Dean C
Member
My sons will have to divi up mine.
Dean
Dean
How does one sell their gun collection when the time has come?
- Thread starter ACES&8S
- Start date
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Master of Disaster
Distributor of Pain
For the gentleman asking about considering to sell firearm(S) or entire collection, from experience on seeing what gun and or pawn shops offer as a package that would be my last result personally! They're going to inform you that they are helping you get quick cash while they are assuming the time and effort to get reimbursed which isn't a lie but it's not going 2 be near their value obviously depending on what you have. I personally would advertise on multiple firearms sites like Arms List.com which private sales have No fee nor taxes but again quantity because ATF used to be an individual can sell 3 per yr without having an FFL aka make you a dealer! Trades with cash are different but I personally don't ship as a lot SCAMS. Another option would be consignments as a buddy does at his shop where he sells them and gets percentages while doing background checks on the person buying your firearm. I personally don't like paperwork No1 Unconstitutional to me 2 it leaves a paper trail in case of future gun grabs!! My advice to you is research options and find what's best for you and local gun shops especially if you know them might be a good deal! For me Id NEVER let them all go as my wife might go 1st lol joking a little! Good luck
First, THANKS for all the fellowship & advice.
What I have is a sudden heart condition that doesn't look good, at least for now, but not giving up hope.
Strange how one doesn't even consider themselves at a time like this, the family is always up front isn't it ?
Anyhow, with that being said, what I have is over 50 firearms of which about 40 of them were bought with a
love for the time period & type firearm in consideration.
The wholesale value of them is close to the $50G range, but with a realistic sell now that would greatly drop
below what I would be willing to see because it would leave an impression on my wife like I had wasted
our money & all my time on a useless hobby.
But with that said as well, she wouldn't ever be dependent on their sell for income, she is going to be ok
in many ways.
As far as listing a compiled spread of the firearms & all the extras, my daughter in law has spent hours putting
all my info together as well as all the parts & just stuff. I have kept records of bought sold & in storage but
some [stuff] did get by me. All the serial #s along with, how much spent, when, & where are all in order.
As far as local gunshop owners yes I have a very good one, in fact 80% of what I own I got from there.
If I am not mistaken they charge 18% for consignment which I think is way up there. I don't know if that
is a fact or not or if they would charge me that much.
As far as passing down to loved ones. Done that already & have 3 laid back for them as in unknown to
them.
I also have enough reloading eq to run a company of soldiers for several days.
But get this, unbelievable but as of today I don't have a single AR or AK included.
Oh & the reason I don't think I can post them here is, first there are to many & second, I learned the
hard way here not to ask about what to ask for several combined reloading items last year & included
a pic, the thread was stopped because it was thought I could then post them on the For Sell Side of
reloading with an advantage by advertising. It was My Fault for posting it but being new I didn't really
even consider selling the stuff here because I believe in basic info one has to be a member for some
undisclosed time before selling anything [don't quote me on that]. Plus I still have the stuff & haven't
even thought about that stuff until just now.
Sorry for long message.
What I have is a sudden heart condition that doesn't look good, at least for now, but not giving up hope.
Strange how one doesn't even consider themselves at a time like this, the family is always up front isn't it ?
Anyhow, with that being said, what I have is over 50 firearms of which about 40 of them were bought with a
love for the time period & type firearm in consideration.
The wholesale value of them is close to the $50G range, but with a realistic sell now that would greatly drop
below what I would be willing to see because it would leave an impression on my wife like I had wasted
our money & all my time on a useless hobby.
But with that said as well, she wouldn't ever be dependent on their sell for income, she is going to be ok
in many ways.
As far as listing a compiled spread of the firearms & all the extras, my daughter in law has spent hours putting
all my info together as well as all the parts & just stuff. I have kept records of bought sold & in storage but
some [stuff] did get by me. All the serial #s along with, how much spent, when, & where are all in order.
As far as local gunshop owners yes I have a very good one, in fact 80% of what I own I got from there.
If I am not mistaken they charge 18% for consignment which I think is way up there. I don't know if that
is a fact or not or if they would charge me that much.
As far as passing down to loved ones. Done that already & have 3 laid back for them as in unknown to
them.
I also have enough reloading eq to run a company of soldiers for several days.
But get this, unbelievable but as of today I don't have a single AR or AK included.
Oh & the reason I don't think I can post them here is, first there are to many & second, I learned the
hard way here not to ask about what to ask for several combined reloading items last year & included
a pic, the thread was stopped because it was thought I could then post them on the For Sell Side of
reloading with an advantage by advertising. It was My Fault for posting it but being new I didn't really
even consider selling the stuff here because I believe in basic info one has to be a member for some
undisclosed time before selling anything [don't quote me on that]. Plus I still have the stuff & haven't
even thought about that stuff until just now.
