Resale value of your rifles- whats been your experience?

[cloverleaf]

So- I made the mistake of stopping by Cabelas yesterday. From across the store three rifles w/ Maple stocks caught mt eye. Two winchesters at $1800+ and a Browning for about $1500. (6.5 Creedmore) I Just dont have much experience selling rifles of that quality. Things that I have owned including my beloved 250 Savage, have little to no value to the big chain stores or even a couple of the gun shops here in the Metro area. My experience dealing w/ Cabels says they will buy it back for about 40% of what I might pay for it. IF a guy could sell enough plasma and other stuff out of the safe, do you think my kid could get my $1500 out of it when I'm dead?

Conversely, I'm also thinking about restocking (Boyds) a savage Model 11 w/ Maple. However because that's also an "accustock" so it will likely take some smith work and a recoil lug to make that work. Since Im into it that far then I wonder if that "Donor" rifle should finally get re barreled to 250-3000 savage. Suddenly, in rough estimation I'm north of $700 bucks there too and I'll probably never get my money's worth out of that.

All that said, I cant I cant get old adage out of my head, "the fastest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket!" I'm asuming I will sell Savage to finance the Browning if I go that route but I would likely come up WAY short of funds.

Back tio the original question, What value do you see/expect out of selling your rifles?

D@m% "Blondes" have always been my weakness. CL

 

[SJB358]

I tend to think most of the rifles I buy will appreciate mostly. The Wood stocked ones with either nice blueing or great metal. The other ones with carbon stocks and more of a working rifle should maintain value at a minimum.

 

[salmonchaser]

The truth is in the market. I sold almost 200 of my late Brother in Laws guns, and a few of my own on gun broker last year. I did use a broker who drove to BILs house inventoried the guns ammo holsters and anything else we could get in the truck. It all sold. As too the guns all but a couple of real dogs, BIL was not a shotgun guy, sold for more than blue book value, none had a minimum price, a few fetched significantly more than blue book value.
After going through that process to help my sister out I’ve started thining my herd. With mine, talking 20 pieces not 200, so far, they all fetched more than blue book value. All went at auction and started at $.01 cent.
My point is, if you sell it at a gun show, they will look it up on blue book and try to screw you down. Cabelas will give you 70% of blue book, but you won’t be able to agree is it in 90% condition or 75% condition. Watch gun broker if you have something to sell. Most anything that has a reserve will languish. Anything that starts at one cent and lists for two weeks will almost certainly sell for more than blue book value and easily cover the fee they charge.
If you’re looking to buy you never want to pay too much. Again watch gun broker, I”m constantly frustrated by the price #1s bring at auction.