Most single barrel break-open shotguns.– (except for fine trap guns), most bring $25-$75.While there are always exceptions, here are some of the types that tend to bring less than folks often hope: There are some types of older guns that tend not to bring much money (as guns go). The newstand publications Shotgun News and Gun List also list guns for sale for comparison pricing. You can also take your gun to a gun show and walk it around asking opinions, but remember that some opinions may be from folks who want to buy your gun as cheaply as possible.Īrmchair Gun Show gun site links - other interesting & helpful firearms websites. You can also get help with most questions at the rec.guns newsgroup, or at AOL’s Gun Talk forum (keyword "Guns"). Most of these are $30 each, and available at major bookstores, most libraries, or at Expect a dealer to offer you 40% to 70% of these if he’s buying for resale. With no false modesty, the best price guide for S&W's. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson - by Jim Supica & Richard Nahas.– can be helpful for oddball guns not listed in the others. Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Arms – absolutely the best for antique American arms.Standard Catalog of Firearms by Schwing, uses "Excellent" through "Fair" rating system, lots of photos, good all around guide, but BEWARE that their "condition definitions" for antique guns are radically different from the widely accepted NRA antique condition definitions!.Blue Book of Gun Values by Fjestad, uses the percentage system, good for modern guns, no pictures.Most value questions can be answered by the major price guides: I’ve seen folks buff a $2,000 gun into a $200 junker!įind definitions of NRA Conditions Grading Standards, and more information on rating gun condition. NEVER take it upon yourself to clean up an old gun unless you know what you’re doing. Refinishing a collectible gun or modifying it or customizing it or over-cleaning it nearly always lowers the value. The PERCENTAGE SYSTEM rates the percent of original finish remaining on the gun, 100% to 0%. Each condition rating has a specific definition (you can find these defined in Blue Book of Gun Values). The NRA CONDITION STANDARDS rate modern guns as New, Excellent, Very Good, Good or Fair, and antique guns as Excellent, Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. This is a somewhat technical evaluation, and if you’re not familiar with guns, you probably won’t be able to do it, and should ask help. Differences in condition can EASILY halve or double the value of a gun. Either way, list ALL markings on the gun.Īfter you know WHAT it is, the biggest factor in value is the CONDITION of the gun. MARKINGS – if you know the make & model, say so.
MEASUREMENTS – barrel length, overall length.
TYPE – Long gun or hand gun? Is it a muzzleloader or does it take shells? If it’s a handgun, is it a revolver (with a rotating cylinder holding the rounds) or an autopistol (with a removable magazine)? If a long gun, is it a shotgun or rifle?ĪCTION – What type of action does it have – single shot, break-open, double barrel, bolt action, pump action, lever action, revolver, semi-auto, other? Double or single action? Exposed hammer or hammerless? If revolver, solid frame, tip-up, top-break, or swingout cylinder?ĬALIBER – sometimes this is marked. You need to provide enough info to identify and estimate the value of the gun you’re asking about. I.e., Antique flint & percussion guns by small makers, Trade name firearms, small european revolvers, custom guns, non-factory commemoratives & historically attributed guns. Information on hard to evaluate gun types. General value comments for certain types of guns:
Old types of guns how to#
How to Ask - type, action, caliber, measurements, markings.