Sources for Values of Older Rifles & Shotguns

Mountainguy1

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I am Newbie to CGN and I'm wondering about good websites for finding out the values of older guns. I have a few to sell and i don't know what a fair price is. I'm still waiting for acceptance into the equipment exchange forum and i expect it will provide some useful info. once I get access.
 
Spend some time on here and read what's been posted.
Play with the search function and see what comes up with what you own.
Start a thread in the proper forum asking value questions and "include"
some good photos and descriptions.

You may git yer arse heckled as some think asking these questions is skirting thAe
EE area.

And you may probably get some private messages regarding your future sales.

Have fun.
 
You also need to remember there are many different values of a particular gun... There is sentimental value, usually more than anyone is willing to pay. Then there a value where it may not sell quickly but eventually someone may pay it. Then there is a value where it will sell fairly quickly.

Quality pictures (preferably visible) and an accurate description will be a benefit. Don't try and hide any flaws, point them out. You can post pictures and ask and get advice in the appropriate forums. You can offer it for sale only in the EE.

If you can't take a quality picture and post them for viewing it is a great detriment. Many don't even look at an ad if it has poor quality pictures or no pictures.

You say they are old guns... how old is old to you? Are you talking the 1800's or early 1900's? Do you know the makes and models?

Good luck..
 
A must have reference if you are selling or collecting a lot is Standard Catalogue of Firearms. It is published annually, but even slightly older editions can be used with a fudge factor to estimate values. Current one: 2016; ISBN: 9781440244414 USA prices and dollars, so it doesn't account for vagaries caused by Canadian law - only the US dumb factors.

See if your library can bring it on loan!
 
Is that what is often referred to as the Blue Book of gun values?

I wonder about the real-world usefulness of "book values". In an earlier incarnation I sold and financed cars; the only time the "book" value came into play was when it was used to de-value a customer's trade-in as much as possible. Similarly, the book value of guns, on the rare occasions I have looked it up, has been laughably low. Over the past few months, I have had three potential buyers tell me what the book value was of the gun I had listed. In each case, I would have bought a dozen more if they were to be had at those prices. One gent suggested I was "dreaming" if I thought I would get anywhere near my price; he suggested a figure that was roughly half my asking price. There was lots of interest in all these guns, and all sold at or near their asking prices, so I just kept dreaming...

I wonder if the guys clutching the blue book to their bosoms ever actually buy anything?
 
The Blue Book prices are fairly accurate for the US, usually considerably high for Canada with exceptions for some guns. A little education is needed when considering the condition so read that section on grading carefully. "Very good for it's age" is not an acceptable description.
 
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