Used "upgraded" gun prices

[Nick Burkhardt]

Yep, nobody wants your included Zombie grips, mismatched box of leftover ammo and sweat stained holster for 50% over MSRP.

 

[JRH6856]

Ok, example. Say I am looking to buy a used 1911. I find one that has an ambidextrous safety but it is priced $40 higher than an identical one with a standard safety. I am left handed, so the ambi safety has value to me and I am wiling to pay the extra price. But would a right handed person feel the same way?

 

[UpperAtmosphere]

You forgot the tactical $15 red dot/flashlight/can opener (that takes 6 D-cell batteries), and the proclamation of "very low round count."

Owned by a little old lady who only shot it on Sundays.

 

[JRH6856]

I didn't forget it, I ignored it. the flashlight switch is for a righty.

 

[justice06rr]

I actually prefer used guns that are un-modified and "un-molested".

If you have a gun that you modded and put money into, that's fine. But that $450 Glock with night sights, stippling, and upgraded trigger is that you are selling for $750 may not be worth $750 to a buyer. The $450 Glock in factory condition works just fine, and that's all I'm willing to pay.

The thing is, the added cost a person puts into a gun may not always mean that in the end it adds to the total value of the gun.

 

[anothernewb]

I'm in with the others. Some things can be modified with little worry, provided they were done by compotent people, but unless it's a serious upgrade in the form of a known quantity, such as a "bob munden" modified revolver, or significant parts like mags and sights mentioned. I treat them as non-price adders.

 

[NGIB]

My favorites are the PI 1911s with "Wilson Combat" upgrades - the owner put a new spring (and FLGR) in it and suddenly it's worth 50% more...

 

[PistolPete45]

Me I say unless you intend to do the exact same work and you know this gun was done right ,, pass and find another gun. I have bought guns that had work done to them was told who did the smith work and did not pay more then I would for that same gun in like new condition.. Used in Box with paperwork from the original sale plus the bill from the gun smith .. Paid less then the new gun ...

 

[wlewisiii]

As mentioned, I'm in the "his upgrades are not necessarily mine" camp. I've kept all the original parts for that reason and if I sell, they go back on first.

 

[Zach S]

I was referring to Colt grips. People tossed Python and Trooper wood grips. Main point was, you should at least keep them with the gun. Crazy to throw away any grips really.

Its a case by case basis on parts I take off. Some I keep, some I toss.

Grips I keep. They are normally given away, tossed if I need room in my parts box, or lost until I move...

I think its crazy to keep something I'm not using, don't plan to, and has no collector value.

My point is, if I'm customizing something to how I like it, I obviously plan on keeping it... Why should I care about what the next owner will think, if I decide to sell it in the future?

 

[Zach S]

I would handle this much the same way I would for a car that had after market mods.

Namely, if that's what I'm looking for, then great...and I'm more amenable to a comensurate price negotiation.

If it's not...then I'll either pass it by or see if the seller is willing to haggle down somewhat.

I don't agree that every modification to a gun necessarily needs to be performed by a certified gunsmith any more than I believe every modification to a car requires a certified mechanic. And the value of a gun, like a car, is based on a variety of factors, and after market modifications DO figure into this.

A fair price is whatever both the seller and the buyer agree on, regardless of the circumstances (assuming no fraud, of course).

So you'll just have to decide for yourself what these things are (or are not) worth to you in your bargaining...and whether the seller agrees or not is up to him.

Agreed. I once considered buying a 9mm RIA tactical for $650. The slide had .010" milled off the top so the front dovetail was Novak spec - he did it himself at work. The rear dovetail was opened up to Novak specs, night sights installed, and bare steel touched up "by a local gunsmith." The same 'smith did a triggerjob and installed a quality extractor. And it was gunkoted or cerakoted by a shop that wasn't local, but remembered seeing them mentioned here in a positive light.

$200 over street price - and he was nowhere near breaking even. He said most of the emails he received were along the lines of "you're crazy! Its a $450 gun!" Three were actually interested, one of the other two beat me to it.

I couldn't find another "budget" 9mm 1911. Ended up ordering a Spartan from Bud's. Cost about the same. Then I started with mods...

 

[CWL]

I would only consider a truly custom gun when it includes the build list and receipt from a Custom gunmaker that I'm familiar with.

This happens with long guns of course. How many have seen basic shotguns swapped with some black plastic furniture and a sidesaddle being schlepped as a "tactacle", or the SKS with a bunch of Tapco junk on it being offered as a "sniper" gun?

A bubba is a bubba is a bubba'd gun. No thanks, I'll pass.

 

[OilyPablo]

Its a case by case basis on parts I take off. Some I keep, some I toss.

Grips I keep. They are normally given away, tossed if I need room in my parts box, or lost until I move...

I think its crazy to keep something I'm not using, don't plan to, and has no collector value.

My point is, if I'm customizing something to how I like it, I obviously plan on keeping it... Why should I care about what the next owner will think, if I decide to sell it in the future?

Agree to an extent. If you never plan on using those grips and not planning to sell the gun, then makes no difference. I happen to value the original grips being with a gun of decent value, so if they aren't there when someone is selling them, in my eyes at least some value is lost. Naturally this value in the whole proposition must be weighed, the example of a perfect gun, low price, sans original grips or perhaps a gun in medium condition, price not super low, and missing original grips. It may not weigh significantly, but say it's a gun for sale where you can't find the original wooden grips on the market vs. the original grips stored perfectly with said gun.

 

[Zach S]

I see where your coming from, but I dont place any value on original parts. Usually the boxes end up getting used for other stuff.

But in my defense, I dont own anything collectible, or made of unobtainium. As a matter of fact, I tend to avoid collectibles since I know I would use them.

If I owned the first British car that Carroll Shelby stuffed a big block ford into, I'd still drive it to work every now and then, and it would still see track time whenever possible.

Doesn't matter anyway, I have STI aspirations on an Armscor budget. So don't worry about me ruining collector value on anything, lol.