New Forum Idea - "Appraise My Gun"

[LHBEAR]

Maybe we should refer to it as a "Collective Opinion" of value?

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

I like the idea but wait till we see a lemon at Gun Broker:

"Appraised at $xxxx by the Parker Gun Collector's Association"

Just my thoughts...

[B. Dudley]

I mentioned slippery slope because of the many possible issues listed by several members posting on this thread. It is a great idea to have this be an option, however if implemented, it just need to be well thought through and managed.

We all know that the first thing in determining a guns value is condition and originality. We often tiff about originality here and condition can be difficult to show with pictures. Things can look better than they are or worse than they are in pics.

Also, maybe a prerequisite for asking for a value in this possible new forum is that a letter needs to be gotten first (if available). That way basic truths about the gun can be confirmed up front.

[charlie cleveland]

a nice or collector gun is really hard to put a true value on...espisally in the eyes of someone like me...but a shooter or general run of the mill gun is easy enough to put a value on in just a jiffy...remember thegood gun tradders we use to go and trade with often it did not take them but a secound to tell them what a guns general value was andwhat they would allow you on it for a trade in... i think theirs plenty of savy in you bunch of guys to tell me what my old shooters are worth...i think this a good and interesting idea.thanks pete for bringing it up... charlie

[Bruce Day]

I don't know how anybody knows what a gun is worth. The most I know in some situations is how much similar guns have sold for in the past. To even give that statement, a person needs to keep current on sales prices , sales prices , not asking prices, and people are reticent to disclose how much they actually paid or got.

We have had situations where a person will listen to somebody here giving an uninformed opinion and then believing that. In one instance, a person got an off the cuff statement from a person who had not ever bought an expensive gun that his gun was worth about $100,000, so that's what he thought. He tried to peddle the gun unsuccessfully for a year and accused potential buyers of trying to lowball him before he finally sold it for $45,000, which is close to where it should have been at the start. That casual and wrong opinion of value cost the owner a year and resulted in many hard feelings.

We have had numerous warnings on the forum and in the Parker Pages about not judging a gun unless it is held in the hand. Some you can tell quickly, but others you need the gun in hand.

You know we have one of our most esteemed members, Bill Mullins, who is the Parker values editor for the Fjestad Blue Book of Gun Values. He follows current sales and provides a range of expected values. Condition is commonly overstated in Parkers, but I believe that if a person is realistic about condition, the Blue Book will be the best source for expected sales prices. I don't get it why a person who wants to have an idea about how much his gun might sell for can't check in the Fjestad Blue Book.

[Bill Murphy]

Without measurements and documentation of originality, a $10,000 gun could be worth $2,000 as a parts gun. I think it would be a great idea on another forum, just for fun of course. Why don't we try it on the shotgunworld.com "Classic shotguns" subforum. Someone post a picture of a gun not for sale and invite appraisals and criticisms.

[Paul P.]

I think Pete has a good idea. I also agree that it should be a Members only thread. Most of us will realise that the estimated value is an educated guess at best as values are subject to market fluctuations and also what a gun is worth is not what we are willing to pay....gun lust does take affect when looking possible purchaces.

[Dennis]

I really like the idea and the suggestions of the other members. I agree it should be to PGCA members only or everybody will be writing in for an estimate to sell their gun. Some will be disappointed to find out their gun isn't really all that rare or valuable. Others will be ecstatic to discover their uncle's gun from the attic is a one of a kind rarity. Occasionally I read on the forum about a gun that could be the first or last of a series where possibly a part changed from type to another etc. This is possibly a good method for Parker collectors can discover new and rare guns.

One suggestion: must it be limited to firearms? I imagine people have numerous articles manufactured by the Parker Brothers and have an interest in what it is and a possible value. I for one would appreciate seeing other Parker memorabilia as well. I say let's give it a try.

[Hammer Gun]

Appraisals are like opinions everyone has one and usually they are different, even based on facts and documentation. What happens if the PGCA makes an appraisal for some one they buy the gun based on the info from us. Then find out they can not sell the piece at the value quoted by PGCA, yea you can have disclaimers, but that sort of goes against the validity of the appraisal. It is a very grey area. Just my thoughts Gary

[B. Dudley]

And even formal appraisals can be high sometimes. Sometimes it even depends on how much you pay for the appraisal if the one doing it is not all that honest.