on the gun can detract from it. The fitted case doesn't add much value IMO, maybe $100, particularly if it has one of those DU medallions stamped into it.
The suitably chilled link below offers an interesting opinion on the DU guns from a U.S. dealer. Note the final sentence. I've found that true on this side of the border too.
http://www.herosarms.com/DU.htm
Last edited:
If you find a DU fanatic that is willing to pay a premium you may get a couple hundred more for the gun with the case IMO. Otherwise, as Claybuster indicates, pretty well same price as a non DU marked model.
I had a Berettta 686 DU gun several years ago that I bought unfired and let sit on the rack till the stark realization kicked in that shotguns were made to be shot.
I'm not a fan of the Ruger Red Label but your book price plus a reasonable case value for an unfired Red Label would be the ball bark.
I had a Berettta 686 DU gun several years ago that I bought unfired and let sit on the rack till the stark realization kicked in that shotguns were made to be shot.
I'm not a fan of the Ruger Red Label but your book price plus a reasonable case value for an unfired Red Label would be the ball bark.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Ducks Unlimited, over the past several decades, commissioned a number of "Special Edition" guns from many manufacturer's, including Remington, Winchester, U. S. Repeating Arms, Browning, Beretta and Ruger amongst others. These guns were used at DU fund-raising events in the US, Canada & Mexico. Generally, they were common model firearms customized/upgraded/decorated/accessorized to appeal to DU supporters. Ay DU events, when auctioned, they often brought considerably more money ( by high bid) then the comparable non-DU model, as they usually did when used as say, a "Special Raffle" item. ( e.g. 100 - $ 25 tickets = $ 2500 )
Don't know about "David Smith" but IIRC, Daniel Smith was DU's Artist of the Year in 1988 and 2002. He was also the US Federal Duck Stamp Artist for 88/89. I'm fairly certain the engraving pattern ( which is not hand-engraved ) on the DU Ruger Red Label is taken from one of Daniel's images. Snow Geese were the image on the Federal Duck Stamp for the 88/89 season. Daniel is from Bozeman, Montana. You should be able to "Google" him up.
For the most part, these guns are no more valuable on the general market than manufacturer's comparable non-DU model ... although to some, they represent better value - as "variants" to common models. They generally have higher grade wood and are otherwise different from the base model - often with a DU prefix or suffix Serial No.
An "engraved" Ruger Red Label today is in the vicinity of $ 2000 - $ 2250.
I would think $ 1500 for an unused or otherwise excellent condition cased DU model doesn't seem out of line.
Don't know about "David Smith" but IIRC, Daniel Smith was DU's Artist of the Year in 1988 and 2002. He was also the US Federal Duck Stamp Artist for 88/89. I'm fairly certain the engraving pattern ( which is not hand-engraved ) on the DU Ruger Red Label is taken from one of Daniel's images. Snow Geese were the image on the Federal Duck Stamp for the 88/89 season. Daniel is from Bozeman, Montana. You should be able to "Google" him up.
For the most part, these guns are no more valuable on the general market than manufacturer's comparable non-DU model ... although to some, they represent better value - as "variants" to common models. They generally have higher grade wood and are otherwise different from the base model - often with a DU prefix or suffix Serial No.
An "engraved" Ruger Red Label today is in the vicinity of $ 2000 - $ 2250.
I would think $ 1500 for an unused or otherwise excellent condition cased DU model doesn't seem out of line.
