Went to a Gun Auction

[Loyalist Dave]

Went to a gun auction on Sunday last. I was trying to score a Japanese musket, and they had a few additional repro flintlock rifles and pistols, as well as some original BP guns, along with a plethora of modern stuff.

Now there's sales tax and if you use plastic instead of cash, there's a charge for that too.

So the Jap Bess was in good condition, not shot much judging from the frizzen. Not rusty, and only had a 3-digit serial number, so probably late 1970's or early 1980's. The guys competing with me for the musket I'd watched all morning, and they were buying guns for resale. Now true I was too, but I was trying to get it at a good price to sell it at cost to another reenactor, as the musket is one of the biggest dollar items.

I stopped bidding at $800, because with the sales tax and card fee, I was looking at $885, for a used Jap Bess.

The bidding stopped at $975, but with the tax and fee since the winner was paying with a card, the cost was $1075.00

$1075 for a used Jap Bess, which is out of production, not under any warranty, and for which no spare parts are made..., so the guy has to sell it for what, $1175 - $1275? I know retail prices for a Pedersoli are $1400 but I'd bet that sits in whatever shop or storage area for a long while as his ad on Gunbroker or some other site gets 0 bids day after day. Pedersoli's often go on sale for $1275.00 so why not wait until you can buy a still in production musket with available spare parts?

LD

 

[PathfinderNC]

Went to a gun auction on Sunday last. I was trying to score a Japanese musket, and they had a few additional repro flintlock rifles and pistols, as well as some original BP guns, along with a plethora of modern stuff.

Now there's sales tax and if you use plastic instead of cash, there's a charge for that too.

So the Jap Bess was in good condition, not shot much judging from the frizzen. Not rusty, and only had a 3-digit serial number, so probably late 1970's or early 1980's. The guys competing with me for the musket I'd watched all morning, and they were buying guns for resale. Now true I was too, but I was trying to get it at a good price to sell it at cost to another reenactor, as the musket is one of the biggest dollar items.

I stopped bidding at $800, because with the sales tax and card fee, I was looking at $885, for a used Jap Bess.

The bidding stopped at $975, but with the tax and fee since the winner was paying with a card, the cost was $1075.00

$1075 for a used Jap Bess, which is out of production, not under any warranty, and for which no spare parts are made..., so the guy has to sell it for what, $1175 - $1275? I know retail prices for a Pedersoli are $1400 but I'd bet that sits in whatever shop or storage area for a long while as his ad on Gunbroker or some other site gets 0 bids day after day. Pedersoli's often go on sale for $1275.00 so why not wait until you can buy a still in production musket with available spare parts?

LD

I’ve never been to a live auction and I’m afraid that I might loose sight of the “market value” (you kept that in mind; smart!) and keep on bidding. It’s hard to walk away from something I really like. Good on you

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Went to a gun auction on Sunday last. I was trying to score a Japanese musket, and they had a few additional repro flintlock rifles and pistols, as well as some original BP guns, along with a plethora of modern stuff.

Now there's sales tax and if you use plastic instead of cash, there's a charge for that too.

So the Jap Bess was in good condition, not shot much judging from the frizzen. Not rusty, and only had a 3-digit serial number, so probably late 1970's or early 1980's. The guys competing with me for the musket I'd watched all morning, and they were buying guns for resale. Now true I was too, but I was trying to get it at a good price to sell it at cost to another reenactor, as the musket is one of the biggest dollar items.

I stopped bidding at $800, because with the sales tax and card fee, I was looking at $885, for a used Jap Bess.

The bidding stopped at $975, but with the tax and fee since the winner was paying with a card, the cost was $1075.00

$1075 for a used Jap Bess, which is out of production, not under any warranty, and for which no spare parts are made..., so the guy has to sell it for what, $1175 - $1275? I know retail prices for a Pedersoli are $1400 but I'd bet that sits in whatever shop or storage area for a long while as his ad on Gunbroker or some other site gets 0 bids day after day. Pedersoli's often go on sale for $1275.00 so why not wait until you can buy a still in production musket with available spare parts?

LD

Making Sense Dave

 

[Kansas Jake]

Auctions also often have a buyer’s premium too.

 

[SDSmlf]

Recently witnessed some keen eyed local bidders take a rusty 55 pound Harbor Freight anvil to just over $300 before one of them ‘won’ it. Guessing the faded blue paint and rust screamed antique.

 

[andy52]

I’ve never been to a live auction and I’m afraid that I might loose sight of the “market value” like you did and keep on bidding. It’s hard to walk away from something I really like. Good on y

That's what the sellers like to call a "bidding war." You have to know what you're willing to spend before stepping into the ring.

 

[Ditt44]

If you have the budget and the price is that near, buy new.
If you don't have the budget and the price is not too far off... wait and accrue the difference.
If you don't have the budget, just don't buy it.

Auction 'flip' logic I use is if I can't get at least $200 over my costs, I am not doing it. That dude is really taking a loss-risk on that item. You gotta know your item, current market pricing, etc. Big risk to me on a niche of a niche of a ......

edit... If there is an item that I want for myself... well, how badly do I want it vs. "need" it Then the price is going to be what I think market value is plus a bit more if it's an excellent quality.

 

[VA Hawken]

I go to a lot of auctions locally, many of which have guns for sale. Most of these use an on-line bidding platform, so you can set your max bid anytime you want to place a bid. As already noted, most auctions also have a buyer's premium, plus sales tax, and depending on the firearm (unmentionables), you've got the state fees for background checks etc. (Form 4473)

My personal rule of thumb is that I figure an additional 20% in cost, over the bid price, which works out pretty well overall, and is easy to figure on the fly. I'll also say that the vast majority of firearms that I've seen sold, are going for well above what I'd consider as the real market value. So, buyer beware when bidding. Personally, I've done better on GB than the local auctions.

