How to find out value of gun

Amelio

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I haven't sold many guns but I don't use a lot of them. I going to downsize and only keep a few.

I talked to a couple of places seems to be a sellers market prices are very high.

I'm not sure what to ask for price?

For example I have a 1187 mint condition wood 3 inch magnum. When I google it says it worth around 800 clams. Not sure if thats us currency. I paid around 750 for it around 10 years ago. I'm aldo not sure if its accurate price.
 
Do some research on the EE, other online markets, online used gun shops. Condition means a lot, +/- accordingly. Remove any value for sentimental reasons, nobody will pay extra for your emotional attachment. Good luck
 
As above. I personally stay away from US sites unless I cannot find the equivalent in Canada. Condition, rarity, demand, unmolested, etc, etc all play a factor in the price.
 
OP, there is no "price" for a used gun - it is what you and a buyer agree to. Post #2 got a lot of it - you need to put in some hours of real research, not chatting with neighbourhood talkers - auctions, etc. - to know what similar may have sold for - and do not overlook the extra fees that any auction buyer had to pay on top of the bid price. You still have to find that buyer or at least a similar buyer, if you want to get that total price, which also includes deducting what the auction consigner would have received after paying the various selling fees.

And, on a different level, you are the one who has to live with you after the sale. How much are you going to be happy selling it for? If you paid $750 new 10 years ago, and think you will get $800 today, then post it that way - will find out if there is a buyer out there who agrees, or not. May as well figure out before hand whether that includes shipping or not, and how are you going to do that? That is the only way to find out, I think. If you posted it for $650 and it goes in 10 minutes, you are always left wondering if you could have got more for it - and how much does that really matter to you?? Only you can answer. Gone, for sure, with $650 in your bank, or still there because you want $150 more. Like Post #2 says, try and disconnect the emotional attachment to it.

So maybe think like - it is not worth what you paid for it, it is "worth" what someone else will pay for it, to you, today. That might be more or might be less than you bought it for, but what you paid, is, or should be, sort of irrelevant about what someone else will pay today...
 
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I totally agree with Potashminer. Initial quality and realistic present condition are probably the two most important factors in evaluating a gun for sale or purchase. Talk is cheap but the true value is only determined after the money changes hands, before that it's all speculation and hope.
 
American prices are not Canadian prices. They are very different markets, with Canadian realized prices usually being significantly lower once currency exchange is factored in. Among other things, that's why the Blue Book is next to useless up here for prices.
 
Anyone who quotes us pricing or uses blue book values mows nothing about evaluating firearm prices .
Main consideration condition
Model and reputation as far as quality
A 11/87 is easy a 9 condition gun $550-650
As condition declines so does price
As far as rating condition check with nra standard and see where your gun fits
 
The Blue Book prices are for firearms in the US. I have found Canadian prices to be considerably lower the majority of the time unless you have something quite collectible.

Post some quality pictures and accurate descriptions and you will get pretty accurate answers here...
 
All the above info is useful and I would only add that if it is 10 years old and has been shot it is NOT in mint condition. Look up the NRA definitions for firearm condition description and describe it properly.
 
Yes to Post #13. There are six NRA terms to describe a modern firearm's condition - well defined on the NRA website - very clear - and the word "mint" is not one of them. For example, "Excellent" is the third highest condition rating. Those six condition description words are to be used to mean what NRA says they mean, not what we think they should, or might, mean. And, a separate set of definitions for describing condition of an antique firearm.

You can go here to review what NRA has published: http://www.nramuseum.org/gun-info-research/evaluating-firearms-condition.aspx
 
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