As for the future of overall prices on SxSs increasing much, I think I see the "fat lady" approaching the stage.

Bill

I must agree that the SXS market is, at best, soft. I was Pres. of The Palm Beach Gun Collectors for many years. We put on our club shows at least 3 times per year in Lake Worth..and at The So. Florida Fairgrounds. We also did the Lakeland show and Tulsa for several years. With my main interest being double guns, I watched pretty closely what the prices did...in the different locations..and the slide downward has been somewhat constant. Our shows were guns/knives only...but the majority of shows allow anything that will fit on a table. It seems that the 'younger generation " all speak AR-15, etc. I sold out once, and about broke even..11 years ago..I'm replacing things again, but have no visions of profit if I were to sell again. I'll let the kids, grandkids..and as of this year..GGrandson do as they wish with the collection. I hope they enjoy everything as much as I have..jv..

One's affinity for the SxS shotgun is mostly generational. Currently, Baby Boomers. It was part of their "inheritance."

What the young have been given and relish today has plastic stocks, painted metal, big magazine capacity and video game slaughtering capability.

To borrow from two classic authors, if a man walks away from his traditions and history, he'd better replace it with "something of value."
Either that, or "inherit the wind."

They did not do either. They only told me what they would advance which was about 20% of what I needed. I overheard some of their estimates. $500-$700 for a Parker that I had valued at $3,000. I asked for a copy of their estimates but was refused.

Best Regards, George:banghead:

I think you have nailed it !! ...

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/...psyy4wgph1.jpg

Bill

George, I think you did the right thing to walk away. If they were unwilling to even give you a written estimate on each gun then there is something wrong with that, if nothing else so you would know which guns had value and which didn't. Maybe to ones that didn't have as much value you may have wanted to give to family or a friend and send the others to auction.

A recent press release says that Julia has been absorbed by Morphy Auctions in PA. I have personal experience with Morphy. And they DID provide valuations on each item.

Sadly, the final prices realized were less than I'd hoped...

When the commission is 20% or 25%, and the sale day prices are 20% less than you expected, and there is a charge for shipping, storage, etc., your $1000 gun will not make $500. It's very simple arithmetic. $1000 minus 25% equals $750. $750 minus 20% equals $600. $600 minus $50 for shipping and insurance to the auction house equals $550. Some of our members will tell you the bad news about the big charges for packing, shipping, and insurance if your gun doesn't sell. Auctions are for buyers, auctioneers, lawyers, and widows, not living gun owners who want to sell their guns.

Error in your naive arithmetic Bill...

It's $1000 - 25% = $750
then it's another 20% off that same $1000 = $550
then it's $50 for shipping = $500





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I’m 31, In the almost 2 years since I joined, I’ve had 2 people say something about the PGCA sticker on my truck. Both were 70+ years old.