Gun Auctions - Help a Novice Understand!

[Brett Trimble]

I’ve been watching a couple of recent gun auctions and would like to benefit from the experienced here. A couple of observations and questions..

Descriptions of vintage shotguns often do not include basic information like minimum barrel wall thickness, assessment of the hinge for evidence of it being loose, a barrel “ring” test for loose ribs, etc.

Despite this, I see lots of pre-auction bids. Do people look over the guns in person before bidding on-line?

Do the knowledgeable folks here only bid after an in-person inspection?

Best,
Brett

[Ken Hill]

Not sure the auction sites you are looking at. Some of the bigger auction venues include MWT. Also, you can get a condition report.

Ken

[Brett Trimble]

Ken,

Thanks for the direction. An example is the upcoming Gunslingers auction; https://www.gunslingerauctions.com/. I mention this one as it’s within driving distance for me.

Best,
Brett

[Bill Murphy]

Brett, that solves your problem. Go see the guns and bring your measuring tools and your checkbook.

[Brett Trimble]

Bill,

I’m interested in how folks approach auctions that they can’t attend.. any advice would be most welcome!

Best,
Brett

[Dean Hanson]

Brett, Always a good idea to check inspections/return policies. You make not get a qualified or knowledgeable person from a phone call to the auction house, but still worth a try. And of course, talk to folks here.

[Kevin McCormack]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Brett, that solves your problem. Go see the guns and bring your measuring tools and your checkbook.

I only ever bought one gun from an auction that I had not examined personally, but the prior knowledge I had developed over its rarity and desireability more than trumped the few very minor "warts" not mentioned in the auction preview's description.

A rule of thumb I adopted when I first started to spend real money on Parkers and other guns was that if the gun was truly unique and desireable and within a half-days drive, I would go look at it and physically handle it. Most times I wound up staying overnight and buying the gun that afternoon or the next day.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, beats having the gun in hand! And remember, the larger auction houses (at least here in the East) usually have booths displaying their premier items in upcoming sales at the Vintage Cup, NE SxS, Rock Mountain, and especially the Southern SxS, which makes for a much shorter drive depending on where you live. Time and money well spent!

[Brett Trimble]

Kevin,

Thanks very much. The auction houses previewing guns is a really helpful tidbit! Otherwise, the unsurprising answer is.. use common sense and inspect guns in person.

Best,
Brett

[Wild Skies]

For those of us that can’t get to the auction we either buy online or we don’t buy at all. We have to rely on the description and pics supplied by the auction company, which may be great or may be not so great. Take a look at the auction company furnished pic shown below of this 1926 28ga. Parker Bros. DHE. What’s your opinion, does the nose of the comb look “Parker factory” to your eyes?

[Brett Trimble]

Greg,

The nose of the comb doesn’t look right IMO. It looks low and there should be a “flute” which seems to be missing.

Am I even close?