Old Guns

Mistwalker

Mistwalker

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Joined
Dec 22, 2007
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Does anyone here collect old guns? I have been tasked with figuring out the worth of some and need a resource to do so...

There are, among other things... two old Sharps, an 1873 Trapdoor, an old German Drilling, an Enfield M1917, a Japanese Arisaka, a Nazi p38, a Luger... Way out of my area of study
 
Get a one-year online subscription to The Blue Book of Gun Values; I think it's $29, and I've found it well worth it. They still publish a Book annually, too; but I've found the online version easy to use, and the constant updates make it more accurate. Some great guns listed there; you should have some fun determining their values, and learning their history too. I'm envious.
 
I do. I'd need photos to show condition but more importantly markings or lack thereof. They could go from not too much to way up there.

I actually have a trapdoor and M1917 Enfield, used to have a P38 but sold it.
 
Ok thanks. I'll get some pics posted by Friday, hopefully Thursday if I am up for it. I am having the second in a series of seven weekly oral surgeries tomorrow, so probably not tomorrow...
 
Go on gunbroker and search the gun and see what they are actually selling for
 
Note that while the Blue Book can be a good place to start, it works best for more common newer firearms. There are many collector niches and small variations can make a big difference in the value. These little subtle differences aren't covered in the Blue Book - or it would be at least as big as a set of encyclopedias ! (Of course, this is how a knowledgeable collector finds super bargains - by paying much less for something from those not in the know.) You get the very most from your guns if you can take the time to research them thoroughly. The best place IMO is on specialist forums where you can search past posts and then ask questions based on that research.

Good luck !
 
Pointshoot777 said:
Note that while the Blue Book can be a good place to start, it works best for more common newer firearms. There are many collector niches and small variations can make a big difference in the value. These little subtle differences aren't covered in the Blue Book - or it would be at least as big as a set of encyclopedias ! (Of course, this is how a knowledgeable collector finds super bargains - by paying much less for something from those not in the know.) You get the very most from your guns if you can take the time to research them thoroughly. The best place IMO is on specialist forums where you can search past posts and then ask questions based on that research.

Good luck !
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Thanks. Yeah, that helps more with the two old Pythons from the 50s and 60s, and some of the other revolvers, but it's the German Drilling that has my curiosity. The shotgun side is a gauge I have never seen that is smaller than a .410. Man with all the scroll work and elegant design, if that one doesn't fetch a lot, I will just take it for myself and display it. It is just gorgeous.
 
mistwalker said:
Thanks. Yeah, that helps more with the two old Pythons from the 50s and 60s, and some of the other revolvers, but it's the German Drilling that has my curiosity. The shotgun side is a gauge I have never seen that is smaller than a .410. Man with all the scroll work and elegant design, if that one doesn't fetch a lot, I will just take it for myself and display it. It is just gorgeous.
Click to expand...

I'd bet dollars to doughnuts you have a 9mm shotgun. My grandfather had one. They were used as a collection tool by museums so the birds body wasn't badly damaged by the shot. Birds were stuffed and put on display. Sometimes called a garden gun.
 
mistwalker said:
Thanks. Yeah, that helps more with the two old Pythons from the 50s and 60s, and some of the other revolvers, but it's the German Drilling that has my curiosity. The shotgun side is a gauge I have never seen that is smaller than a .410. Man with all the scroll work and elegant design, if that one doesn't fetch a lot, I will just take it for myself and display it. It is just gorgeous.
Click to expand...

I used to be heavily into doubleguns - 'sleeper' Brit guns and old American classics. I'm more of a shooter/hunter than hardcore
collector, so once I found the guns that work for me I was satisfied and stopped the shopping for something new. (That can get
Very expensive in that area of collecting. Way too rich for my blood.)

One outstanding resource was the forum doublegunshop.com

Lots of very knowledgeable people there. Take some pics and ask your questions and I bet someone there can give you a good idea of
the value of what you have. (I recall one fellow I knew who had inherited an old black powder Brit double rifle from a family member. He took this same advice and went to that forum where he found out it had been used in Africa. Value was at minimum $35k and that was 10 years ago.)
 
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Mist google Sullivan Classic arms in cumming ga... We used Biff a lot on older firearms when we were unsure of its value. I'm sure with you picture ability and his knowledge you will find out what you need
 
You listed off some very nice firearms, and as others have said pictures are necessary. A single stamp could change the value of a firearm drastically. Sometimes by as much as $1000 or more. Blue Book is crazy right now, their values are rarely spot on for what a gun is actually selling for these days. I can't tell you how often people get offended because they see one price in the book and I have to offer them something more along the lines of what it actually sells for. Best bet is going to be a collectors association for each of those models/makers. Get on the forums and start asking questions. They will shoot you straight and get you on the right path.

That being said though, if you want a quick accurate answer without tons of legwork then the guys at collectors is definitely a good place to go. They know their stuff and are honest people.
 
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