SENDING MY COLLECTION TO AUCTION

[George Lander]

For several reasons I am seriously considering sending my 50+ year old gun & edged weapon collection to auction. I would really appreciate any input from the members here on the best company to do this with. My collection includes @ 100 long guns (20 or so Parkers) 25 pistols & 20 or so knives & swords. What should be the Seller's Fee & who to deal with at the auction house?

Best Regards, George

[Phillip Reynolds]

info@jamesdjulia.com
contact Wes Dillon
James D. Julia, Inc.
203 Skowhegan Rd.
Fairfield, ME 04937
USA

[Bill Murphy]

I've been taking my stuff to Redding Auction in Gettysburg, PA. Low commission and NO BUYER'S PREMIUM. They give a nice itemized receipt, but no internet access to previous auctions that I know of. Their next gun auction is September 9. The list and pictures are on the website now. Check them out. I dropped off a load today and they asked me when the Parkers are coming.

[Jim DiSpagno]

George, I find that the Bigger Auction Houses stack the deck in their favor and do not have the sellers best interest at heart. This is only my observation but I would look for smaller auction houses with online bidding access and send small groups to them so as not to flood the market and depress prices for yourself and others. Good luck Jim

[John Allen]

Jim's point is good advice.You don't want to drop 100 guns into an already diluted market. Breaking them down into small mixed groups will bring more money and will be much easier to manage.Keep us informed and good luck.

[todd allen]

The good news is, you couldn't find too many better places to put your money over a 50 year period than in fine guns.

[Mike Franzen]

George you should consider posting the Parker's here for a few days before shipping them out. Btw ... tell Billy I said hi.

[Bill Anderson]

If it were my collection, I would talk to a few auction houses such as Julia, Amoskeag, Redding and the like, getting details on selling fees to receive the maximum return for all the work that was put in over the 50 years of collecting, but not on this site. Selling any of your guns here limits them only to members which you probably know many on a first name, or nickname, basis so you will probably feel obligated to give a 3 day return policy. You want to place them in an environment, whether the whole collection or part of it at a time, to reach as many eyes as possible with no connection at all between seller and buyer. You want to make money, not friends, as the saying goes. With an auction house they won't be coming back for any reason, which I believe is your goal. Just my 2 cents.

Bill

[C grade]

I have found dealing with Jason Devine at Amoskeag to be a pleasure and have 5 Parkers in their Nov auction(shameless plug) My experience with James Julia was problematic .
David

[Jean Swanson]

My two cents worth !!!

I have dealt with various auction houses over the years, each having their own way of doing business, some good and others bad . There is another way of disposing of collections or single items----a trustworthy dealer. I have used both with usual success---you can not expect to have the last buck end up in YOUR pocket. They have to make a profit and/or living.

The best results that I have received as of late is James Julia in Maine and my dealings have been with Wes Dillon. I have not dealt with Jos Loewensteiner for the simple reason of our association with the PGCA and being accused of a possible conflict of interest.

Allan