Sorry for long message.
Gary W. Strange
Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2018
- Messages
- 383
I have over the years accumulated a large collection of firearms. I have firearms that belonged to both of my Grandfathers, I have some my Daddy brought home from WWII, and others that are guns I never thought I would ever own. I dread the thought of ever having to part with any of them but I also know that day will come. Years ago I started a ledger with the brand, model, serial number and what I paid for it. I also have a listing of what the current going price is, to the side. I update this price annually. So anything between what I paid and the current price is, would be a fair price. Almost all have appreciated a lot in value. You also have to consider if a firearm is used and what it is worth verses a new firearm. Some will loose value, some will not considering how much they have went up in price for a new one. I would first advice you to not sell to anyone you don't know personally, without going through a ffl dealer and doing a background check. If you look a auction sights, prices for a given firearm is all over the place. Those listed super high, don't sell, or not very fast. If you list them at a fair price for what they are, the market of knowledgeable buyers will jump on them. If you list at what they are worth to you, because of their history to you, they will not. No one cares that it was your grandfather 's gun. They just see the real market value. List at what they are and within reason of what they are selling for now and they will move. One can list a firearm, they bought 30 years ago for 450.00, That sells for 750.00 now, at 550.00 in good condition and buyers will pick up on it, and it could go high or just get one bid and you have more than broke even. You just have to get them in front of gun people. If you sell to a dealer, they buy cheap and sell high. You will more than likely take a loss. You can also find some really good people to sell them on consignment. They will charge anywhere from 10% and up. They have to make something to do it. There are many options. I would do some research and sell them like that. Just keep in mind what a dealer has in their shelf is going to be worth more than what you are trying to sell over the counter to him. It's the same as trading with him. You don't have to take a loss of you do it right and price them fair. It just takes a little time. I wish you all the best and fell bad you are in this situation. Good luck and God bless.
lightman
Member
If mine were not in my will and going to my boys I would rent a table at a gun show. I would do some research on value and price them accordingly. I thinned out a lot of stuff when I retired. Belt buckles, knives, reloading equipment, brass, gun parts and a few guns. The gun show table worked out well.
I'm 61. For the last 10 years or so I've been gradually thinning the herd and using the money to upgrade optics. I've upgraded a handful of guns in some cases to replace many others sold. Basically fewer guns, but better quality and money left over. I'm at the point now that most of the ones left are earmarked for specific kids and grandkids.
Call these guys. They will come to you. They have buyers.
https://www.durysguns.com/
https://www.durysguns.com/
Elkins45
Member
Hey, stop calling my eyes old!
In my experience of selling on GB, this is good advice PROVIDED you have the time and inclination to do it. Selling 50 or a hundred guns (I have no idea how many guns the OP needs to liquidate) on GB would be a seriously time-consuming exercise. Of course you can slap a coupe of photos up and get some bids if the price is right, and those bids might match what a LGS or estate house would actually give you, but I've never done it that way. I am a believer in posting good photos and several of them, which takes TIME to get right and post. I do it this way because I like to get a good (high) price for my guns, but not everyone does it this way.
Regardless, it'll take some time to photograph, write and post the ads, then manage the sale and shipment. So, if one has more important stuff to do, it might be better to just find a place that will take them all and handle the PITA part.
OP, I wish you the best, and hope that you find a solution that you're happy with.
jonnyc
Member
First, I have a list in a fire-resistant box, of all my guns, serial numbers, and an estimated value that I update periodically. I have a solid deal with my best gun/cartridge collecting buddy to help his wife, and he mine.
My son is going thru there in a week or so, may get him to stop at their location & have a look see.
Thanks
Yes that is true I have several scopes listed & my daughter in law decided to list every scope separate.
even from the rifles they are on. Seems so many people expect the scope to go with a rifle as if it is
a cheap addition.
True, I am not going to be an any shape to deal with this much detail work, even the
medication causes distraction enough.
I have good dependable help without their own self interest getting in the way.
Got kicked out of the local gun shop because of the scope goes with the rifle issue.
Owner of the shop and a customer were bartering on what the customer's gently used rifle and scope were worth on a trade in. They had been haggling for some time.
I only wanted to pay for my stuff and go.
Finally, the owner of the shop asked me what I thought this was worth...and pointed towards the combo. I asked, you mean the $450 rifle or the $800 scope? Shop owner had only offered $450 for both.
