Firearm Appraiser

[jslo]

Hopefully quick story. Have a client who asked me, a few weeks ago, to clean and oil his guns. Brought them home for a quick clean and oil. He passed away a week ago Friday, before I made it back down to see him. These are primarily early 1900 guns. His wife and daughters really have no interest in the guns and might possibly ask me to keep them. A quick search online says some of these could be worth a decent amount. Is there anyone here or does anybody know someone that does appraisals.

[Great-Kazoo]

If there's a pump action 22 S, L, LR in that collection. I'd have an interest. Same for a single shot bolt action or 22Short lever.

[bczandm]

Email sent

[TheGrey]

Centennial Gun Club has an appraiser/gunsmith.

[BushMasterBoy]

a good guess could be made from gunbroker dot com

[wctriumph]

Blue Book of Gun Values. Available on line and at any large bookstore. Worth the $50.

[Chaffee2]

Careful with the Blue Book values sometimes they are way off. I used to own a gun shop and every now a again someone would use the BB at an auction then come into the shop and want to sell their find. I've seen the values be off by 2 or 3 times the street value. S&W used to be the worst. One guy bought a $300 revolver for about a $1000 at auction. Before the internet I used BB for reference, it is great for that.

We use and the shop still does use gunbroker. Although we would get a few guys hooked up with that also. They would look at the list price not the sold price. Many times that is a huge difference.

[kidicarus13]

We use and the shop still does use gunbroker. Although we would get a few guys hooked up with that also. They would look at the list price not the sold price. Many times that is a huge difference.

For a couple weeks now I haven't been able to search completed auctions even after I sign in.

[Brian]

Gunbroker has definitely been having issues with their website lately, but is probably the "cheap" way to go, as long as you're clear on the details of the guns you have. As long as there's been some traffic with what you're selling, you can get a good idea.

I'm curious to see the other replies in the thread, as I'd love to build up my list of good smiths/appraisers who are still in business. Appraisers seem to be popping up everywhere, and every guy who has a gun shop claims to be an appraiser, (because they use gunbroker or the blue book). If you have the time, I'd probably find a good forum or someone who specializes, but unfortunately don't have anyone to recommend.

edit: (just to clarify, chaffee - that comment about gun shops was not directed at you, just a general observation!)

[bczandm]

I looked at the guns and gave my opinion based upon Gunbroker as well as several other sources. Gunbroker worked fine, it functionality seems to vary buy time of day.

[Chaffee2]

The way we do appraisals depends on the firearm and the reason for getting it done. I have turned down appraisals because I did not feel qualified to do that particular firearm or it was due to a divorce through a lawyer. Usually if it is through a lawyer you may end up in court defending your reason of applying a value to a certain firearm. Not worth the time nor trouble plus someone is going to be pissed at you.

Probably 90% of the appraisals are cut and dry as to the value. I.E. a S&W Model 10 is pretty easy unless of course it is a model 10-13. Some people just want to know what the heck they have. I've spent an hour or more researching a particular firearm just for the fun of it for a customer. I do use Gunbroker, collector websites, Rock Island Auctions and others. The time and research can get pretty deep.

Other times we've had a one of a kind or a very rare firearm come in and I will point them in the right direction but I will not do the appraisal as it is out of our realm of knowledge. It would be bad for us and bad for out customer if we told them sometime totally wrong.

I've turned a couple of people away because they wanted me write an appraisal using their values. If they were in the ballpark I would tell them so but other times I felt they wanted to use us to scam someone else. Not going to happen.

[mb504]

You could reach out to a company like https://www.durysguns.com/
They would appraise and even sell them for you. Give the family the value back. You could also mention that they could donate them to the NRA for the tax deductions.