How to appraise and consign a collection?

[Jill Franklin]

Hello! We have a bunch of inherited Parkers from my dad, who collected them.
The kids have each picked 2 out to keep.
My mom is overwhelmed by the rest and we have no idea where to start with selling them.
Does anyone know how to get appraisals on the Parkers we have and find a consignment shop in or near Colorado to help us sell them?
Thank you in advance!

[Bill Murphy]

You don't want a consignment house, it will take years and you will lose track. An auction is the only way to go. You won't get top dollar after the fees, but you will get paid all in one day.

[Ken Hill]

You could call Mark Reynolds in Denver. He’s stopped selling guns, but may be able to provide you with some contacts.

https://mwreynolds.com

Ken

[Chris T.]

I agree that an auction will yield the best return in the least amount of time. Check out Guyette and Deeter. You'll want to speak to Josh Loewensteiner, his info is on the contact info page. https://guyetteanddeeter.com/

Option #2 Become a member here at the PGCA and list them for sale one at a time in the member's only for sale section.

[IW1978]

Originally Posted by Chris Travinski

I agree that an auction will yield the best return in the least amount of time. Check out Guyette and Deeter. You'll want to speak to Josh Loewensteiner, his info is on the contact info page. https://guyetteanddeeter.com/

Option #2 Become a member here at the PGCA and list them for sale one at a time in the member's only for sale section.

I like option number 2.

[John Davis]

Josh is probably your best bet.

[Cold Spring]

Just from experience, trying to advertise and legally sell guns individually can be a hassle, to include packing, shipping and sweating out damage/insurance while in transit. Insurance recovery will be difficult if you're an individual not a business. Then you get guys who want to return the gun for various casual and sometimes ridiculous reasons which puts a stigma on the gun when you readvertise it. I've gone down the consignment route too and it can work out but often takes a long time to sell. Me, unless I can sell the gun locally or to friends in a face to face legal transaction, I go to auction as the second step and each gun sells at whatever the market currently values it.

One auction house to consider is Lock, Stock & Barrel Auctions out of Cody Wyoming. LSB makes regular trips all over the country and will pick up the guns using unmarked secure vans with trackers at your home. Easy peasy. That saves you the hassle of shipping. You can chose a regular on-line auction or for more valuable guns go the Live Auction route which takes place several times a year. Live Auction consignment rate is less (better for the consignor). Discussion contact at LSB is Brian Hoover at 307-272-1590.

[Jill Franklin]

Thank you, Cold Spring! This is really good information. I looked them up and that seems to be exactly what we need. We wouldn't have to get appraisals and post them ourselves. I like that they post their guns on Gun Broker as this probably reaches the most buyers? I'm not a huge gun enthusiast but even I know GB. I appreciate your suggestion more than you know!

[Jill Franklin]

Thank you! I have reached out to Josh and we are going to chat later this week. I appreciate your suggestion.

[GH-16]

I live in Colorado and depending on what you have and how many guns you have can be challenging to sell here in this state. Mark Reynolds used to be the go-to gun shop for these type guns, but he closed his shop earlier this year. The next best option for someone knowledgeable to talk with is Brian Williamson at Mountain guns in Conifer Colorado. Brain has a nice high-end shop along with him being very experienced.

https://www.mountaingunsltd.com/

Another thing to consider if you try to consign them locally is how the gun selling game has changed here in the last few years. All gun sales within the state "even private person to person" now require a federal background check with a fee for doing them done by a dealer with a three-day waiting period before the buyer can take possession of the gun. Then we also have a newly enacted 6.5% excise tax on all gun sales which is on top of the normal sales taxes.

In short, what I'm trying to say is depending on what you have, contacting Josh as mentioned by others would be a good starting point and I have sold guns through LSB auctions as well, but if it were me, I'd start with Josh or Brian and go from there.

Also be aware that if you sell directly to a dealer that more than likely the offer for them will be somewhere between 50-60% of the value of the gun. They have to make money on them and that's just the way the game is played.