doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Little John's Auction integrity

I recently bought a rifle from Little John's Auctions in southern CA. I was bidding through Proxibid. The catalog description said the bore was excellent. When the rifle arrived, I found the bore to be both rough and dark. When I contacted the seller. I was told condition was subjective and that I should consider that the rifle was over 100 years old. If you're ever inclined to bid sight-unseen on one of Little John's auctions, be warned. Catalog descriptions are optimistic, and they're not backed by any recourse.

Ditto Australian Arms auctions, and likely most others. Best to have on site inspection before bidding. Old guns are hard to but if not in hand.

Pay with a credit card. Not happy? Stop payment.

This is typical of some auction houses. There's no way that this is just one person's idea of excellent vs. another's idea of dark and poor. The description is just way too far off what you really got. It's flat out misleading, and designed to garner more bids and higher sale prices.
It also makes me leery of bidding at their auctions.

I've found that the descriptions of items on the various Proxibid auctions are all over the place from nonexistent to downright verbose. Which latter is fine if the "verbs" are accurate. They often aren't.

I sometimes sell guns on these auctions when I can't find a local buyer, but I only buy guns that I have gone to see and handle at the auction site. Never used Little John's because I literally can't find the site. "Someplace in Orange"! (Their online directions took me to a decent Chinese restaurant....a great money-saver!).

I recently saw several items, a Remington 1894 and a Blanch, on auction thru Proxbid. When I called the auction houses for futher information, I was told "as is where is,". Needless to say, I passed.

This weekend I won a pre WWI era Marlin '94 deluxe rifle at a local auction. The auction only provided one image of the right side, and I broke my own rule of not bidding without good pictures, or going to look at a gun. I had little notice, so no time to go look.
I bid half of what I thought it was worth in an absentee bid, and it closed at 2/3 of what I bid, so I was surprised and excited. I went yesterday to pick it up, and got another surprise. A crack in the wrist on the left side that was nicely repaired. Appears to be a very old repair, and I can make it look even better with some work. But it does reinforce my previous rule of looking first. But if I had looked, I'd still have bid the same, and been happy with the purchase. It is a stunning piece, and in very nice condition for 111 years old.

Many years ago I purchased a rifle from Little Johns. I learned the first time and did not go back

John Boyd

PS: Have met John a few times and is actually a very nice guy.

Having dealt with rocky mtn bill's integrity on other sub-forums here, I would have to say that people who live in glass houses should not be throwing stones at Little John's Auction House.

(I can provide links and quotes to back up that statement Billy)

Vall, maybe you can post some pictures of your new Marlin. Sounds really nice. I'd love to have a Deluxe. What caliber and barrel dimensions/profile?