Local Gun Auction...Nuts?
- Thread starter Sniper66
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Ignition Override
Member
hk940:
Much of it is the fear of the "black helicopters" and the "other subject" which is verboten on THR. Don't tell them that "The X-Files", TWD and many other such shows were produced a$ purely fanta$y entertainment.
You notice how armor plates are in fashion with many people who are not LEOS or soldiers.
My clay pigeons on the 50-yard berm tremble if I use jhp bullets, and they also tremble if my new-prod. Lithuanian 7,62 NATO ammo is Full Metal Jacket in the FAL or PTR-91 rifles.
Much of it is the fear of the "black helicopters" and the "other subject" which is verboten on THR. Don't tell them that "The X-Files", TWD and many other such shows were produced a$ purely fanta$y entertainment.
You notice how armor plates are in fashion with many people who are not LEOS or soldiers.
My clay pigeons on the 50-yard berm tremble if I use jhp bullets, and they also tremble if my new-prod. Lithuanian 7,62 NATO ammo is Full Metal Jacket in the FAL or PTR-91 rifles.
D.B. Cooper
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You beat me to it, but, yeah, pretty much. If you listen to the "water cooler" talk around any gun range or LGS, you're going to hear it. Heck, even sitting members of the House of Representatives are openly talking about it. Those who study history are paying attention.
In this world we live in now, I don't think that's a problem. If I were a teacher, worked at a school, etc., I'd have a level IV kit in my office.
D.B. Cooper
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Someone posted a comment about the price of AP ammo at a local aucton. Then someone asked why was AP ammo selling for so much. Then a couple people gave similar answers, and here we are.
It's the nature of back and forth discussion when it isn't "moderated." In literary terms, it's called "stream of consciousness."
(There. We've now gone from discussing local auctions to forms of writing.)
Pudge
Member
I heard he was running low on primers, but it might have been an auction.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
About 6 or 7 years ago a friend asked if I would go to an estate auction with him. All sorts of "stuff" including one gun. A newer Colt Series 80 45 ACP stainless. I figured at most I would go $900 and that was pushing it. The gun went for $1500. My friend got a nice antique rail road lantern. 
The guy who got the gun had seen me bid and told me he thought he went too high. I think people just get caught up in the bidding. That gun sells brand new for $1,000 at most. I just told the guy whatever trips your trigger.
Ron
The guy who got the gun had seen me bid and told me he thought he went too high. I think people just get caught up in the bidding. That gun sells brand new for $1,000 at most. I just told the guy whatever trips your trigger. Ron
D.B. Cooper
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Very much so.
I don't know what it is about auctions but some people lose their minds when the bidding starts. I can see it happening with something rare and unusual, but not with common stuff that you could easily buy elsewhere.
And it's not just gun auctions. A local campground had about 50 canoes they used to rent to campers they decided to auction off a few years ago. I went hoping to pick up a decent canoe at a bargain price. They had them lined up for inspection from best to worst.
The high bidder got to pick as many as he wanted at the price he bid. Some guy bid just about what a new canoe would sell for and took the best 10 at that price. The bidding for the next round quickly went higher than I would pay for anything left. I didn't hang around long.
Same thing with guns. We had a guy embezzle $6M over a period of years from the local school system. After he was caught his belongings were auctioned off to reimburse the money taken. He had a butt load of guns that sold at auction. A local gunshop handled the transfers for a fee. After tax and transfer fees were included every one of those guns sold for more than a new one would bring.
And it's not just gun auctions. A local campground had about 50 canoes they used to rent to campers they decided to auction off a few years ago. I went hoping to pick up a decent canoe at a bargain price. They had them lined up for inspection from best to worst.
The high bidder got to pick as many as he wanted at the price he bid. Some guy bid just about what a new canoe would sell for and took the best 10 at that price. The bidding for the next round quickly went higher than I would pay for anything left. I didn't hang around long.
Same thing with guns. We had a guy embezzle $6M over a period of years from the local school system. After he was caught his belongings were auctioned off to reimburse the money taken. He had a butt load of guns that sold at auction. A local gunshop handled the transfers for a fee. After tax and transfer fees were included every one of those guns sold for more than a new one would bring.
Mosin77
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Auctions of guns tend to be crazy for a few reasons in my opinion.