Owner of the shop and a customer were bartering on what the customer's gently used rifle and scope were worth on a trade in. They had been haggling for some time.
I only wanted to pay for my stuff and go.
Finally, the owner of the shop asked me what I thought this was worth...and pointed towards the combo. I asked, you mean the $450 rifle or the $800 scope? Shop owner had only offered $450 for both.
That old -trick- of BUNDLE has been around long before the tv show about American Pickers used it.
How about if the gun shop want's to bundle your rifle & scope, bundle a trade with them.
deadin
Member
I think this statement may need to go over to legal...........
Shanghai McCoy
Member
To the OP,
In my recent experience it would appear that military surplus arms has a better market these days.
But that could just be where I am..?
In my recent experience it would appear that military surplus arms has a better market these days.
But that could just be where I am..?
Labguy47
Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2018
- Messages
- 863
After giving the crown jewels of my accumulation to my daughter, I plan on putting the rest in an auction and using the proceeds to fund yet another project to benefit her in the future (think '68 T-bird restoration) to give her either upon graduation of college or marriage. I will probably wind up with the S&W she threatened to plant in my coffin with me. Which is fine being as it has little value other than sentimental and I am a descent shot with it.
George P
member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2018
- Messages
- 7,772
That statement would be incorrect. The buyer would be filling out a 4473 and paying his buyer's premium on top of the winning bid. You win a gun at a DU banquet and you're doing a 4473 form.
To the OP,
In my recent experience it would appear that military surplus arms has a better market these days.
But that could just be where I am..?
That would be a boom for us but getting the info out is always a hit or miss.
The firearms I have are exactly what I have wanted for years & years but finding them wasn't
an every day effort because to read it on Gunbroker & believe every thing about it is hard
to do, just shining a light down a barrel doesn't convince me the barrel & chamber are in
good to better to best condition is according on who is taking the photos.
I took a few chances like a Colt Python & wow was it magnificent, then after keeping it
a few years I realized not shooting it to maintain it's perfect condition was making me
into a fondler of Pythons not a shooter, then sold it for 2X what I had paid for it but
that was just a lucky timing thing & the guy who bought it has youth on his side to keep
it as is & let it's value grow.
Anyhow what I am saying is I know what I have is perfect for me, they shoot super accurate
or they have long since departed. Then finding another ME out there is like looking
at someone else's collection & saying to self, I wouldn't want half of those.
Sorry again for long text.
The best way IMHO is to donate it to a private preservation society dedicated to preserving Historic firearms.
Of course, the Society for Historical Yet Sentimental True Elemental Rifles and Such (SHYSTERS) could be the exact group you are looking for.
We at SHYSTERS take pride in both our integrity and discreetness and also in our ability to sell your dearest possessions to those who will love them dearest ... all for a pretty penny to you of course.
All you need to do is DM me a complete description of each item as you ship it along with the tracking number and the amount you expect to receive for the item. I can assure you such amounts will be low due to our Rapid Inventory Pricing Overbid For Foreign Sales program (RIPOFFS)
Once SHYSTERS gets your item through RIPOFFS, you will have nothing to worry about and you can be enjoying a sunny umbrella drink in the Bahamas
DM Shysters today for your best deal !
Of course, the Society for Historical Yet Sentimental True Elemental Rifles and Such (SHYSTERS) could be the exact group you are looking for.
We at SHYSTERS take pride in both our integrity and discreetness and also in our ability to sell your dearest possessions to those who will love them dearest ... all for a pretty penny to you of course.
All you need to do is DM me a complete description of each item as you ship it along with the tracking number and the amount you expect to receive for the item. I can assure you such amounts will be low due to our Rapid Inventory Pricing Overbid For Foreign Sales program (RIPOFFS)
Once SHYSTERS gets your item through RIPOFFS, you will have nothing to worry about and you can be enjoying a sunny umbrella drink in the Bahamas
DM Shysters today for your best deal !
Shanghai McCoy
Member
ACE&8S,
I know what you mean about finding the buyer that you feel is "right" and I agree. I have offered to what few friends that would be interested first and waited to see if they'd want to buy. Always with the friends,not family,discount. (If you knew my brother you'd understand...
)
I know what you mean about finding the buyer that you feel is "right" and I agree. I have offered to what few friends that would be interested first and waited to see if they'd want to buy. Always with the friends,not family,discount. (If you knew my brother you'd understand...
)
FL-NC
Member
Either a trusted and knowledgeable friend (I have done this for widows of team members) or do it yourself. Gun show booths are the best way, if that will work for you.
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