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Posted By: George L. SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 10/16/17 12:22 AM
The auction catalogues are now at Charlton Hall Auctions. If anyone here would like to have one please let me know and I'll see that one is sent.

Best Regards, George
Posted By: Crane Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 10/16/17 12:51 AM
Inquired direct to Carlton Auction on gun listed and their reply was to refer to condition report.Sounds not very professional.
Posted By: Joe in Charlotte Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 10/16/17 05:38 PM
George,

Are these guns being offered with any reserve? Sometimes the auction house will say "no reserve". I couldn't find that info on Charlton's site.

If I wanted to come down from Charlotte, I need to know if your guns being offered the first day or second day of the auction? I'd hate to come down the first day and watch old rugs sell, but no guns.

Do any of the English guns have "Proof Exempt" paperwork from the UK Proof houses? The Purdey thumb hole 10 ga hammer still has it's original proofs. I know it could be sold in the UK, if the barrels were unmodified, but usually, the gun would have been reproofed in the UK before sale. If nothing else, but for the peace of mind of both seller and buyer. Of course, if the gun has been in the US since new, it would not have been reproofed. Has Purdey offered any information on this gun?

I have read the disclosures on Charlton's site. It appears the buyers premium + SC sales tax, amounts to a +27% additional charge to the buyer. Is that correct?

I know you have worked with Charlton Hall for prior gun auctions. I'll call them if you prefer.

I hope this response finds your daughter doing well.

Thanks,

Joe in Charlotte
President, Carolina Vintagers
Posted By: Joe in Charlotte Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 10/16/17 05:47 PM
George,

One last quick question.

Lot 85, The Army and Navy 20 ga pair is described as a boxlock and sidelock. The photos are of 2 different boxlocks. Where is the sidelock or is there an error in the description of the pair?

http://www.charltonhallauctions.com/auction-lot-detail/Pair-Army-Navy-C.S.L.-20ga-SXS-sporting-guns-***FFL-REQUIRED&salelot=286+++++++85+&refno=++102020

Thanks,

Joe
Posted By: arrieta2 Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 10/16/17 09:45 PM
George

Hope it works out well for you. I do remember the gun auction that they had with Diggory Hadock consulted on. Most remember the poor quality pictures and the poor descriptions, not informative

Probably better now?

John Boyd
Posted By: George L. Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 10/17/17 02:57 AM
Crane: I don't know who you spoke with but the condition reports were done by a professional gun appraiser (not me) You should ask them to e-mail you a copy of the condition report. Give my your address & I'll have Charlton Hall send you a catalogue.

Best Regards, George
Posted By: George L. Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 10/17/17 03:23 AM
Joe: The guns all have a reserve. The guns are being offered on the first day in the weekend auction. If you send me your mailing address I'll have them send you a catalogue. I don't know which of the English guns are "proof exempt" Some of that info would be in the condition report that was done by a qualified gun appraiser. The Purdey thumbhole hammer gun I got in a local trade for another English gun. I have written to David Maynard at Purdey for info and he kindly responded that "SN 8248 is a 12 bore Purdey breech loading hammer gun, No. 1 of a pair, completed in 1870 for Captain H.F.G. Coleman.

I believe that 27% is correct.

The Army & Navy is one sidelock & one boxlock with consecutive serial numbers which numbers also appear on the original trunk case. The guns were partially restored by Jim Kelly at Darlington Gun Works The case was restored to "as new" condition by a friend in Rock Hill, SC. There is also another 20 gauge Army & Navy in the sale which is in poor condition.

Best Regards, George

.
Posted By: George L. Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 10/17/17 03:28 AM
John: Diggory is long gone. Off hunting big game in Africa with his buddy Michael. I believe that you will find the photographs much improved over the earlier ones and the descriptions much more accurate. Give my your address & I'll have them send you a catalogue.

Best Regards, George
Posted By: arrieta2 Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 10/17/17 12:57 PM
Ok, George. I will take you up on your offer

Thank you!

Hunting: Michael Joseph from Houston. Josephs?

