Best way to figure out worth of firearms

[K.Mooneyham]

Well, sadly enough, I find that I need to sell a couple of firearms to take care of non-firearms related matter. However, I want to make sure that I get what those firearms are really worth. One is a Ruger Vaquero in .357 Magnum and the other is an AK-type rifle. Any information on the subject would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

(Mods, if this should have been in the buy/sell forum, I will understand if you have to move it.)

[PBR]

if you got some pics of them it might help -- condition means a lot

[carlson1]

You can look at Texas Gun Trader, Armslist, Gunbroker, and other sale sights at get an ideal of what they are selling for. Not what they are asking, but what they sold for.

You always take a loss when you are selling because like everything else they depreciate especially if you over paid when purchased.

I hope it works out for you.

[mrvmax]

You can look at Texas Gun Trader, Armslist, Gunbroker, and other sale sights at get an ideal of what they are selling for. Not what they are asking, but what they sold for.

You always take a loss when you are selling because like everything else they depreciate especially if you over paid when purchased.

I hope it works out for you.

Exactly, this method is better than using the Blue Book for Guns.

[Oldgringo]

Very timely post, thanks.

I'm gonna' sell a hardly used Kimber Custom Target II with all the fixins' in the near future due to non-use and arthritic hands. I know what I've got in it, I need to get an idea what I can get out of it.

[Jumping Frog]

You can look at Texas Gun Trader, Armslist, Gunbroker, and other sale sights at get an ideal of what they are selling for. Not what they are asking, but what they sold for.

I agree with this, and let me expand on the thought.

It is worth establishing a user account on Gunbroker, because that lets you login. People who are logged in have a search option where they filter the results to only completed sales. Then you can sort the results multiple ways. One way is by descending price so you can see the price range of completed sales. Reading multiple sale records also lets you see the differences between various guns of that model that justified differences in selling prices.

I also like to sort in descending order for number of bids. I personally believe the items that sold after hot bidding gives a better reflection of market price.

However you review the information, there is no better way to establish the value of a used item than to assess what people are actually willing to pay for it.

[cheezit]

What do you do when there are none on gun broker? Completed or otherwise.

[jimlongley]

What do you do when there are none on gun broker? Completed or otherwise.

Well, you could assume that it is either really rare, and thus worth a lot, or you could go with everyone that owns one has decided to keep it, and thus it's worth a lot.

Seriously, drop in to gun/pawn shops with it and see how much they would give you for it. IMO gun shops are going to give you a little more than pawn shops, but I would take that price and add a little (10%) and use that as a starting price when tendering it for sale.

[cheezit]

I tried that too. I have seen one sale at 1400. Local shops seem to offer 1-200 with the exception of one that offered a value of $800 price tag.
Btw it both rare and almost never parted with gun in the most sought after of its available caliber.
Production was a 1 year run, less then 5000 were made. Some counts speculate under 2500 made.
I aquired it as part payment for some repair work I did. Ill freely admit I didnt realize what it was nor do I think the prior owner did.

[joe817]

I've set up a user account on AuctionArms.com . They use to advertise the fact that they were the only sanctioned NRA firearms website, but they don't any longer.

When I'm in the market for a gun, I'll go there and search their offers, find the one I'm looking for, and 'save it' to the tracking folder tied to my user account. When the auction is over I'll go into my 'saved folder' and see exactly what the final auction price was. It's worked really well for me over the years. Bought a used Ruger P95 with case, speed loader, extra mag, and all paperwork. Wound up paying $178.00 for it, and used it later to do the shooting qualification for my CHL.

I agree with Carlson1 & J.F. Register with the online auctions. Best way I've found out true market value on used guns.