1. For the local in-person auctions, there’s a perception among many that because it’s an estate sale it therefore is a private party “off the record” sale, rather than a transfer through a true “gun dealer” which goes into a database. A lot of folks will happily pay more than retail because they legitimately fear that the government will one day come for their guns, and they see buying at auction as a way to add to the collection (armory?) without sending a flare to alert Big Brother.
2. Online auctions mean you’re competing against other bidders all over the country. Good chance someone out there is richer, and more inclined to instant gratification than you.
3. All auctions, but especially the in person/live bidding kind, have a fever pitch excitement that causes people to lose their heads somewhat. This is magnified by guns because most “gun guys” are not just casual users of the tool who might be happy to pick up a spare firearm but really couldn’t be bothered… like the guy who is bidding on the flat of old screwdrivers, or the spinning wheel… bidders on auction firearms tend to be enthusiasts, which makes them inclined to bid with their heart, not their head. Ego undoubtedly plays a part too because guns are a very masculine item in general and it’s easy to feel “beaten at being a man” if someone else beats you at an auction on something you associate with your core identity. This causes guys to bid more than they otherwise would.
4. There’s a lot of less informed people who bid online (proxibid, liveauctioneers etc) because they’ve heard this is a great way to score a deal. That may have been true 10 years ago but not any more. There’s also a lot of dedicated collectors who use this avenue to find items to fill holes in their collection, and will pay whatever it takes. See #2.
5. There’s always going to be a dealer (or 5) bidding on any sizeable collections. They know they can mark anything up and eventually sell it so if a gun is even a slight bargain they have a vested interest in acquiring if they can. It’s not as true of other items because there aren’t many dedicated used-tool or furniture dealers. The valuable and portable nature of guns encourages flipping.
1. For the local in-person auctions, there’s a perception among many that because it’s an estate sale it therefore is a private party “off the record” sale, rather than a transfer through a true “gun dealer” which goes into a database. A lot of folks will happily pay more than retail because they legitimately fear that the government will one day come for their guns, and they see buying at auction as a way to add to the collection (armory?) without sending a flare to alert Big Brother.
2. Online auctions mean you’re competing against other bidders all over the country. Good chance someone out there is richer, and more inclined to instant gratification than you.
3. All auctions, but especially the in person/live bidding kind, have a fever pitch excitement that causes people to lose their heads somewhat. This is magnified by guns because most “gun guys” are not just casual users of the tool who might be happy to pick up a spare firearm but really couldn’t be bothered… like the guy who is bidding on the flat of old screwdrivers, or the spinning wheel… bidders on auction firearms tend to be enthusiasts, which makes them inclined to bid with their heart, not their head. Ego undoubtedly plays a part too because guns are a very masculine item in general and it’s easy to feel “beaten at being a man” if someone else beats you at an auction on something you associate with your core identity. This causes guys to bid more than they otherwise would.
4. There’s a lot of less informed people who bid online (proxibid, liveauctioneers etc) because they’ve heard this is a great way to score a deal. That may have been true 10 years ago but not any more. There’s also a lot of dedicated collectors who use this avenue to find items to fill holes in their collection, and will pay whatever it takes. See #2.
5. There’s always going to be a dealer (or 5) bidding on any sizeable collections. They know they can mark anything up and eventually sell it so if a gun is even a slight bargain they have a vested interest in acquiring if they can. It’s not as true of other items because there aren’t many dedicated used-tool or furniture dealers. The valuable and portable nature of guns encourages flipping.
FROGO207
Member
All the local auctions or estate sales I have attended in the last 25 years or so have tended to bring in above new prices sadly. And I am not even limiting this to firearms/reloading gear. For a while you could Proxy bid on Gun Broler and win the occasional firearm due to lack of other bidders. Now I have bid recently on 100 or so auctions and not won a single one. I do however place a max bid and never let "auction fever" get me to bid more than I initially deemed the item was worth. To me thats the key, never over bid what you feel it is worth to begin with.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Good point. The auction I mentioned earlier the actual auctioneers were in fact FFL licensed and buyers had to complete the Form 4473 and NICS background check. That was made very clear prior to the actual auction of any of the guns. It was also clear this was an estate auction held by an auctioneer company and it was not an estate sale or garage sale / yard sale. I figured those bidding on guns should have known that.
Ron