 

[FlaminCrow]

Auctions are strange at times, depending on the clientele. I myself have a value in my head that I refuse to go over.
That being said, I have at one time paid too much, but that sob wasn’t taking it from me.

 

[Sam squanch]

In the days before auctioneers did background checks, I’ve seen 5 morons bid a $80 .22 rifle up to $500! I’ve seen worn out muzzleloading doubles with broken stocks and barrel separations go for $400-$800! The small out of the way sales are the best, the well advertised ones get the St. Louis antique dealers that bid sky high and have zero sense.

 

[smo]

Auctions & Casinos, only take what you’re willing too spend.

 

[GANGGREEN]

Yep, just depends on the auction and the clientele. I've seen some really nice original and contemporary longrifles sell really cheap and some sell for WAY more than they were worth. I was bidding recently on an online auction that happened to be fairly local (precluding me from having to pay shipping on top of tax and buyer's premium) and I was REALLY interested in several hundred really nice sporting classic books, leather bound, some first editions, etc. etc.. When the bidding got real, all of those books ended up selling for more than I was willing to pay, but when I realized that I wasn't getting any books and knew that I had a few bucks to bid with, I bid on two original oil paintings. One was a 1958 repro of a commercial calendar painting of a boy with a slingshot and a few game birds tossed over his shoulder walking past two "sports" with fancy side by side shotguns, pointing dogs and no game. It's not worth much, but it's a great painting and it was in a wormy Chestnut frame that was worth more than the $35 that I paid for it. I ended up also buying the original calendar off of the big auction site and paid more for it than I did for the painting. I also purchased a very large original oil painting in frame of a cow and calf moose in Yellowstone Park that was done by a fairly famous wildlife artist and gave $80 for it. Retail would probably be around 5K-6K for that painting from the artist or an art gallery. As others have pointed out, you simply have to know what something's worth before bidding and set your price and stick to it. I find that most of the time anything very collectable sells for more than it's worth at the average auction, but there are bargains, particularly if it's an auction that's mostly filled with jewelry, furniture or household items and they happen to have one "old muzzleloader", so the collectors don't find it.

 

[sportster73hp]

Around my area the Amish show up to estate sales and bid things up. Surprised me when an amish young man bid me up on the only item i wanted an electric jointer for woodworking. I have also bid against the invisible bidder the keeps moving the price up. Remember… only bid what you can afford to lose.

 

[waarp8nt]

Local auction has a 15% buyers premium online. 0% in person. I thought that I wasn't going to make it in person, so I placed an online bid. However, I was able to attend in person so I outbid my online bid by $5, save the 15% fee (about $42). The rifle was a like new Hatfield Hawken.

Just as a side note; I went to Missouri auction school. The only older profession is Prostitution.

 

[gunnyr]

Went to a gun auction on Sunday last. I was trying to score a Japanese musket, and they had a few additional repro flintlock rifles and pistols, as well as some original BP guns, along with a plethora of modern stuff.

Now there's sales tax and if you use plastic instead of cash, there's a charge for that too.

So the Jap Bess was in good condition, not shot much judging from the frizzen. Not rusty, and only had a 3-digit serial number, so probably late 1970's or early 1980's. The guys competing with me for the musket I'd watched all morning, and they were buying guns for resale. Now true I was too, but I was trying to get it at a good price to sell it at cost to another reenactor, as the musket is one of the biggest dollar items.

I stopped bidding at $800, because with the sales tax and card fee, I was looking at $885, for a used Jap Bess.

The bidding stopped at $975, but with the tax and fee since the winner was paying with a card, the cost was $1075.00

$1075 for a used Jap Bess, which is out of production, not under any warranty, and for which no spare parts are made..., so the guy has to sell it for what, $1175 - $1275? I know retail prices for a Pedersoli are $1400 but I'd bet that sits in whatever shop or storage area for a long while as his ad on Gunbroker or some other site gets 0 bids day after day. Pedersoli's often go on sale for $1275.00 so why not wait until you can buy a still in production musket with available spare parts?

LD

LD ,That is exactly why I stopped going to gun auctions . I Waite and either buy new or by one I can make parts for Some used Muzzle Loaders are priced way out of sight for me. I'm getting to like building from kits. Before I pass on I would like to buy parts to make a rifle, been actively sourcing parts . GunnyR

 

[SDSmlf]

I was able to attend in person so I outbid my online bid by $5, save the 15% fee (about $42). The rifle was a like new Hatfield Hawken.

$280 (+ $5) for a like new Hatfield Hawken seems like a very nice deal.

 

[bajabuc]

boy...do i ever know about buyers remorse,,,a jukar for 85 bucks...two cva hawkens parts kits and a box of miscellaneous. 185 for the cva's and 85 for the misc...so now i have two cva 's unfinished and a bunch of parts...there's three complete guns in the box...just no wood.

 

[snakebit]

Auctions can be heartbreaker's. Especially when the fellas with the deep Cabela's pockets show up.

 

[waarp8nt]

$280 (+ $5) for a like new Hatfield Hawken seems like a very nice deal.

Yup, it was a great deal, ended up with 3 that day. The Hatfield Hawken, A T/C 25th Anniversary Hawken in 54 cal. and an original half stock Great Western Gun Works rifle.

Summer auctions don't seem to do as well, assuming folks have things to do or are on vacation.

 

[SDSmlf]

there's three complete guns in the box...just no wood.

Seems like you have a box of parts and no complete guns. Without stocks, hard to call them complete guns… all a matter of perspective I guess.