I got the worst job ever. My Brother-in-law died after just 8 mths from being diagnosed with brain cancer. Now I've got the job of selling his gun collection so my Sister can have some money to live off of. It really sucks to have a good friend and family member and be selling off one of his most prized collections. Anyway, I took pictures of what is mostly rifles. I'm hoping that you guys might now of a site like NADA for guns. Where I can plug in the make and model and get some kind of value. Some have scopes. Not sure of cases. Thanks.
What are they worth?
- Thread starter CANNONMAN
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Chevelle SS
Member
I would go on Gun Broker and check prices. Make sure you are looking at items that have sold under the Advanced tab not guns that are currently for sale. This will give you a realistic idea of values.
troy fairweather
Member
sorry for your loss, maybe call up the rock island auction house. maybe they an give a estimate. it can be hard to get the full values from guns these days.
armedwalleye
Member
Once you find values, you may want to consider posting in the "For Sale" area. You're not the first in that situation, and folks will be interested here without you having to pay a portion to a dealer as a consignment or auction fee.
HPJeep
Member
You can buy a gun blue book to get the trade in and retail values of most guns. They're available at most bookstores or online. Sorry for your lost.
earlthegoat2
Member
Depending on how many there are either Gunbroker completed listings or the blue book. GB for a few, say less than 20. Blue book for a much larger collection.
Guns are tricky because there are many different variations of similar things like finish, barrel length, wood or synthetic, age, etc.
Then comes condition and that quagmire.
I basically decided when my dad passes I am going to Gunbroker the entire collection that I am not interested in and do all the auctions dollar start bid and no reserve.
I’m not going to have the energy to dicker prices or deal with local sales and all the BS garbage that goes along with that. Too many guns and too many people to deal with. I have a lot of experience with GB so I feel comfortable with that route.
Guns are tricky because there are many different variations of similar things like finish, barrel length, wood or synthetic, age, etc.
Then comes condition and that quagmire.
I basically decided when my dad passes I am going to Gunbroker the entire collection that I am not interested in and do all the auctions dollar start bid and no reserve.
I’m not going to have the energy to dicker prices or deal with local sales and all the BS garbage that goes along with that. Too many guns and too many people to deal with. I have a lot of experience with GB so I feel comfortable with that route.
newfalguy101
Member
Just an FYI, Bluebooks are just this side of worthless...
Your best bets are:
1) Gunbroker SOLD auctions, if it isn't sold you still don't know what its worth.
Unfortunately, currently there is a whole bunch of stuff just sitting on GB, the firearms market is down, down down, probably the worst I have seen in the last 20 years....great for buyers, sucks for sellers
2) Your local gunshop, either selling through consignment, or selling outright.
"downside" is that the gunshop HAS to make money on the deal, ergo, they cant pay you full value.....it would amaze you how many people cant grasp that concept....
"upside" once they have the guns, all you do is sit back and collect a consy payment, or cash the check they wrote, BUT, its done and you don't deal with answering 10,000 questions from people who are not really going to buy anyway, and you don't have to deal with shipping, or possible shipping damages.
Your best bets are:
1) Gunbroker SOLD auctions, if it isn't sold you still don't know what its worth.
Unfortunately, currently there is a whole bunch of stuff just sitting on GB, the firearms market is down, down down, probably the worst I have seen in the last 20 years....great for buyers, sucks for sellers
2) Your local gunshop, either selling through consignment, or selling outright.
"downside" is that the gunshop HAS to make money on the deal, ergo, they cant pay you full value.....it would amaze you how many people cant grasp that concept....
"upside" once they have the guns, all you do is sit back and collect a consy payment, or cash the check they wrote, BUT, its done and you don't deal with answering 10,000 questions from people who are not really going to buy anyway, and you don't have to deal with shipping, or possible shipping damages.
Old Stumpy
Member
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There are small gun shops that like to do consignment, and larger ones that don't, in my experience. Depends where you live.
Those smaller and friendlier gun shops will still probably want 20%, which isn't unreasonable since they are doing all of the work and paying the rent and utilities and overhead to keep a shop open. And, as you say, you don't have to spend endless hours getting them all sold, answering questions, possibly allowing strangers into your home to look at them, or shipping them. And you remain anonymous after the sale.
Set a fair price and don't try to sell it high to recoup the consignment fee. It just results in guns that don't sell.
And, no matter how nice and unused a gun is, nobody is going to pay full retail or nearly full retail for it when they can just buy it new.
Seen widows want collections sold as group......one fat check.....ASAP. Willing to sell items for lesser. Some want top dollar and will wait to get it. Many think the stuff worth way more than it is. IMHO if the fam has time to let the money come in.....its better for them to consign and give it a few months.
