RE: gun value

Thanks for all the input. John B.'s site lead me to prices from $687-829 but as was stated, list prices without bids.Due to the fact that it is a special series, 1 of 500, I'm not sure if I'll get the true value? I was hoping there was a site to put the serial # in with the condition & pop out a number? I guess the fact is it is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.I don't enjoy the process of dealing with "Dealers" , so I was just going to trade it for a shotgun I would like.I spoke w/ a local Dealer yesterday, they offered 50% of value because it's a "used" gun?I didn't act offended, but still did not get a verbal value? I guess he was waiting to see if I know the real value before he would state a price? Thanks again, Jeff

Special runs, limited productions and commemorates like that are the hardest guns to push out the door for the "book price" that any dealer places on his racks. Condition is paramount. The top blue book values which is NIB means exactly that, as new in box NOT almost like new. Not only the gun but the box, the hanging tags, the packing and all other issued bits and pieces. An even slightly tattered box or missing tags, or any small evidence of handling and you drop off the high price to the next lower level or worse real quick like. I am not knocking your gun because I haven't seen it but back when I had my shop on I offered 60% of the top blue book price many times for limited production or commemorative guns due to conditions of the things mentioned plus the dealer must have room for markup. As an aside it seems the best way to get top dollar is to take it to an auction, at least around these parts.

Yeah I took a Ruger 50th anniversary edition .22 in trade that was NIB. Gave the guy what I thought was a fair price. Never did sell it. No interest in the gun what-so-ever. So I kept it for myself as a shooter. Dealers HATE special edition guns. Unless you are dealing with Winchesters and know a Winchester collector, special editions and such are money losers and a general pain in the neck.

Have you ever tried Blue Book of Guns Value? Around here that's what the dealer use and I think they have an online site.

The gun market, like many others, has any number of "special", "limited edition", "exclusive", "commemorative", and half a hundred other superlatives added on to their offerings in an attempt to increase profit margins through the illusion of scarcity. It's just another application of the old "supply and demand" rule--if you have a demand and restrict the supply, the price will go up. However, very rarely do these gimmicks increase the long-term value of a gun, and, as noted, they often detract from it. There are exceptions, of course--some guns start out as limited editions and have a pleasing or particularly useful combination of features--perhaps a different barrel length coupled with a non-standard caliber--that they sell out quickly and are in high demand on the used market, or are turned into mainstream offerings by the maker. Others sell well because of a strong continued interest in what they commemorate--for instance, Dale Earnhardt memorabilia of any variety soared to breathtaking heights after his death and still remains popular--but in general, like any other collectible, it's VERY difficult to predict which ones will gain value and which won't, except to say that the vast majority won't. Were I you, I'd resign myself to the fact that you're not going to get much if any of a premium to the price of a standard gun of similar make, and, as the basic gun it's based on is a long-running production model with hundreds of thousands already made, the chances of it appreciating in value are relatively slim. It's been my experience that "blue book" gun values need to be treated with a large grain of salt--many dealers use older editions that may not reflect current market values and even a new edition won't break out values for every single possible combination of features, especially when, as noted, nearly every manufacturer has so many "special" editions to the base model that keeping track of all of them is far beyond the scope of any general-interest publication.

(quoted from post at 03:16:18 11/02/16) Thanks for all the input. John B.'s site lead me to prices from $687-829 but as was stated, list prices without bids.Due to the fact that it is a special series, 1 of 500, I'm not sure if I'll get the true value? I was hoping there was a site to put the serial # in with the condition & pop out a number? I guess the fact is it is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.I don't enjoy the process of dealing with "Dealers" , so I was just going to trade it for a shotgun I would like.I spoke w/ a local Dealer yesterday, they offered 50% of value because it's a "used" gun?I didn't act offended, but still did not get a verbal value? I guess he was waiting to see if I know the real value before he would state a price? Thanks again, Jeff

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If you fire a "special edition" gun, even once you just about kill any special interest in your gun. In other words as a collector you just killed it! I know a guy, big time into guns. When a special series comes out that he's interested he tries to buy 2. One to keep NIB and the other to shoot. He says it drives people nuts when he goes to a range and pulls out a special edition gun and starts "blasting away"! His gun room is very impressive!

Rick

one point to remember,...they are all fired before they leave the factory

(quoted from post at 14:55:42 11/02/16) one point to remember,...they are all fired before they leave the factory

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True, but the guys really into don't want something the a limited issue item fired by the PO.

Rick

Reminds me of the time I asked a collector friend if he had anything in a 22LR for me to use for woodchuck hunting. He shows up the next day with a true NIB Winchester 9422, a gorgeous original. I straight out told him it was too pretty to shoot, did he have anything else? The next week he stopped by with a used Nylon 66 he bought at show for $60. PERFECT!

Thanks Again. I'm not a collector, just happened to get this gun. I realize a 1 of 500 may be a sales tactic, other than the cal. & camo. not sure what makes it special? Yes, new in box, never loaded let alone shoot from time I got it at the dealer. I saw the "blue book" site, I just wanted to ask here before I paid of a one time thing.Jeff