Winchester Collections How Best to Despose of Them??

albayo

albayo

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A friend of mine called today and he has a collection of about 24 or more Winchesters mostly 1892's and 1894's. They are all manufactured from 1900 to the 1950’s so none are post 1964’s. He is looking to dispose of them as he has had them for some time and thinks he should pass them on to someone else that is interested in Winchesters. In your opinion is it better to sell as a group or individually?
I don’t know much about Winchesters unless they are military, so the gentleman would appreciate some advice.
I will know more about them by the weekend as he is bringing some to me to take some pictures.
 
If he asks REASONABLE prices for them, they might move quick in the EE. But if he wants top $$, he'll likely be sitting on them for a while, unless he can export them to the US. Yanks love those things...
 
albayo said:
A friend of mine called today and he has a collection of about 24 or more Winchesters mostly 1892's and 1894's. They are all manufactured from 1900 to the 1950’s so none are post 1964’s. He is looking to dispose of them as he has had them for some time and thinks he should pass them on to someone else that is interested in Winchesters. In your opinion is it better to sell as a group or individually?
I don’t know much about Winchesters unless they are military, so the gentleman would appreciate some advice.
I will know more about them by the weekend as he is bringing some to me to take some pictures.
Click to expand...



If getting the most money is the main goal (I'm not sure why it wouldn't be) then the USA market is much stronger, Gunbrokers prices are much higher plus the stronger dollar,

How to sell? well if you sell to a dealer he would need to make money north or south of the border, and selling one at a time may take a while if you are in a hurry.

Selling to a collector? He would try to get the best deal he could, but has knowledge of the real value and may pay more than some.

-For money,

1- one at a time, US market,
2- a good deal from a US Dealer or Collector
3- one at a time, CAN. market
4- a good deal from a CAN. Dealer or Collector
5- sell to a buddy
6- sell to me for all the money I have left over from Christmas.

The last 2 were for a laugh.

-For speed of selling reverse the list.

-For sentiment

Sell a few to each of your friends give some to your nieces and nephews

I guess there are lots of ways but he needs to decide which has priority

I like the 94 and 92 very much and like to see as many stay in Canada as possible

These are my thoughts on the subject I hope it works out your friend

OS
 
I enjoy old Winchesters and, from time to time, sell one so that I can afford a different one. I have sold several on the EE of this forum. I would recommend selling them individually if he wants to get more money for his collection, posting them on this forum's EE, along with a good photo or two of each one and a detailed description. If he sells them as an entire lot, it cuts out a lot of collectors who might afford to pay a decent sum for a particular gun they really want, but who cannot afford to buy the entire lot. By the way, I'm looking for a high condition Winchester 1892 in 38 W.C.F. (38-40). PM me if he's got something that might fit the description.

If they are pre-1899, then he can export them to the US with no problems. However, I always give Canada first dibs on any guns I sell. If they are post 1898, then exporting them to the US can be a pain and he may have to go through a dealer who will want to make a profit on it. Joe Salter comes to mind, although he will only give a wholesale price (which ain't very much), as he needs to make a profit too. All this to say that I hope he gives us Canadians first shot at his collection.
 
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Don't get too excited about a collector buying them. We all know that condition is eveything and a collector may be interested in only two or three, or maybe none of them.
We all like an old Winchester, but often tend to get carried away by their possible collector value.
 
If there's a 38-55 in good shape, I might know a guy that's interested. Once you get details PM me.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
I'd love a '92 receiver, in ANY condition. But, alas no $ right now.
I think there is little doubt he'd do better financially with individual sales. Just depends on whether he has the time and patience to do it.
Go EE!
Click to expand...

x2 I would like to see them on the EE as well I think my earlier post was correct but given the cost the EE could be tried rather inexpensively.

Maybe a few at a time,

You can ask in this forum for opinions on asking price you will always get a few very low sell it to me's but also get some good ones,

OS
 
Or you could get ahold of Maynards Auctions here in Vancouver as they are having a huge firearms and antique firearms auction here on April 3rd. From what I have heard they are likely to sell for higher prices at an auction if the crowd is there. Pricing at auctions can be obscene and even junk gets good prices. Big place with lots of experience and all you have to do is pack it up and ship it. Also gives the locals a shot at it. Lots of Winnies listed on the site already and they have experts on site to deal with issues so they really know what it is worth. Who knows, he might actually end up with more cash that way. Sometimes thats the way it goes. No hassle too. Anyways its a thought.
Google them up and have a look. We have had real good luck with them for some other stuff people told us would not fetch much. We got way more even after their commission.
 
Find at least one person knowledgeable and preferably two, to give him an idea as to value and market price, then list them here with photos and legitimate descriptions, both pros and cons. Yes, the US is a higher priced market, but it's a headache and costly to deliver. If they're absolutely premium pieces it's worth the time and headaches. Otherwise, don't dream and move them in Canada, there's lots looking for them. I used to move lots of good stuff south but nowadays have the Canadian contacts to move good pieces with a couple of phone calls to get the word out and do just as well!
 
There are some genuine Winchester EXPERTS on this board, and the ones that I know personally are all men of integrity who would give an honest appraisal of each firearm. That having been said, those same fellows would almost certainly need to SEE them and handle them for a 100% appraisal.

I am NOT a Winchester expert, and every time I have taken a flyer on an old Winnie it comes back and bites me in the butt. What looks all original to me will immediately be spotted by an expert as "NOT" original for whatever reason. :rolleyes:

Anyways, I suggest that the fellow seek several appraisals, pick the high number in each case, and offer the guns here. If he doesn't get his asking price, he could always drop it if he chose to do so.

If he does want to sell them as a lot (and almost certainly receive less money, as others have noted), I know two fellows who would make offers on the lot. Both of them are well known to me as honest fellows.

Doug
 
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