I have been touching base with this site/forum for a few years now and have finally sent in my membership application and dues. I’ve have read most of what’s on here and have read the News Letter Archives. I’m looking forward to my first opportunity to meet with fellow members.
I have noticed that quite a few people who post here in the forum (myself included) are looking at finding out their shotguns value, those people also seem to be a owner of a single item rather then a collector of Great American Doubles. Its been said here and I agree in the “most part” that “We Don’t Do Pricing”. I know why it is impossible to accurately value a collector item sight unseen or even w/some quality pictures. I think most people will generally want a ballpark to be in. Collectors as it seems a lot of the regulars here are, know what a ballpark looks like, and though sometimes rare items come up, that would make a particular shotgun more valuable to a “Collector”, it may just be the casual buyer who would like a quality, yet unique shotgun, like an LC. If one wanted an “estimate of value” for a keepsake to be insured then I’d suggest a “Paid For” appraisal from an expert in American Doubles.
I have three L.C.’s that I have obtained over the years, not “To Collect” as much as to have different gauges, or it was unique, and also affordable. I out of nostalgia and appreciation for the craftsmanship of these and other fine American Doubles if one presents itself in a gunshop that “I find reasonable priced” I’m inclined to buy. Having said that I have been looking for a 12ga with shorter barrels (28”) like I mentioned in another post and that I’d thought of cutting down the barrels on the one I have now (Specialty Long Range 32”). I was told “Don’t Do It!” just buy what I want. I was surprised that my L.C. was Special in that being a “Specialty” and “Long Range” made it unique. Before the alarm was sounded I’d have been probable willing to make a trade for a Field Grade that had a bit more color, since all I was looking for was a good 12ga. I will now be sure to hold on to this one (unless I’m offered a good price) and look for a shorter one.
Now I’ve been looking, but not knowing what values are anymore, with as many shotguns out there as there seems to be offered, at as many places on the Internet it is difficult to know what’s a fair price and what isn’t. In a retail situation like at a store, say, Cabela’s they offer a very wide variety of L.C.’s and other fine makers priced from Less Expensive, to in my case, cost prohibitive, Are these “Fair” prices? I see items for auction at Gun Brokers, most are listed over and over. Should I, because there aren’t selling quickly (or even being bid on) figure that they are priced too high? Is that just lack of confidence in the market and people don’t want to chance someone “Stealing it” by offering a low open and No Reserve, or do these sellers think what they have is worth at least that and their right, they just haven’t been seen yet by the right buyer?
I, again, understand collector’s items are a bit different in pricing then other more common items, for all the various reasons; different engravings, same as “Gramps” once owned, first/last year for this feature, only one made, “made for”, the list goes on but those are more of an individual value rather then a ball park which may drive the price. There are, for what they’re worth, collector price guides, blue books if you will that give these numbers. I for one had collected mechanical wristwatches, I found these guides not worth the money spent when it came to evaluating, what to spend, or what a watch was “worth”. I at one point contacted the author of one such book that also sold retail. I spoke to a salesperson that said what was in stock and their prices. I said the prices were much higher then “His” book value. The salesperson put me on hold coming back and saying the owner’s response was that prices for Vintage watches are driven by supply and demand and he could charge what he felt the market would bare. Which means Market Value, something I thought I’d get from buying his book. I was wrong, so I’m skeptical of these so-called “Buyer Guides”.
What I guess this all leads to would be, are the prices asked for on these different sites, be they; brick and mortar, cyber-space, or Internet auction, fairly priced? Or at least close enough that one could feel comfortable selling a shotgun without felling that they were be taken advantage of or even buying one without paying too much? The occasional high value odd ball maybe out there and a seller or buyer feeling they have such an item, for piece of mind, may want to spend the money on a research letter and appraisal just to be sure I just don’t think most times people are asking will run into that situation.
Sorry to have been so long winded in asking a question but I’m looking for some good quality answers here, the same quality as I’ve seen with other “More Technical” questions.