# Selling old guns - gun show vs. gun dealer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2006, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-old-guns-gun-show-vs-gun-dealer/372401 "2006-09-12T13:44:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-old-guns-gun-show-vs-gun-dealer/372401/1 "2006-09-12T13:44:31Z")
I inherited several older rifles and magnum revolvers and want to sell them. They are nothing special. In my area there are always a few travelling gun shows offering to buy and sell. Then we have several dealers such as the Kittery Trading Post. For those of you who have bought and sold guns before, where would I probably get the fairest price? How can I get a rough pricing estimate without schlepping the guns around to several different dealers. I don’t want to ask a ridiculous price but I also don’t want to get completely screwed. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-old-guns-gun-show-vs-gun-dealer/372401/2 "2006-09-12T14:17:44Z")
There are tons of websites out there, [Gunbroker.com](http://Gunbroker.com) springs to mind right away where you can usually find examples of most common things and get an idea of what a fair market price might be. You are also required by law to tell us what you have that you’re looking to sell 😃 . You might be surprised what you can find out asking us bulletheads here on the Dope too. ---
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-old-guns-gun-show-vs-gun-dealer/372401/3 "2006-09-12T14:20:46Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] You are also required by law to tell us what you have that you’re looking to sell [/QUOTE] It would definitely help do determine what you can get for it selling it yourself or directly to a dealer. Sometimes it is worth it just to get it off of your hands selling it to a ‘professional’. Sometimes you can easily get ripped off. Or sometimes FormerMarineGuy might ask for pictures, send you an e-mail, and buy it himself. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-old-guns-gun-show-vs-gun-dealer/372401/4 "2006-09-12T14:24:18Z")
[QUOTE=FormerMarineGuy] Or sometimes FormerMarineGuy might ask for pictures, send you an e-mail, and buy it himself. [/QUOTE] See? We’re here to help. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-old-guns-gun-show-vs-gun-dealer/372401/5 "2006-09-12T14:42:13Z")
You asked so nicely! Winchester Model 94, 30-30 caliber lever action, Glenfield Model 30, 30-30 caliber lever action, Remington 870 Express pump shotgun. (only 3 years old) Handguns Ruger Red Hawk, 44 magnum revolver, Dan Wesson Arms, 357 magnum CTG revolver Thanks! I had tried several different variations using google but the results were very poor. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-old-guns-gun-show-vs-gun-dealer/372401/6 "2006-09-12T14:48:19Z")
Heck, I’ve been looking for a new handgun. I was gonna send you an email asking what you have for sale, but you have no email listed. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-old-guns-gun-show-vs-gun-dealer/372401/7 "2006-09-12T16:28:36Z")
[Here](http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976756233.htm) is a Wesson like the one you describe going for $795 [Here](http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976523625.htm) is a standard looking Redhawk, but there are so many different kinds with different barrel lengths and such that this is a lowball at $400. [Here](http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976701644.htm) is another lowball on the Remington 970 express at $250 [Next,](http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=55922614) is your Glenfield, which I could only find at auction with an opening bid of $225. I’d expect $300 or lower for this one, but it looks like a nice gun. I’ll admit to not really being familiar with that particular make, but it seems to have been made by Marlin. [Finally,](http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976749043.htm) your Winchester. Without knowing the age it’s really hard to place, but some of these can be decently valuable depending on condition. Hope that gets you somewhere at least close. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-old-guns-gun-show-vs-gun-dealer/372401/8 "2006-09-12T16:32:49Z")
Thank you very much for that information. Gives me a great starting point. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-old-guns-gun-show-vs-gun-dealer/372401/9 "2006-09-12T18:41:52Z")
No biggie, I’m reading those sites all the time anyway. One last thing to consider-except for that Glenfield\* most of these are rather common guns. Gun show dealers might offer you far less, since they’re in the position to acquire most of these at a whim. Gun dealers on the other hand might be willing to consign them for you, which while it may take more time may realize you a better profit. Finally, why not just keep them and enjoy them? Those are some nice guns, if a bit heavy in caliber for some. If I was in a position to, I’d certainly add them to my own collection and shoot them all pretty regularly. \*For all I know Glenfield 30-30s are so common that they litter the ground like toothpicks and I’ve just never noticed since I’m not looking for a .30 cal lever gun. YMMV.