The EM2 Canadian bullpup rifle. Only $25,000 at Switzers Auction
- Thread starter Dutchie
- Start date
It is fugly but is also a Canadian historic piece. Glad it went to a good home. 9K is not a bad price at all considering the limited market for 12(2). Look at what the C2 and the Sterling went for, both very desirable items.
tactical870
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Buckhorn, Ontario
I wish I'd had the cash and the time to attend the sale.
The CAL C2A1 went for $2,500.00 and the CAL Sterling C1 sold for $1,400.00. There is also the 10% buyers premium plus applicable taxes depending on where the buyer lives. If the buyer used Proxibid the premium was 15%.The Lanchester Mk1* went for $2,500.00. Looking at the sold prices (online) as the auction progressed I think many buyers walked home with very good deals. I just hope it did well for Bruce and that he's satisfied. It certainly isn't easy to see a lifetimes collection go. Hopefully some of those in attendance will have more to add.
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
What did the FN C1A1 with sniperscope sell for?
$2900
I was interested.... I used to use them in the 1960's when I was in the Reserves. But the price seemed a bit high and I would have to sneak it by my wife when I got home, so I did not bid. I should have bought one of the 8L series when they were available.
B
Did Bruce Strader pass on and this was the reason his collection went to auction? Sorry if this is a stupid question.
I bid on a number of handguns, but only ended up getting the one I really wanted - Webley 22 Target MK IV revolver. Paid a lot more than the low estimate and what I had budgeted for. Hopefully the price of these rare guns keeps on going up and we are actually allowed to keep them in working order and sell them. Of course this will NOT be the case if Justin becomes PM.....it is just one prohib class after another created by successive govts trying to buy votes.
CD
I bid on a number of handguns, but only ended up getting the one I really wanted - Webley 22 Target MK IV revolver. Paid a lot more than the low estimate and what I had budgeted for. Hopefully the price of these rare guns keeps on going up and we are actually allowed to keep them in working order and sell them. Of course this will NOT be the case if Justin becomes PM.....it is just one prohib class after another created by successive govts trying to buy votes.
CD
Coyote Ugly
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
So it had a starting price of $25,000 and sold for $9,000?
Sounds like the auctioneer was overly optimistic!
Switzer is very optimistic with his estimates.
Perhaps these are some of the reasons many items sold for so little:
1> Photos were not very good. Buyers were taking a huge gamble with the zero return policy. Some of the items in this past auction looked good in the photos but in person were junk. Also, good luck trying to know if a pistol has the correct barrel or any of the other details.
2> Proxibid was having issues - a lot of bids were missed during the past auction. I heard this from several people, they just simply couldn't submit their bids. Some people got lucky.
3> You need to factor in the buyers premium - a tactic used by the auction houses to make prices seem lower and get a larger percentage from the sellers item:
If a gun sells on the floor to a $1000 bid here's what happens after the bidding:
Add a 10% buyers premium to the item bringing to $1100. Now add sales tax (example Ontario) and then final price for the buyer is ACTUALLY $1243
Of that $1243 the seller only receives a mere $800, because Switzers takes another 20% cut from the seller. In total Switzers actually makes 30% from the seller, unlike the 20% that they advertise to potential clients.
Switzers receives $300 profit on the $1000 bid.
If the seller and the buyer just made a private sale for $1000 without involving the auction house they would both profit a minimum of $200.
These are things to consider when attending an auction or having them sell for you.
-Steve
Perhaps these are some of the reasons many items sold for so little:
1> Photos were not very good. Buyers were taking a huge gamble with the zero return policy. Some of the items in this past auction looked good in the photos but in person were junk. Also, good luck trying to know if a pistol has the correct barrel or any of the other details.
2> Proxibid was having issues - a lot of bids were missed during the past auction. I heard this from several people, they just simply couldn't submit their bids. Some people got lucky.
3> You need to factor in the buyers premium - a tactic used by the auction houses to make prices seem lower and get a larger percentage from the sellers item:
If a gun sells on the floor to a $1000 bid here's what happens after the bidding:
Add a 10% buyers premium to the item bringing to $1100. Now add sales tax (example Ontario) and then final price for the buyer is ACTUALLY $1243
Of that $1243 the seller only receives a mere $800, because Switzers takes another 20% cut from the seller. In total Switzers actually makes 30% from the seller, unlike the 20% that they advertise to potential clients.
Switzers receives $300 profit on the $1000 bid.
If the seller and the buyer just made a private sale for $1000 without involving the auction house they would both profit a minimum of $200.
These are things to consider when attending an auction or having them sell for you.
-Steve
Do you realize that there are no more than 20 or so people eligible to own a full auto left in Canada?
Auctions are a way to sell. An auction has benefits and costs- like other forms of sales.
This particular sale went on for 3 days - I shudder to think what selling that amount of material on the net would involve.
Auctions are a way to sell. An auction has benefits and costs- like other forms of sales.
This particular sale went on for 3 days - I shudder to think what selling that amount of material on the net would involve.
IIRC, at the time the FA rule came into force, (1978) there were about 5000 guns owned by about 2000 bona fide collectors.
I would expect after 35 years, that very few are left, but I doubt is down to 20.
If I had to guess, I would say perhaps 400 or 500
I think you're correct that an auction house is the best way to sell a lot of items quickly, if that's what you want to do. It sort of feels like one of those fire sales that pop up - everything must go!
I doubt it's the best way to make the maximum profit though, or to accurately describe the items.
An online dealer may also be an option to consider if selling the items online yourself won't work. But this will likely take more than three days. Typically, an online dealer will have quality photos, a description, and a return policy. I'm not sure what sort of percentage they will charge - my local gun store takes 15%.
I realize Switzer is in business to make money, and I totally understand and respect that. On occasion, I still attend his auctions when something like this comes along - but I'm always surprised how many people don't understand how the percentages work or think the bid is the actual price.
I hope for the seller as well that he is satisfied with the money he gets from the auction.
-Steve
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I think we are on the same page re auctions - I do know that auctions becomes necessary for all sorts of reasons.. age, health, estate, bankruptcy, ... all unhappy events.
Be it a farm, business, guns or whatever...it usually is accompanied by the sense of an end of something once wonderful.
Usually, money is not the important factor at that stage. An end in a timely manner is.
Be it a farm, business, guns or whatever...it usually is accompanied by the sense of an end of something once wonderful.
Usually, money is not the important factor at that stage. An end in a timely manner is.
On Jan 1/1978 there were 1278 12/2 collectors/owners in Canada for a total of around 5500 firearms
I understand the number is now just under 600.
Many owners have just one item while others have large accumulations but the number is dropping slowly and surely, as health issues take place and security issues arise.
I understand the number is now just under 600.
Many owners have just one item while others have large accumulations but the number is dropping slowly and surely, as health issues take place and security issues arise.
