New contact for membership:

7920 36th St  S
Scotts MI 49088-9302

m.gibbs@att.net


Not sure when the form online will be updated.

Reading the responses to this thread, there seems to be a disparity in pricing between prices paid in auctions to those in some gun stores and shows.

Aaron

Excellent topic, and great replies by Aaron and BP as it pertains to auction houses and LGS or gun shows.

It's impossible to compare prices realized at auction houses with their huge combined audience of online bidders, and bidders at the auction. Compare that to even a big show that gets several thousand people through the door, and it's minuscule. Plus the fact that often the LGS or gun show wont see those prices because often if a gun is a good value there it's gone before many people see it. So you wont see a bunch of people standing at a table at a gun show tossing out bids to buy a gun. They simply negotiate a deal and buy it. There's no negotiations at a big auction.
And then there's the two guys with more money than knowledge. Or two guys with a burning desire to own a particular gun. These factors can drive up auction prices, where they would never go at a gun show. In fact I've often seen someone standing at a table waiting for the prospective buyer to make a deal, or walk; so he could step up if things went south. Been there myself, and missed a gun because the deal went through, or got a gun because the previous buyer walked away. That doesn't happen at auctions.

We don't own our guns, we're only caretakers of them. If you have some that you're worried about what will happen to them when you die, give them to a worthy caretaker, preferably one much younger than you. 
My Son wants my meager collection of guns, and has the right attitude, so I'm fortunate.
I keep a book for my Son. He is a fine young man, and pays attention to what I tell him, but even so I keep a book. It explains the importance of the gun, what I paid for it when, and what it is worth today. The importance of the gun may go something like: This is a pre 64 Model 70 in 30-06. It doesn't look like much but is highly desirable because it is a pre-64. Also because with this load...it will shoot 1/2 minute 5 shot groups. Or, this beat up Remington pump .22 was my Grandfather's. It's dollar value is about $50. If you ever sell it, I'll haunt you. Or I bought this rifle to resell it's 2018 value is $700. You get the idea.
Even though my Son will value and care take our guns I have given more than a few away. Find a kid, teach them to shoot, then buy or gift them a gun. That's the best way to pass it on. Start a new gun nut.

I've gone a bit further than you, but still have a long way to go.  Several years ago I created an Excel file and have a list of all my current guns c/w serial numbers, what I paid for them, and what I feel is a current fair market value.  I edit the list when I buy a new (old) gun or sell a gun and try to keep the prices updated too.  I need to add notes on the various moulds, dies, and components that should stay with  each gun.  (All of this is for my wife's benefit of course, "just in case"..)  I'm thinking it might pay to draft an individual Word document for each gun with all of the extra info including accuracy loads, slugged bore size, etc.

Now if I could only find the energy to do all of that ...

Good idea since photos can easily be added to Word documents ...

The collectors market is totally dead for antique and sporting rifles.

Watch the big auctions, they sell for big bucks.
Still looking for that $1500 Pope.

Aaron

Yep, I would be a wealthy man if I had left money in investments and not bought single shots. Oh well, can't take either with you.