Misinformation on GB

[wiscoaster]

.... it’s not important that the seller knows what he has as long as the buyer does. ....

Nice summary of the entire topic.

 

[Mulemauler]

I only started collecting Colt 2nd gen percussion revolvers in earnest back around 2010. Prior to that I had purchased one of the first C series 1851 Navies when they came out in 1971. Later on in 1975, I got a C series 3rd model Dragoon and then in 1978 or 79 got one of the first F series 1860 Armies. Then I got married so life and family pretty much put my Colt 2nd gen collecting on a permanent halt. I missed the 3rd gens and didn't even know they existed until much later.

By 2010 I had been divorced for 5 years and retired for 3. I discovered Gunbroker and the Colt forum. Having picked up several of the Dennis Adler coffee table books and a copy of Dennis Russell's Collector's handbook and price guide for 2nd generation percussion Colt revolvers, which included all the history of how the line came to exist, how it was produced, and distributed plus all the items that were cataloged--including the 3rd gens. Armed with this info I was able to navigate Gunbroker and online live auctions to end up building a pretty good collection. I have maybe 30 or more 2nd gens including 2 or more of all the standard catalog items. I bought the majority on Gunbroker.com.

The fact that so many people including most sellers know very little about how these were produced was an advantage to me. Up until the pandemic, the prices were still quite reasonable compared to common Uberti's and Pietta's. Besides, I was buying these as collectables and not to shoot. I had less expensive Uberti's and PIetta's for that. Now, I couldn't afford any of the fancy engraved Ivory gripped models that came out of the Colt custom shop but I've got pretty much everything else I wanted and at prices that one can't touch these days. I didn't try to collect the 3 stainless steel models because they never existed as a 1st gen original. I did pick up two 3rd gens---a cased Walker and a Pocket 1849. The Walker because the case duplicated the famous Danish Sea captain Walker that sold for about 2 million several years ago and the 1849 because Colt sold more of those than any other pistol back in the 19th century--even the 51 Navy.

Still, I would routinely scour GunBroker every day for bargains that would pop up. I would actually look for items that were listed incorrectly because that was sometimes where the real gems were hidden. I never had an issue with any Gunbroker seller that wasn't resolved to my satisfaction in all that time. I knew that I had the proper written resources for all the 2nd gens and even 3 gens that I needed and that I didn't have to pay much attention to the constant misinformation that most sellers used to describe them. I have two or three of most of these along with seven 51 Navies out of either a Lee or a Grant set along with plenty of custom-cased sets

Every post deserves a little gun porn to look at so here ya go:

All eleven of the standard 2nd gen models with the exception of the F series 51 Navy and 3rd model Dragoon since I alread had those in the C series. Also none of the short runs (100 or less) that Colt produced to cover production errors and part overruns.

View attachment 331380
The cased Walker is a 3rd gen picked up on Gunbroker with all accessories and original Colt inner and out boxes for $700. Of course the long barrelled SAA to its right is not a Colt. It'a Uberti movie replica of the revolver that Kirk Russell used in the movie Tombstone
View attachment 331381
Here's a case that was one of 25 made to house and electroless nickle 1860 Army. I won the case minus revolver in a live auction out of Gettysburg about a year ago so I just stuck one of my regular 2nd gens in it. However, the shoulder stock attachment hook and knurled knob plus the sling ring are have the same nickle finish that the original revolver had. I doubt I'll ever find one of those long gone electroless nickel 2nd gen Armies.
View attachment 331382


Cheers

Nice collection!

 

[GYJ]

As is ALWAYS 100% true, ALL THE TIME, it pays to be an educated consumer. No matter what it is or who you're buying from. I don't depend on my education from Gunbroker sellers any more than I do from the guys at the local gun shop. That said, there's a lot of folks selling guns that don't know everything there is to know about everything. That's where YOU come in. Know what you're looking at. Learn what to look for, how to spot fakes, signs of refinishing, unoriginal parts, etc.. Learn to ask the right questions. Always baffled me the number of people that buy a gun only to get home and find obvious flaws.

Gun joker is verboten for me….. nothing but scammers selling on there.

Oh please. I've been buying and selling on GB for 22yrs. Never been burned. Had a couple issues that were resolved but never dealt with a scammer. The feedback system kinda precludes that.

 

[R Ellis]

I sell on gunbroker. I'm not a scammer and back up everything I sell. I know what I'm selling. My descriptions are accurate. You will receive a muzzleloader as good or better than the description. So, there's at least one honest seller there.

THIS IS TRUE and he is super helpful and easy to deal with

 

[#BPBReloadingFFL]

Market prices aren't really realistic in many cases.
The guys who make a purchase for the so called " investment" usually get burned twice. At the time of purchase and when sold.
I've listed an item and had it sit for weeks. 150 people looked at it. Then I'll get an email telling me I made a mistake in the listing. IE wrong era,lock,mistyped date.
All the others IMPO didn't what they were looking at.

Market price is what someone is will to pay

 

[wiscoaster]

....

Market price is what someone is will to pay

Best definition by far.

