OT - Selling Guns

I would try gunbroker.

I have a 22 Hornet Winchester gun for sale. Price is $400 cash. FOID card required.

i is failing him and he has a lot of difficulty walking with a

RagerN

Back when I used to move a lot of high priced photographic equipment I used a broker and gave him a commission. I did know what the stuff is worth though. Go to a few gun shows with high quality pictures. Look for similar or the same rifles for sale. You will soon find out the going price and soon find out the thieves who want to give you nothing for them.

Bob AZ

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Sorry, I got this one wrong

It should be

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RogerN

Go to a gun broker. You are taking a chance even posting it here. DO NOT DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC UNLESS IT IS A GOOD FRIEND, AND DO NOT HAVE ANYONE COME TO YOUR HOUSE. I'd try your closest friends to get a good price, then the gun broker.

Steve

Bob, let's say that you offer a gun for sale that is "worth" $1,000. (worth as in, can be sold for $1,000 at an auction)

And let's say, hypothetically, that I email you and offer you $100.

Does that, in your eyes, make me a thief?

I buy and sell guns to strangers, locally and over the internet, on a regular basis. Not that big of a deal, with a little common sense. Anything shipped out of state has to go through an FFL anyway. These are hunting arms, not black rifles or AKs, or even handguns.

I know an old guy that was buying and selling guns all the time. The BATF knocked on his door and asked how two pistols that traced back to him filling out form 4473 could have found their way to being confiscated in Japan. He did not get in any trouble, but it put the fear of God in him, and he quit selling pistols. I asked about how many pistols he sold that could trace back to him, he said ~ 100. I think to really get in trouble you have to knowingly sell to a non resident of your state.

That would suggest that 1% or 2% of the private sale handguns that trace back to you could result in a knock on the door.

What does it all mean? I will sell my long guns in private sales at the gunshow sometimes, but I take my handguns to DJ Sports and sell on consignment.

That is correct, knowingly selling to someone ineligible to buy is illegal. You can either do zero research (Don't ask, don't tell?) or make some attempt. Most of the people I have dealt with had current Texas CHLs. If not, I request a photocopy of their DL showing Texas residence. I have also provided that when buying. So far, I have not had anyone try to buy a gun from me that I would not feel comfortable coming in my house. But I can usually screen those sorts out way before it comes to a meeting. It just has not been an issue.

Supposedly the BATF is knocking on doors here in Texas and asking to see firearms from specific 4473s. The consensus is don't let them in the house and show them nothing without a warrant.

This part and parcel with the Mexican claim that the US is the source of their firearms troubles. So BATFE is going door to door tracing "suspicious" purchases in Texas. And the fun is only starting. There's never really been a concerted effort to go after "strawman" purchases and purchasors, just attempts to entrap dealers that way.

As far as the O.P. is concerned, those commemoratives only command top dollar if absolutely new in the original box with all papers and accessories. And that's if you can find a collector of such. If they've been fired or even show handling marks, you won't get much more than blue book for them. I've been to shows where guys have had piles of the Winchester commemoratives and they didn't move. There are a couple of blue books out there for valuation, best bet is to visit some of the auction sites and see what current pricing is on the same items. And a lot depends on what area of the country you're in. In some states, you can't hardly give away a bolt action in a big game caliber, deer hunting is done with shotguns, small game with shotguns or .22s.

Stan.

Seems like every other Model 94 Winchester made was a commemorative of some sort. The sheer number brings down the value of ll but a few.

In my opinion, for example if a woman's husband died and you were interested in buying his guns. If you told the widow that a gun worth $1000 was only worth $100 then you would be taking advantage of her and would be a thief. If you was interested in the gun and offered $100 but didn't lie claiming that's all it's worth, then it would be up to the seller to take $100 for it or hold out for a reasonable offer. I guess the bottom line is the heart, if you're getting a $1000 gun for $100 by lying and deceiving or if that is really what it's worth to you or the amount of money you can afford to offer. Many offer a fraction of what something is worth trying to get a steal by convincing the seller that it's a fair price.

RogerN

I usually say "this is all I can offer".

I usually say, "how much do you want". Sometimes I know the true value of it, and sometimes I don't. In either case, I may offer more telling them what the item is worth, or say I will research the value and get back to them.

It all depends on the situation. I have no aversion to going to a yard sale and asking how much they want for a drill press that's worth $200, and they say $25, and I say, but only if you help me load it. (I'm buying a pig in a poke, and it might need a motor etc, etc.) Sometimes it's bad karma, something they want to just get the hell off their property. Two kinds of yard sales ...... one where they want to make money and everything's retail or above ...... and one where they don't want any of this shit left at the end of the day.

I do get great deals at yard sales, but never anything like a $1,000 rifle for $100 when I know what it's worth. I have to face that guy in the mirror every day.

Steve

my approach has been "that kind of thing might sell for $1000 to the right buyer, but not to me - to me it will sell for $100 (or whatever I'm willing to offer) - many times the seller thinks and sells it to me anyway

When someone offers me "some kind of electrical meter" (Fluke 77) for $5.00, I will come back with a $3.00 counter offer even though I would be more than happy to pay more. This actually happened about ten years back. Last year it was an "Amprobe" for $1.00 asked - when it gets down to a buck, I seldom haggle. Gerry :-)} London, Canada

I'm not Bob but...

You're not a thief if you make a lowball offer to a seller in general commerce. You may be insulting, but bidness is bidness.

Lowballing a widow's estate for bargains and personal gain might make you a vulture, if you care. It's legal and some might view it as smart bidness.

Do you offer the widow the benefit of your expertise re what fair value might be -- or do you hope that she has no such guidance and will be easy and profitable prey for you?

I don't want a response, Ig, I merely offer this as food for thought.

That seems fair enough. Holding out for a "right buyer" may well be beyond the seller's ability or tolerance for hassle. BTDT.

Same here. I had an email exchange like that just this week, and recommended the seller post it on a couple of forums specific to the brand he was selling, at a recommended asking price. And I also made a fair (lower) offer based on what it was worth to me.