Send to

John Boyd
Box 19477
Houston, TX. 77224
Posted By: George L. Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 05:34 AM
Well the auction did not go as planned. A few guns were sold but most did not meet 80% of the low reserves. I then contacted James Julia and they sent a couple of guys to look at my guns. The estimates that they were coming up with were to me laughable to say the least. 10-20 % of my estimates. I was prepared for 50% but not 10-20. How about Heritage Auctions in Dallas,TX ? Has anyone here had dealings with them ?

Best Regards, George
Posted By: SXS 40 Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 07:05 AM

Heritage has an international clientele, but do not sell as many guns as the auctions that specialize in same. I had a recent experience with them, where a gun was incorrectly described and they did not disclose a non working lock on a hammer gun. You might try Montrose Auction in Georgia. Small auction house that sells guns and are somewhat close to you.

Of all the auction houses that sell a lot of guns, Rock Island seems to get the highest prices. But, if the guns are not graded or in good condition, they will go in a "Regional" sale and be lost in the high quantity sold and bring sub par prices.

James Julia, IMO, is for the super high grade rare guns, that will bring big money. I don't know if that will change with their recent merger with Morphy. Morphy puts out the nicest HARD BOUND catalogs in the industry.

There are other auction houses to choose from, Amouskeag, Little John's and Carol Watson in Ca. To name a few. Check with each to see what fees they charge and how they market.

Good Luck
Posted By: BrentD, Prof Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 02:37 PM
FWIW, Michael Petrov's fairly famous collection of '03 Springfields was sold by Amoskeag, and I thought they did a good job from my perspective as a buyer.
http://www.amoskeagauction.com/index.php

I corresponded with RIA about a double rifle I used to own. Their response was laughable. I later sold it here at a MUCH better price. They also substantially overestimate condition, and lowball estimates. They have sold some pieces with questionable provenances as well. I would not use RIA, personally.
Posted By: obsessed-with-doubles Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 02:51 PM
I would contact Poulin Antiques in Fairfield, ME:

http://poulinantiques.com/

They do a good job, attract a lot of buyers, and offer fair rates.

See what they say and just get rid of the guns.

A check in hand is better than all this hassle and wasted time.

Your guns aren't going to get any more valuable.

They are what they are and the market is what it is.

OWD
Posted By: John Roberts Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 04:01 PM
George, afraid you're going to have to take what you can get, or just keep them. Only two choices, really. When you've put them out there already and had poor response, going to different auctioneers isn't going to matter enough to bother. Good luck.
JR
Posted By: Nudge Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 05:03 PM
George L.,

My personal belief is that unless your gun(s) are DoubleGun Journal "feature quality," your best point of sale will always be GunBroker or GunsInternational. Because you reach the largest audience by multiple orders of magnitude, and YOU get to control the picture and description quality.

If you want to sell an AA grade Lefever, or some rare and minty Winchester lever gun, then no doubt James Julia's is your best bet. Because they will give the gun the attention it needs and deserves to fetch the best price. But I would NOT send an F grade Lefever or a Fox AE there! Because they are grades of gun that will be overlooked among all the finer stuff at that auction. And that's not a knock on Julia's, but more of an acknowledgement that it's tough to sell a Chevy Camaro in a room full of Ferrari's...and Ferrari shoppers. I've seen quite a few great condition mid grade American doubles sell there for much better prices that on GunBroker...meaning it's a great place to BUY such guns...not sell them.

Just spend the time taking great photos and writing a clear and concise description, and put 'em up on the internet next to all the insane dealer prices and yours will sell.

The other problem with all the auction houses is they tend to be generalists. So if you have some particularly unique make or model that they just can't provide the right 'color' for...you may not find a buyer. Any generalist auctioneer would know how to market an A1 Parker. But fewer would have the knowledge (or inclination, given the smaller auction premium incentive) to carefully market lesser guns.

LEARN to create amazing internet listings, price them fairly, and they WILL sell for decent prices.

- NDG
Posted By: KY Jon Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 05:04 PM
George we always say an auction sets the price that day. Most people want to buy wholesale at an auction. If an item is rare they pay retail plus. Perhaps you have just run into a very soft market with prices which are not what they use to be. It is what it is.

