doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Browning Citori grade question

No offense but--I can tell you right now that it is worth a lot more than $2000.00. My regular Citori Lightning will run about $1600.00 plus, it has no engraving and the lower grade of wood. And yes people do like the 16 gauges and pay a little bit more, crazy as it seems. I'm guessing that is easily a $3000-$4000.00 gun. Depending on the condition, which I can't really tell from the pictures.

But you didn't venture that opinion until I threw a number out there.

They are harder to sell than you might think. 16 gauge eliminates a large percentage of your audience.

It's a nice gun but it's still just a Citori.

A quick look on Guns International shows four different Grade III guns for sale, all 12 gauge.

They range in price from $1999.99 to $4500, with the high one being a pawn shop offering. This is what I meant by forming a consensus.

A 20-gauge Grade III recently sold here in Virginia for I believe just over $3K, not long after it was listed.

For at least the past three decades the 16 has never enjoyed the same range of ammunition choices as the 12 or 20. 16-gauge fans have always known this, but it remains in the field and blinds, and new shooters discover it every day.

They did not produce the Grade III very long, especially in the 16, so it will generate plenty of interest. Yes, it is a Citori, a mass-produced, machine-made gun. But they have a solid reputation, and to many, especially young shooters it would be a nice step up from what they currently have.

We'll just have to wait and see what he sells it for.

It only takes one buyer. Years ago I had an ocean front lot on the outer banks. Bought it when there were five left on my street. Held it until it was the last one. My price was the combined price for the last two lots. Mine was slightly bigger, which meant you could build a slightly larger house. When I told the realtor the price she said it will never sell at that price. List it anyways I said and tell the buyer that price is firm, not open to offers. Of course she brought me an offer a few month later. I hung up on her. When she called back, which I knew she would, I again told her no offers. Half an hour later the buyer met my price.

Point is, it only takes one buyer and this is something they may wait a very long time to find another. 16's do sell. I find 12's a harder sell right now unless it is higher grade. And I have been offered low prices for even high condition lower grades, just like they were well worn shooters. The market is, what it is, right now. Soft on most things not black, high grade, or rare for the right buyer. With good pictures, which I can not take, I would list it on the web at what we would call a high price and see what happens. You can always go down in price but you can not always go up later.

And just like that an ANIB Grade 3 12 gauge appears on GunsInternational.
$2500 shipped.

Tack about $500.00 on to that price and you'll have what a 16 gauge will go for. I have been in the market for a Model 21 and I have been watching them every day. The 16 gauges go for a lot more than the 12s and the 20s are ridiculous. I'm with Shotgunjones on the high prices of the 16 gauge ammo. But some people have money burning a hole in their heads. Errrr...... pockets, I mean.

I gave up on a Model 21 (for now, anyway). I understand the attraction and demand, but I'm just not going to pay that kind of money that most sellers are asking. Nothing against those who can and do, just not me.

Thanks for all of the insight. Blue Book is a guesstimate and says 2000 plus 15% for 16.

If I listed it here for 2995 most guys here would say its over priced.
The same ones who say they buy 20 Ga ejector Sterlingworth's all day long for under 2K!!!!!

I might list it here and pay Dave his vig before I go to GI.