But if the house needs a new roof and ya need the money now.......and want a fat check quick......then expect that to be reflective of the buyer making a larger profit. Its business. Dont take it personal. Tell em youre desperate and you are gonna get less. So be cool. Unless of course you need the money ASAP. Then it just is what it is. And......most collections get sold that way. Either the widow needs the money or shes still POd about the old man and just wants the stuff gone
What any gun is "worth" is a tough question. Better question is how can I sell them? I've sold many guns over the years and every sale is different. As others have said you can search GunBroker or Blue Book to find potential value, but you still have to find a buyer. I've sold via advertising locally and have tried connsignment. One problem with consigning guns is that technically, once you have turned the gun over it no longer belongs to you. If you have to get it back if it doesn't sell, you have to complete the same paperwork and background check as if you are buying it. I've had no luck selling consigned guns__none. Selling guns thru an auction house can be a really good way to get rid of everything all at once__guns, scopes, cases__everything. If the fees are reasonable, that is what I would recommend. I've attended many gun auctions and guns typically fetch close to retail prices. So, if the auction house keeps 20%, that's not too bad.
Sorry for your loss. I had the same thing with a friend and selling his guns was really very hard because his guns were low end and not worth much. Fortunately, his wife didn't care and accepted what we could get. But, I'm having a different problem with helping my aging brother sell his guns. He has many guns valued between $1000-$5000 each and he insists on holding out for top dollar. And it doesn't happen. That's why I suggest an auction. Good luck.
Sorry for your loss. I had the same thing with a friend and selling his guns was really very hard because his guns were low end and not worth much. Fortunately, his wife didn't care and accepted what we could get. But, I'm having a different problem with helping my aging brother sell his guns. He has many guns valued between $1000-$5000 each and he insists on holding out for top dollar. And it doesn't happen. That's why I suggest an auction. Good luck.
The only real risk i see w consignment is other folks handling the gun. Might get dinged up. Saw a guy open a Citori at a shop and the receiver pivoted downand away and the stock hit edge of pistol display case. Whamo. Brand new gun. Why the heck wasnt the case edge padded ?..i dunno. Kinda dig that big orange 70s shag i still see at old shops
newfalguy101
Member
Gunbroker fees run 6% more or less, local auctioneers here get around 20 or 25%, and gunshops seem to be 10 to 20%, around here.
The gunbroker fees do not take shipping into acount, thats going to run anywhere from mid teens to upwards of $50, depending on value, weight, and length.
The gunbroker fees do not take shipping into acount, thats going to run anywhere from mid teens to upwards of $50, depending on value, weight, and length.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
Some years back there was a member here who sold his Father in Laws large collection via the classifieds.
He'd made out a printed list, many pages, and for the postage would send it to you so you could see what was available.
That could be an option for you.
He'd made out a printed list, many pages, and for the postage would send it to you so you could see what was available.
That could be an option for you.
So sorry for your loss, your sister is lucky to have you so she will not get taken advantage of in this process.
Depending on what we are talking about....10 or 100, as well as the time frame this needs to happen is really going to push you in one direction or another.
Easy is going to a local shop with photos and saying do you want to buy this lot. This will net your sis the least amount of money....they are likely not out to "screw your sister over" they are a business their time is worth something, they have the work in selling, cleaning, repair.....whatever they need to do so they can sell the guns, they will also likely run the guns....and depending there could be a cost for them all the way around....this is why they will likely have the lowest offer.
On the higher end selling them to John Q. Public....this takes the most time, but will also likely give the most cash in your sis's hands....but it would likely be you having to do most of this work.
If there are kids here, you might want to pay your sis the going rate for the item, then stash it away to give to your nephew or niece...that would be a very nice thing to do. If you are with a club, there could be something where you could auction off a specific item, I have found the gun community comes together to help their own.
Lastly, I did notice the suggestion of Rock Island or Morphy....these are good resources but I would suggest unless we are talking about vintage items I would give them a pass....also of note they do not do just gunz, they do all kinds of things related to firearms and not fire arms related.
Depending on what we are talking about....10 or 100, as well as the time frame this needs to happen is really going to push you in one direction or another.
Easy is going to a local shop with photos and saying do you want to buy this lot. This will net your sis the least amount of money....they are likely not out to "screw your sister over" they are a business their time is worth something, they have the work in selling, cleaning, repair.....whatever they need to do so they can sell the guns, they will also likely run the guns....and depending there could be a cost for them all the way around....this is why they will likely have the lowest offer.
On the higher end selling them to John Q. Public....this takes the most time, but will also likely give the most cash in your sis's hands....but it would likely be you having to do most of this work.