My late mother had a fine China collection which 15 or more years ago would have easily sold for 200-300k plus. She passed away six years ago and prices were down a lot then. They continued going down. I doubt I could get 50k for it. So I'm stuck for now but am watching the prices to see if they start to recover which they should in time. But antiques are very, very soft right now. I'm looking at adding to it out of a friend's estate but am having a real hard time getting the urge to make what most likely will be a 20 year investment at my age. Still what would have sold for 50-60k is being offered for 12-15 and I expect they'd take 10k. Like I said it is not a sellers market in many antique right now.

Many of my guns may be in the same boat. Some up and many down from a few years ago. I could cherry pick them and send them out on consignment which might take years to sell them. I could split them up into groups and send them to two or three auctions. But to get them sold I'd have to accept many prices which would upset me more than I want to admit. So my boys are instructed to do it after my death. You can't disappoint a dead man more, after he's dead. I wish you luck on your sale and maybe the prices will pick up in the next year or two.
Posted By: Dan S. W. Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 05:28 PM
Montrose in Georgia sells a lot of guns, but they don't seem to know much about about vintage doubles. They very reluctantly pulled a fake Crescent "rebranded" as an LC Smith from an auction after getting a number of calls and emails from concerned hobbyists. Gun later popped up on Gunbroker.

http://members.boardhost.com/lcsmith/msg/1425993586.html
Posted By: George L. Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 05:42 PM
Thanks to all of you for your very helpful suggestions. I plan to contact the auction houses listed above to see what kind of response I receive. I have a few what I consider to be fairly rare guns and a lot of the other kind. I am confident that I can find an acceptable venue to get them sold. I'll just have to keep looking.

Best Regards, George
Posted By: John Roberts Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 06:11 PM
Originally Posted By: Nudge
George L.,

My personal belief is that unless your gun(s) are DoubleGun Journal "feature quality," your best point of sale will always be GunBroker or GunsInternational. Because you reach the largest audience by multiple orders of magnitude, and YOU get to control the picture and description quality.

If you want to sell an AA grade Lefever, or some rare and minty Winchester lever gun, then no doubt James Julia's is your best bet. Because they will give the gun the attention it needs and deserves to fetch the best price. But I would NOT send an F grade Lefever or a Fox AE there! Because they are grades of gun that will be overlooked among all the finer stuff at that auction. And that's not a knock on Julia's, but more of an acknowledgement that it's tough to sell a Chevy Camaro in a room full of Ferrari's...and Ferrari shoppers. I've seen quite a few great condition mid grade American doubles sell there for much better prices that on GunBroker...meaning it's a great place to BUY such guns...not sell them.

Just spend the time taking great photos and writing a clear and concise description, and put 'em up on the internet next to all the insane dealer prices and yours will sell.

The other problem with all the auction houses is they tend to be generalists. So if you have some particularly unique make or model that they just can't provide the right 'color' for...you may not find a buyer. Any generalist auctioneer would know how to market an A1 Parker. But fewer would have the knowledge (or inclination, given the smaller auction premium incentive) to carefully market lesser guns.

LEARN to create amazing internet listings, price them fairly, and they WILL sell for decent prices.

- NDG
Best advice so far. Your situation will best be served doing EXACTLY what Nudge has said. I've sold many guns on Gunsinternational, and Deb Powell will gladly put photos from your phone on your ad. I encourage you to do the legwork and time necessary to put up individual guns with good photos and very accurate descriptions. You will come out much better than fooling around with auctions.
JR
Posted By: ed good Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 08:00 PM
ditto, what nudge said...and if you dont want to do it yourself, then consign your guns to someone who has a several year track record of successful internet sales...
Posted By: eightbore Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/04/18 10:28 PM
And that person would be.....?
Posted By: ed good Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/05/18 03:20 AM
many sell on da net...pick one nearest to you...
Posted By: George L. Re: SENDING MY GUNS TO AUCTION - 01/05/18 05:31 PM
Great advice & thank you. I will give Deb Powell a call. They have treated me great in the past. I am getting more & better pictures made.

Best Regards, George
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