What guns are really selling now? I have had several guns on various sites for sale and gotten few bites. I have priced them very fairly and still no takers. Is the economy really that bad that very few guns are being sold? I see guns on sites that have been there for way over a year.

Mike, by the looks of it at the public shooting range paint all your guns black and call them the newest in assault rifles.

vintage s&w, colt revolvers,......military issue 1911 pistols.

Nice guns with the big names and lots of good, original condition seem to be moving OK.

Check out these lots from Bonham's March sale:

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh...SaleSectionNo=1

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh...SaleSectionNo=1

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh...SaleSectionNo=1

Those are solid prices for those guns. More than I expected to see.

I'm checking on last week's sale. I post what I find to my blog.

OWD

i think the guns of quality still sell as before this depression maybe not as many takers due to unemployment etc. we also bought some guns even if they were not our cup of tea because they were a good buy. take a look at gun broker and look at the large number for sale and the inflated prices that are asked. even just plain junk unsafe guns have telephone numbers for prices. good reasonably priced guns will always sell even if you dont need it junk will always be left behind and turn up on places like gun brokers waiting for the unweary and give the impression that the market for all guns is in decline. imop

In the last 2 years I have sold a few shotguns on Gunbroker and I can tell you that market is weak... definitely a buyers market. Here are some of the shotguns I sold. You decide on whether the prices are high or low or normal.

Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon II Sporting w/ 30" bbls___ $1800


AYA #2 Sidelock-Ejector 12ga___ $2500


AYA #56 Sidelock Ejector 20ga___ $3250


Beretta Orvis Uplander 20ga___ $1800


AA Sarriugarte Derby SLE 20ga.- $1850


Beretta 686 Onyx 28ga.___ $1250


Bernardelli Hammer Gun 20ga___ $1300


Grulla/UA Boxlock-Ejector 20ga.___ $1400


Another AYA #2 Sidelock 12ga___ $2400


Laurona 502 Feather Sidelock-Ejector 12ga.___ $1300



Adam

From what I've seen good condition classic guns with lots of case and decent wood still bring good prices. I look at Foxes a lot because I like them. Bottom line however is that most of what is listed on Gunbroker or other sites is overprices and have been there forever. Lots of $500 guns are being priced at $800. $1,000 dollar guns are being priced at $1,500 (or more). Good guns still bring good prices.

Also, and I've said this before. No one wanted to look at Reserve priced items. Sellers need to understand they don't work. What I think happens most of the time is sellers put it out there at a high price and then wait for someone to contact them after the auction closes and negotiate a lesser price and sell it away from GB at a cheaper rate. Just the way the game is played. The smarter thing IMO is know what the market should be, start the bidding at 1 cent and let it ride. That's what an auction is supposed to be. I think for the most part some dealers have paid too much for guns and don't want to ever sell at a loss. Anyway, just one person's opinion whose wrong 50% of the time.

The part of the market that is soft in my experiance is the entry level stuff. The $500 to $1000 12ga boxlock extractor guns. Typicaly a guys 1st double. These are the cusomers that are hanging on to there money even if they have been unaffected by the economy. The customers that have been into double guns for years tend to be older and less affected by the down turn they know what they want and they are still buying.

Not a scientific survey just my experiance.

adam: the quality of your guns and pricing will always have a strong following. you are obviosly a knowlageable dealer. there is just to many antique and junk dealers flooding the market with trash at unrealistic prices. no offence intended to any honest and ethical gun enthusiast whether a private collector or dealer. best regards

Adam, I would say your prices are low compared to what I have seen a lot of your guns selling for. Now I do not know the specifics on each gun but the AYA 20 gauge #56 seemed real low.
I have listed a CSMC Fox CE Grdae a HJ Hussey a Stephen Grant and a Garbi on Gunbroker and gotten few intrest.