doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Selling custom rifles

I might add also that the caliber of a custom rifle has a bearing on desirability with the gun buying public. If I had deep pockets and were considering the purchase of this rifle, I would much prefer it to be in a smaller caliber. I don't have much use for a big .45, but that's strictly my personal opinion. I sincerely wish you the best of luck selling it.

Nice looking rifle.
I'm glad the other guys said what they did before I added my views.
I'm with Mal on the cost... sounds like a pretty fair deal to me.
Another thing to consider on value, is Mr. Burgin still in business?

1878: I agree with the vast majority of what has been said here, by my learned brothers. Some statements for different reasons. Let me start by saying that I learned a long time ago, what my fellow learned brothers have stated! THE KEY IS... Buy a custom gun that fits you physically as close and to your personal needs as "closely as possible", that someone else has spent the big bucks to build FOR THEM!!!!They are out there, I know because I have slowly acquired OVER FIFTY throughout the years! It takes an incredible amount of daily, dedication, research and effort. [e.g. daily reading of ALL the internet sites, developing good bargaining skills that are not offensive and that keep people in touch with you, when they don't sell their gun weeks or months later and finally and most importantly, having the instant disposable cash to take advantage of a great buy when it presents itself!] To do it this way, it must be almost an obsession but in the end, it will pay off. You spent an incredible amount of money and the L.O.P. on your rifle is not any closer than one built for someone else...sad to say! I have guns by by Alvin Linden, R.G. Owens, Griffin and Howe, Harvey Rodgers, Adolph Niedner/Tom Shelhamer et.al. and while some fit better than others THEY ALL FIT WELL ENOUGH TO USE WHEN I WANT TO! These I buy in spite of fit as I am buying the gun and maker for collectibility and rarity for my collection. However for hunting use, I have 2 Al Biesens ans 3 Dale Goens among others, that fit me like they were made for me. I had to go to a steel buttplate on one rifle, but that was what was on it originally when it came out of Goens shop, so no harm no foul! I am truly sorry about your experience, I suggest you list it, forget about it and one day it will either sell or a buyer will contact you with an offer, that is at least palatable. Good Luck Jerry

Well, I will try and address some of the points raised. The rifle is unfired because of what Michael has suggested. The fact that it was not what I ordered in several significant (to me) ways spoiled it for me. I put it aside hoping that feeling would fade, but it has not. The rifle is the most expensive I own, and my psychological investment in the project was higher still. It took me 10 years to find a suitable rifle/action to start with. The only non-original 1878's available in the 90's were the investment cast ones from Argus Barker.

As to value, I thought the charges high at the time, just my opinion. The workmanship is good, but the gunsmith was not a Guild member and I did not expect to pay that kind of price based on our prior dealings. As I have noted, the charges were also presented in total when the rifle was complete.

The Gunbroker listing is my doing, as I said, I have never sold much before. I didn't realize the no returns thing was such an issue. I was trying to protect the "new, unfired" status of the rifle, because I thought that was worth something. I was also somewhat wary of the whole internet sale thing. There are trolls out there, someone tried to give me a phony cashiers check for a violin a few months ago. This sale is not a scam, there are no hidden flaws I am aware of and the rifle was available for close inspection when it was at Cabela's. The photos are the ones taken by Cabela's for their site, I thought they were probably better than I could do.

The style of the rifle is also my doing, I deliberately left the military action as it was. It was 121 years old when I bought it and I did not want it recontoured. This was not a money thing, I was just trying to make a nice rifle, not fool people into thinking it was an original sporting model. I was also quite careful about the stock blank and layout because of the large caliber. I was very pleased with both Don Cantwell and George Petersen's contributions to this project, so I am not some impossible to please customer.

Unfortunately, what I am not reading here is that I am doing it wrong with regard to how and where to sell the thing. It seems like the prevailing opinion is that hot rod analogy Joe & Gerald put forward is correct. Money spent on "improving" rifles is an expense not a capital investment. I guess I should just keep lowering the price and take my lumps.

Lot of good comments here fore sure. I suggest you dump it and soon, at what ever cost, as it sounds like it is stuck in your throat and is painful. Life's too short to be in pain.

I have many guns like others here and a number of them are custom, most being one of a kind guns designed and built by me. So I have 2 sons and in discussions with them about the guns after I am gone I have told them that the cost I have put into them means nothing and that they should remember the first dollar and all others after that they get will be profit to them! I won't care.
You need to pull this sliver from your finger and get on with life. It was a learning experience. Remember you can never learn from success only failure.

Personally, I don't buy guns online without a return policy; it is the only way interstate buying/selling works and has long been the tradition. The seller assumes some risk, but not nearly what a buyer does with a no-retun policy.

Also, as a FFL holder I rarely take delivery from a private party because I can't return a gun to a non-FFL. Some say otherwise but that is how I read the regs. and how I run my business.

Have you considered Blackpowder Cartridge Rifle News (Cody, WY)? or Single Shot Exchange? The price probably needs ot come down regardless...
As I said, nice looking rifle but could benefit from a rear sight.
Best,
Steve

I see others feel the same way about the lack of a return policy as I do.
I know the trepidation in shipping a prized rifle all about the country hoping that nothing bad happens to it. Really, I worry more about the carriers than the customers.
Also, the styling is very much like a sporter but it has a 30" barrel and a base for a tang sight which is more in the match rifle vein.
And lastly, I am confused about your FFL only policy since this is an antique action and if serial numbered can be shipped to a private party, FFL or not, no problem.

1878,
One small suggestion; you only have one other feed back on Gunbroker so you are not well known. You may want to consider locating a dealer who has been doing business and has built up a reputation of trust with his buyers. Have him sell the gun and pay a handling fee.
As other have said a no return policy turns folks off. You are dealing with a very very small clientel and they are going to be picky.
Oh yes remember in life always tell the truth but remember you don't have to do more then answer the question. You have said a whole lot about the history and the sour grapes without being asked and telling folks all of that only makes them shy away. Did me!

As suggested above put some sights on the gun and you should consider having the buttplate changed, your repo would be a better choice then what you have, IMO. Give that gun some "Bling" with detailed pictures.

I will change the return policy. I have over 100 transactions on Ebay going back 10 years with a perfect feedback rating. Most were somehow firearms parts related before they stopped all that. I probably should have mentioned that in the Gunbroker listing.

The stock is what Treebone Carving sells as their Sharps mid-range copy and that is what I had in mind: a black powder target (not silhouette) and hunting rifle. The firing pin was already bushed and I chose a Krieger barrel of good steel (4150) so that it would also be safe with any reasonable smokeless load.

1878 I wish you the very best.