If there are kids here, you might want to pay your sis the going rate for the item, then stash it away to give to your nephew or niece...that would be a very nice thing to do. If you are with a club, there could be something where you could auction off a specific item, I have found the gun community comes together to help their own.
Lastly, I did notice the suggestion of Rock Island or Morphy....these are good resources but I would suggest unless we are talking about vintage items I would give them a pass....also of note they do not do just gunz, they do all kinds of things related to firearms and not fire arms related.
Dave DeLaurant
Member
A lot of good advice here.
FWIW, I've made a detailed spreadsheet of my entire collection with original purchase prices and added a note to my will with advice on how best to liquidate the roughly $80K worth of arms, accessories, ammunition and reloading gear I've put my adult lifetime into accumulating. I haven't shown it to my wife (I value my marriage!), but it's in a place where she'll find it easily when she needs it. My designated executor is also a trusted person who knows guns, assuming he outlives me. I doubt my survivors will realize half of what I actually spent, but I don't want some sharpie to swoop in and get the lot for just a couple grand.
FWIW, I've made a detailed spreadsheet of my entire collection with original purchase prices and added a note to my will with advice on how best to liquidate the roughly $80K worth of arms, accessories, ammunition and reloading gear I've put my adult lifetime into accumulating. I haven't shown it to my wife (I value my marriage!), but it's in a place where she'll find it easily when she needs it. My designated executor is also a trusted person who knows guns, assuming he outlives me. I doubt my survivors will realize half of what I actually spent, but I don't want some sharpie to swoop in and get the lot for just a couple grand.
I knew a guy that got sick. His long time hunting bud, supposed friend.............tried to swoop in and cheat the soon to be widow out of the gun collection.
Never liked that ^%$ and when I heard about that decided I wouldn't p*ss on him if he was on fire.
Have heard of swindles and fights over gun collections.
Seems as if a death brings out the worst in people.
Good on the OP to take it upon himself to see that things are done right.
Might catch some heck for it, might be a bit of work, hassle even.
But a man has to do what is right.
Not enough men in the world these days IMHO.
Never liked that ^%$ and when I heard about that decided I wouldn't p*ss on him if he was on fire.
Have heard of swindles and fights over gun collections.
Seems as if a death brings out the worst in people.
Good on the OP to take it upon himself to see that things are done right.
Might catch some heck for it, might be a bit of work, hassle even.
But a man has to do what is right.
Not enough men in the world these days IMHO.
I don't have much, never did, but at one times maybe 3 times as much.
The kids have grown up around the stuff, Gramps had an FFL...............they know pretty much \
what stuff is worth and how to check for current values.
Used to say the Colts went to blood, lest I come back as a poltergeist.
But now I don't even care about that. It's just stuff.
Let em keep or sell it. I'll be dead then so big whoop de doo.
Have no sons, and no grandkids (at the moment- don't really care if they have kids or not).
There is no lineage to the gun stuff AFAIC.
Pops has a few items I might keep whenever that time comes around.
Gonna be a major hassle moving all the other stuff.
Lots of reloading junk, parts.
IIRC there are over sixty presses in the garage (the museum nobody visits LOL).
Theres some 16 or so position Hollywood sitting in the corner.
He says it's worth a decent chunk.............yeah, and who wants that old stuff, and would pay for the shipping?
Crazy old fart.
The kids have grown up around the stuff, Gramps had an FFL...............they know pretty much \
what stuff is worth and how to check for current values.
Used to say the Colts went to blood, lest I come back as a poltergeist.
But now I don't even care about that. It's just stuff.
Let em keep or sell it. I'll be dead then so big whoop de doo.
Have no sons, and no grandkids (at the moment- don't really care if they have kids or not).
There is no lineage to the gun stuff AFAIC.
Pops has a few items I might keep whenever that time comes around.
Gonna be a major hassle moving all the other stuff.
Lots of reloading junk, parts.
IIRC there are over sixty presses in the garage (the museum nobody visits LOL).
Theres some 16 or so position Hollywood sitting in the corner.
He says it's worth a decent chunk.............yeah, and who wants that old stuff, and would pay for the shipping?
Crazy old fart.
That's his gig, old reloading equip.
Piddles w it, makes him happy.
Good for him.
He's got some other old guy that bead blasts em and they repaint, make new parts, or go to shows to find parts.
Gives em something to do.
Better than wasting $ at a casino IMHO.
Piddles w it, makes him happy.
Good for him.
He's got some other old guy that bead blasts em and they repaint, make new parts, or go to shows to find parts.
Gives em something to do.
Better than wasting $ at a casino IMHO.
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