doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Auction Houses?

How do they work for sellers?
What percentage do they charge a seller?
What are the best ones to deal with?
Bob

Bob each house has different amounts that they charge. For high end guns I have used Rock Island Auction company. They sell a lot of very expensive guns and advertise extensively and well. In the past I also used Butterfields in San Fransisco but I haven't seen an auction from them since Bonham's merged with them.

http://rockislandauction.com/

http://www.bonhams.com/us/

James Julia
http://www.jamesdjulia.com/
Amoskeag
http://www.amoskeag-auction.com/index.html

As I understand it, ther legitimate auction houses don't charge you, as the seller, up front. However, they charge the buyer 15-20% after the hammer has fallen. Now, whether the buyer takes that into consideration on figuring the top dollar he is going to bid I suupose depends on the bidder. However, If I had my eyes set on a gun with what I considered my top dollar price I would bid higher on an online auction with no buyers premuim than I would where I am going to have to add 20% to the bid price from an auction house. The classic auction houses served to attract bidders for things like high grade antique guns by having a data base of collectors who they knew would be interested. Today, with the internet services, I am not sure that you don't reach a larger audience with the internet. If I were to sell something myself today I would use the internet because I can answer any questions myself. My instructions to my wife, who has no idea of what my guns are worth, is that if I am dead tomorrow, find a reputable auction house to carry out the sale.

In my opinion, Julia's is the best.

OWD

DrBob, most if not all auction houses charge both the buyer and seller. If you add up the fees it averages about 25%. As a dealer I buy 90% of my stock from auction houses both in the US and the UK.

My understanding is you can negotiate a sellers fee once the item or total items reaches the 6 figure range.
Depending on the gun or guns I would agree Julia or Jason at Amoskeag is the best in the business,both will stand behind the description and tend to bring in the most buyers.I have never dealt with RIA but might try them on their next one.

I have used Julias and Amoskeag. Both do a good job.
I know that before I deployed, I had pre-arranged with an auction house to handle my estate if the need arose. Of course the wife would have been pissed when she found out how much I had in guns but would have been real happy when she got the check; and I wouldnt have been around to hear the grief!!!

Mike is right Dr. Bob: All the auction houses charge on both ends and some even charge for pictures and a catalogue fee. One name i have not seen mentioned is Greg Martin Auctions. They hold catalogue and internet sales at least four times a year or more. If any of you watch the History Channel, when the topic is antique weapons the guy you normally see talking about them is Greg Martin. He was Butterfields Arms Expert until they merged with Bonham's. He then started his own company in San Francisco.

http://www.gregmartinauctions.com

As previously mentioned other good houses are:

James Julia
Rock Island Auctions
J.C. Devine
Amoskeg
Kull Auctions
Charlton Hall Auctions
all in the United States

Holt's
Bonham's
Christie's
all in the United Kingdom

Best Regards, George

There was recently a thread about some troubles with GM,they had been bought out and the new regime lost the buyers lot.

Two other George listed I would stay away from,one Charlton Hall as they are antique type auctioneer and do not bring in the buyers that pure gun specialist like Julia,or Amoskeag will,the other here in NH,JCD does not have what one would call a good reputation.