What is the value of this gun ?

freddygotarf

freddygotarf

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Looking for a value on this Midland SxS 12 ga. It has a case that holds gun and accessories.
Comes with cleaning rod kit. It does need some work as it feels like top lever does not have a return spring.
Also 1 firing pin is protruding. Any info would be great on this gun.



 
I'm thinking about $1000-1200. There are a lot of things you can't tell about the condition from just looking at pictures, and those will effect the value. The top lever spring will need to be replaced, and that will be a couple of hundred bucks to get it done right. Are the barrels off the face, are the ribs starting to separate, any dents in the barrels, etc? Try fitting the barrels to the action to see if the left tumbler will stay cocked. If not, that would likely be a broken "bent", where the sear contacts the tumbler. That would have to be fixed as well. All this adds up, and would would certainly have a bearing on what I would offer if I were looking at purchasing it.

A very nice old gun, just needs some tlc.
 
Your Midland gun needs more info to value accurately, but.....
It is a competent but modest Birmingham boxlock, extractor, proofed for modern smokeless 2 3/4 12 gauge shotshells with 1 1/4 oz of shot. The 13 1 marking indicates a tight dimension for 12 gauge bore.
Close examination of the barrels is required to know more. Whether the bores are clean and smooth, whether the bores have been lapped or worn in their lifetime to be out of proof.
Measurement of the chokes with a micrometer would tell one whether it has a desirable configuration. Overall weight of the gun, drop at comb, drop at heel, length of pull dimensions should be listed to help ready a gun like this for sale.
External appearances show the gun in good enough condition to be worth some investment.
One man's opinion - in repaired, fully functional condition value would be about $1200, $1500 on a really good day with the wind blowing your way. The way it is now, perhaps $800.
If you have to pay a high end gunsmith to repair this gun you might have more in it than its ultimate value.
 
$1000.00-$1200.00 would be very optimistic the way the gun is now. In fact, I think $800.00 would be top end but you might get somewhere around that with the case. You would first have to repair the obvious issues to realize $1000.00. And then an accurate measure of the bores, chamber length and barrel wall thickness might dictate otherwise if they are not in specs. Too many unknowns for an accurate value.
 
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I think Saskbooknut and Gunsaholic are on the right track. Even repaired, tough to get much more than $1000 for that gun. The case and accessories have some value to those that are looking. But I think, given the gun, the accessories will help for a quick sale, not get much more money. The market is very soft, NA wide, for low and mid grade English guns. I have a very finely engraved Army & Navy boxlock made by Webley with the Webley Screw Grip. Barrels are perfect. I think I'd do well to get $1200-$1400 right now. Glad I'm not selling.
 
Thanks guys. I realize that it will need some work to get top dollar.
Just wanted to know what is a fair value considering it does need work.
 
If you are looking for a sale that won't take forever, the way the gun is now $600.00 -$650.00 with the case would be the ball park. Much higher and you might have it awhile. If it was a sidelock ,or a higher grade gun , it would move a bit easier.
It comes down to how fast you want to move it.
 
freddygotarf said:
I figured out the protruding firing pin. It wasn't cocked.
Barrel is in great shape.
Click to expand...

That's providing it hasn't been honed out. Only way to know that is by measuring the bore and barrel wall thickness the full length of the barrels. The barrels may very well be okay but with vintage guns the only way to know is by measuring. I bought a english double barrel a couple of years ago off the EE. Bores looked perfect which should have been a "cautionary flag". I sent the gun away for a restoration and was informed the barrels had been honed and were out of proof (England's standards) and the wall thickness near the chambers were in the unsafe limits. The gun quickly became a wall hanger.
 
AFAIK, a quick look at the Birmingham proof marks puts it made between 1925-1954, with the 13/1 mark showing it was proofed with a bore of .719" at 9" from the breech. The allowance on bore size wear is .010, so it will be out of proof once the bore there is .729 (standard 12 gauge). As well, the minimum allowable wall thickness is generally considered to be .020", with healthy barrels usually exceeding .025".
You will need a gunsmith that is familiar with British shotguns to do work on it properly, and there are a few in Canada. I think that you will find a proper measurement of the barrels, a cleaning of the actions, and making, and replacing the top lever spring to be easily in the 6-700 dollar range, and it will go up from there, so the previous postings of value are quite reasonable.
There is a wealth of information of the double gun forum, http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm .
Good luck!
 
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