doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Selling a double gun at auction

I have never sold a gun at auction. I have a rather nice double that I want to sell. I have always used prominent dealers but sometimes this process takes years for a rare gun to sell. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

OK- one man's opinion- over past 25 years, I have sold a few shotguns (no rifles or handguns) privately- I have contacted a few fairly well known Auction houses, but was never quite satisfied with the terms they offered, nor their seemingly "Lo-ball" appraisals, vis a vis photos I submitted-- To be fair, I never sent a shotgun to either James D. Julia's, or RIA, the two major gun auction houses I am familiar with.

I would rather "discount" a shotgun I have had for sale a %- then give that to an auction firm-- Granted, if you have a rare firearm you wish to sell, may I suggest you get good detailed photos and an accurate description and post it here first, asking the membership for their appraisals- Also be advised, that the current market for selling "high end" shotguns is very soft--

FYI, as I do NOT, at this point, know the make, vintage, grade and gauge of shotgun you wish to sell- my experience has been mainly with Parkers and L.C. Smiths- If you have a matched pair
of English made double guns, that's way beyond my "comfort zone"- but there are many others that post here who are highly qualified to advise you, should that be the case in point.

One other factor-- many of us that were buying heavily into, let us say, Parkers a decade ago, have aged, and the younger generation with "deep pockets" want Perazzi, Piotti, Hartmann und Weiss or Ferlib- for their "investment that you can use and have appreciate- Fewer serious bird hunters extant, as compared with those who buy "high dollar" shotguns for clays.

Hope this helps you somewhat- RWTF

Gunbroker auctions are easy enough to do yourself. If you want the targeted advertising and exposure of a prominent auction house, be prepared to pay dearly for it. On some guns it is probably a good investment. JMHO...Geo

I don't know exactly how you sell at auction across the Canadian border.

I've used Gunbroker a bunch for common handguns and rifles, but I'd be hesitant to use it for an unusual sxs shotgun. In my experience, the Gunbroker buyer isn't generally a high value collector.

I usually do penny auctions with no reserve, as I want to sell what I'm offering. Generally, I've been pleased with the results. You can set reserves and minimum opening bids, but it seems that doing so significantly reduces interest in the item offered.

As for getting a gun from Canada to the U.S. if your buyer is here, I have no idea what the process might be. I've imported a gun from Great Britain (used British Sporting Arms to handle the transaction) and I know Steve Bertram, who posts here regularly, imports from there as well, but whether either could or would handle a shipment from Canada is something I've never asked.

I can tell you the process for getting your gun into the US if it's going to a buyer. Not sure about things like auctions or consignments. But I'm positive the people i use to get guns I've sold across the border could tell you in a new york minute.

I also have connections to some higher end collectors in Canada, which may negate the need to get the gun across the border. What is it.

Easy thing to do is call one of the auction houses. Ask them if they can sell your gun for you and what the process is. First you need to know your market. What�s your gun? Which auction house deals in that flavor? Ask them if the market is good or soft? Two have told me the market is soft for what I was thinking about selling. Then go from there.

I've sold some quality guns via Amoskeag. If I were selling one today, I'd probably offer it for sale here first and see if I could save the auction fee.

What is the process for selling a gun on this site? I have never done that before.

The gun is a 20 bore, Famar's, Avantis Model, trigger plate, droplock with unique engraving.

I have used Steve Barnett in the past with some good results.

Thank you all for the advice. This gun is in the US.

You were happy with Steve, why not us him again

He is a great guy


John

Post some pics and a good description in the "for sale" forum. If you look at the main index page, it's the third forum down from the top.

If and when it sells as a result of the ad, send Dave, our host, $10. Not too complicated.

Fee is up to $12, James. It is a great deal.

IMHO, buying a gun at auction that you are not present at is a fool�s errand.


Best,
Ted

I look at buying guns at auction via the net as gambling with odds one whole hell of a lot better than Vegas if you are an educated bidder. I have been burnt sure but I have made many fold what I have lost playing the auction game.

I am not speaking to a dealer�s livelihood. Nor am I speaking as a gunsmith who can decide what repairs to make on his own dime. I am speaking as a guy who buys a gun to use for himself, with maintenance and repairs coming out of his pocket, and to let his heirs worry about the disposal of. That, is different by several orders of magnitude.

I will agree, setting foot in a casino, with the understanding that the entire game is rigged to favor the house, and, gambling anyway, is the very definition of insanity, and is something I have never done, and never will do. A side note is that you can expect the same long odds when dealing with some gun dealers.


Best,
Ted

I don't know your reason for not gambling, Ted. As a 19-year-old father, I gambled away a federal $8 baby bonus cheque playing liar's dice at a bar, so ashamed of myself (of a Baptist family) I never gambled again.

I do not disagree with your point Ted but I know several very high end collectors who buy at the auctions for themselves. Yes indeed I do end up doing the needed repairs to them on the customers dime but often times even with repairs I see rare guns in fine shape purchased far, far below retail. In the past I have avoided auctions for all the reasons you have cited but my thinking has slowly changed. Some real bargains can be had if a bidder is shrewd and educated.
Steve

P.S. the last and only time I have gambled at a casino rolls of quarters came with the room for the slots. I played about half of them, the other half came home with me. I can not even stomach seeing free money lost in a casino.

I �gotta work too hard for my money, that is why. �I earned every dollar that passed through my hands� could have been written about me, and I figured that out early in the game, thank goodness.

Best,
Ted

I lay everything I have on the line every year and gamble on the weather to make a crop. Sometimes I win, sometimes I crap out. It's the nature of the business.

Been to several casinos in Vegas. Never played against the house. In every casino there is an area that is for patrons to play poker against each other. The house provides the table(s) and the dealer. The dealer gets tipped from the winner's pot on each winning hand. That is where I spent my time. Not big odds, so you won't win or lose much, but great fun. Play very conservative and you won't lose.

However ............. if you want the big games, they can be had by asking. But, they're behind closed doors.

SRH

Planting a crop & Gambling in a Casino or anywhere else for that matter are NOT one & the same. One plants in Faith, there's not any Faith in a Casino, the Lord never promised a Harvest on anything one did not work for by the Sweat of His Brow.

I agree to a point, Miller. But, what happens when we plant in faith, work by the sweat of our brow, and a drought or hurricane comes and we lose an entire crop? Answer for me ....... we trust that He will continue to provide for our needs, not necessarily our wants.

There are no guarantees. We live and work in a fallen world.

SRH

I saw too many of my USMC buddies losing all their pay on craps- only time I touch dice is when I play Monopoly with the grandkids. Lotto, slot machines, "carnival card games" are all sure ways to go broke in a hurry.

I used to enjoy a 3 raise limit low bet game of 7 card stud- but the Texas Hold-'em game-- not for me-- But farming and crops against the weather, the long odds will always favor Mother Nature- a fickle Lady indeed. RWTF