Winchester Gun Auctiion, Jul 8, Report

Hi All,

I went to the gun auction intent on buying some used semi shotguns, and a 44 lever. The auction was a total collection from one man. Just shy of 100 guns, many where mint to average condition. Also, as part of the collection, he was an avid reloader.

The auction of the 100 guns only took about 40 minutes to complete. I had my eye serveral Win 94 Lever levers in 44 mag, Rem 1100, 12 gauge Semi in 2 3/4 and 3" versions, Rem 1100 in 20 gauge semi, 2 3/4". Plus two 308 bolt actions and a mint Browning BLR (Excalibur?? rolling block in 45-70) it was missing the forestock screws, but other than that it was mint condition.

All the lever in 44 went between $700-900 to each and I dropped out after $500

All the Semi 12 and 20 gauge went from $500-700

The two 308 bolts went $700-900 each

The 45-70 went for $1750.

The most expensive gun sold was a 1873, Model 92, Win Lever in 30 cal or 32 cal for $2600. The 38-55, 32, 30 and some of 30-30 cal went for between $900-2000 each.

Clearly there were collectors in the croud, who knew the actual value of the those levers.

2 X 577 Sniders were on the block, a 2 band, and a 3 band, both went for over $900 each and bought by the same guy.

In the end I got one of the two pallets of reloading gear, including a RCBS single stage press, a Lyman gas check and lubsizer press (38 cal), RCBS scales, about 1500 shotgun wads, 180 lbs of of # 4-5-6 and 7.5 bird shot.

All the guns on the hay wagon had corresponding dies, bullet mods, and related items in the pallets of reloading gear.

I blanked out of the hockey bag brimming to overflow with Lyman, RCBS, LEE dies still in original cases in every caliber on the hay wagon. I stopped at $200 and the whole hockey went for $240....grrr, I am still kicking myself for that. That bag was worth at least $2000 in dies. I mean a full size hockey gear bag...

The other box I bowed out on the 577 snider shells (about 200) with casting dies, and other stuff...$40 bucks it went for...I just stopped bidding for some reason...

I was amazed at the prices as most sold above retail for a used gun, plus 10% commission and 13% HST.

Good thing you did not get a 44 thinking it was a 44 Mag, those were 44 WCF, or 44-40, not a 44 Mag.

Nice guns but the feeling was that they would be expensive and I am glad that was the case because we only went for a viewing and not for the auction itself.

The case with most gun auctions in my opinion.

Mark...how did the ML's do...I saw a few I was interested in, especially the Parker Hale Enfields ...?

$300-500 each. Mike they had a box with snider dies and shells, also in that box was 1/3 -3/4 lb cardboard boxes of older powder HS 700, 3031 and many common reloading powders. It was crazy I dropped out that one as well.

$300-$500 for those ML's would have been pretty good, there was a nice TC .45 that I have seen priced at $800.

Yes I took a good look into the boxes, some real treasures, but if you got the one with that cast iron RCBS press you got one of the best in the mix.

I'm glad I only went to the viewing and was able to walk away unscathed financially...LOL...

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I'm glad I only went to the viewing and was able to walk away unscathed financially...LOL...

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I am glad you did not call me to go, ha ha ha.

Having attended 3 auctions in the area in recent years (I did not buy at any of them) I have come to the conclusion that it is not a good venue to buy firearms. The last one I went to in Gananoque was typical of all. The auctioneer was very adept at getting the crowd into a frenzy. Too many that showed up were not 'armed' with any idea of the real cost and therefore continued to bid beyond the retail price. At the Gan auction, I believe that out of some 200 firearms that perhaps 3-4 sold below retail. It was maddening... no more auctions for me.

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Originally Posted by DGearyFTE

Having attended 3 auctions in the area in recent years (I did not buy at any of them) I have come to the conclusion that it is not a good venue to buy firearms. The last one I went to in Gananoque was typical of all. The auctioneer was very adept at getting the crowd into a frenzy. Too many that showed up were not 'armed' with any idea of the real cost and therefore continued to bid beyond the retail price. At the Gan auction, I believe that out of some 200 firearms that perhaps 3-4 sold below retail. It was maddening... no more auctions for me.

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You would not go to a gun auction but you would hire that auctioneer to sell your stuff :D

You need to know going in what things are worth, used prices, not retail prices. The used price drop is insane and people think that since they paid $300 for it 20 years ago and a new one is not $1500 that they should get $1500, I mean, you save the tax right. This is not always set in stone as you have collectibles but collectors set the price so do not drive that up.

The lever guns at this show were decent, original and some value in there, I was actually surprised that some went for $500.

You had to watch out looking down a barrel though, bugs in everything, they were not cleaned up in ages.

Fox, you are right but I will need to be in the ground before my firearms get sold

Sent from my STV100-3 using Tapatalk

An Estate auction, especially when there is close to a 100 guns from a private collection, is one of the few places you will see some of the guns he had up for sale. Especially true of the ML's, rarely see many of them up for bids.

Since there is no retail on a lot of the older stuff, especially Mil Surp guns etc. there is always a chance a deal can be found. Always worth going if nothing more than spending a few hours, handling a few guns you don't normally see and chatting with like minded folks. Auctions can be frustrating and heart breaking , but never a bad time.

I have to agree on the levers, I thought all were worth <$500, however, I under estimated the collector value and rarity of models on the table. I became evident very quickly who was historically knowledgeable about the true value of the guns on the table from a collector value point of view.

I will be buying the snider dies 577, 457, 504 dies, handles, books, lead casts and many others items from the guy who outbid on this box tonight. We connected on FB. Price...don't ask...

Some that go to auctions [collectors ] will look for and bid on certain guns that fall in a series of their collections and bid up the price till they get what they are there for. These types are hard to bid/win against.
When you see certain guns going up in price quickly, even though you may want it, you either lay off the bidding or be prepared to pay a high price.

I went to two Mitchell auctions in Kirkfield and a couple more in Fenelon Falls and Burnt River. I've yet to see at any of them what I called a deal. Far better luck on GunNutz or up at Epps. Some of the auctions were absolutely ridiculous. Sporterized, badly bubba'd Enfields with mis-matching numbers that went for $300 (worth maybe $130-150)before taxes and commission, $250 Cooey single shots, etc, etc. I've heard that switzer's is even worse. Maybe worth it on a raining day if the admission is free.