For something that's "hot" there's always somebody with enough money to waste who will inflate the "market price" beyond what's reasonable. Be aware and check out of those auctions where someone like that is bidding, and you're less likely to get burned.

Patience will provide another opportunity.

 

[briantllb]

So have I. I found a Remington 44 cal New Model Army in very tight condition and excellent riflng made in 1865 (from the serial number) for about 650 Euro. I bought it from France on Naturabuy. The only thing missing was the hammer roller It does have no finish left but I read somewhere that the French polished the ones they bought to white. Even the nipples were in perfect condition.

 

[GYJ]

Market prices aren't really realistic in many cases.
The guys who make a purchase for the so called " investment" usually get burned twice. At the time of purchase and when sold.
I've listed an item and had it sit for weeks. 150 people looked at it. Then I'll get an email telling me I made a mistake in the listing. IE wrong era,lock,mistyped date.
All the others IMPO didn't what they were looking at.

Market price is what someone is will to pay

If they're getting burned on both ends, they're not very good at "investing".

 

[mikesto44]

I've never bought anything on Gun Broker. Mainly because I'm not tecky and two very cautious of online transactions.

 

[#BPBReloadingFFL]

I've been on gun broker since 2004. I was on guns America prior to that. Fact I still have an account with guns America.
Had a guy the other day bid on an item. I have a Buy It Now sale. Bid 59.99 buy it now for $60. So he bids @ 59.99. Now it has to ride a week before the auction ends. SMH

 

[GYJ]

I've been on gun broker since 2004. I was on guns America prior to that. Fact I still have an account with guns America.
Had a guy the other day bid on an item. I have a Buy It Now sale. Bid 59.99 buy it now for $60. So he bids @ 59.99. Now it has to ride a week before the auction ends. SMH

That sort of thing does not surprise me at all.

 

[wiscoaster]

I've never bought anything on Gun Broker. Mainly because I'm not tecky and two very cautious of online transactions.

Good. One less bidder I have to compete against.

 

[mikesto44]

I like the got this gun don't want it people....lol
Done exceptionally well over the years. Seems people keep wanting instant cash instead. of getting what the gun is worth...

 

[Jappo]

I've bought from gunbroker a few times. Only had one issue. Person had "actual shipping cost" they tacked on 50 bucks for a revolver. The shipping cost is added to the total then taxed. Since I sell on there also, I hate to cause trouble to a seller. The invoice cannot be changed once its made. So I wouldn't get reported as a non paying buyer. I paid. Now I ask for the shipping cost, if they don't respond I don't buy or bid.

 

[BS2366]

I sell on gunbroker. I'm not a scammer and back up everything I sell. I know what I'm selling. My descriptions are accurate. You will receive a muzzleloader as good or better than the description. So, there's at least one honest seller there.

Just looked through your items on GB the other day

 

[mikesto44]

Ok I'm not a tecky guy. So how do you bid on gun broker...?

 

[AZ Muzzleloaders]

Gunbroker has both auctions and buy it now options. Some ads have both options. The auctions have an end time and date. There will be a box to enter your bid.

If I was going to select the buy it now option, I would contact the seller first. I sell more rifles/pistols in direct sales.
Dave

 

[#BPBReloadingFFL]

I've bought from gunbroker a few times. Only had one issue. Person had "actual shipping cost" they tacked on 50 bucks for a revolver. The shipping cost is added to the total then taxed. Since I sell on there also, I hate to cause trouble to a seller. The invoice cannot be changed once its made. So I wouldn't get reported as a non paying buyer. I paid. Now I ask for the shipping cost, if they don't respond I don't buy or bid.

I put the shipping cost in the description. I.E. 45$ on top of auction total.
Even then some still ask how much to a zip code. Which isn't accurate as cost varies by actual address, UPS, FedEx , USPS Business,residential,rural.
Actual cost selection on GB, that option should be changed to Cost Varies upon location.
Yes I can ship a rifle to Missouri for 19$ postage not insured. ( Like one guy ranted about and accused me of gouging )

The box 9*9*48/96 is 12$ then packing materials.
Drive to the drop off to be shipped & time.

 

[#BPBReloadingFFL]

Gunbroker has both auctions and buy it now options.

If I was going to select the buy it now option, I would contact the seller first. I sell more rifles/pistols in direct sales.
Dave

I'm good with that idea except for one drawback. Guys will contact me , I'll end the auction and I never hear from them again.
Then then the item has to be reposted,put back on the shelf ect.
Time is $$$$$ and it has to be made up sooner or later.

 

[mtang45]

I'm good with that idea except for one drawback. Guys will contact me , I'll end the auction and I never hear from them again.
Then then the item has to be reposted,put back on the shelf ect.
Time is $$$$$ and it has to be made up sooner or later.

That scenario happens but pretty rare on GunBroker. The website software is pretty much all automated as far as running the auction process all the way through payment and you shipping the item. Including the opportunity to leave feedback for buyers and sellers when its all done. Like mentioned above put a fixed shipping cost in the listing. That eliminates the questions of "how much to ship to ....". And, (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but I don't think a seller can end an auction early if it has bids. The only way an auction ends early is if a buyer pays the "Buy it Now" price.