Rifles

[targetman]

Out of interest is anybody actually buying rifles these days..? I am about to reduce my own collection built up over nearly 50 years but get the feeling that I am not going to be very successful in the endeavour.

[wildrover77]

Depends very much on the particular rifle.

Also everthing sells at the right price.

[Mauserbill]

Hello
It seems to me that with everything that is going on in governments applications in the reduction of privately owned firearms its getting extremely difficult to sell anything firearms related. I have only recently had to virtually give away 4 of my collected military rifles to a dealer as I could could not get any body interested at even give away dealer prices.

[Blackstuff]

It doesnt help that we're not well served by buying/selling sites. Forums have a limited audience and the biggest trading site is an absolute disgrace.

[Richo]

As stated above it very much depends on the rifle your trying to sell, my best mate passed away a couple of years ago and his widow has been selling off his vast collection (over 175 guns) all but a L/E No4T have gone now and there value does seem to have dropped considerably.
The older stuff ie Blackpowder seems to sell and some of the nicer military rifles went for good money.
Some were sent to auction but most with the odd exception fetched dealers buy in prices, although we got a few surprises along the way, probably bought by overseas bidders.
Strangely deactivated guns seem to be selling for good prices and more often than not more than live firing versions, even paying for deactivation they went for more than expected.
We had to scrap about 8 sporting rifles, some reasonable new .22"s and older full bore hunting rifles even at £25 we couldn't sell them, so that markets dead i would say, couldn't even sell them for spare parts, same with a few very old shotguns, auction houses dont want them so your only option is to hand them in for distruction.

[Mauserbill]

Hello
Stay away from the for sale sites they are a waste of time. I had my really nice smle with new barrel WW1 dated up for sale reduced to £300 for a month without a single enquiry. Find a friendly dealer ? and let him have them at wherever the offer, its infinitely better than jumping though the for sale hoops and constantly hawking the stuff about and dealing with the local idiots. I found it painless once I realised there were no worries ref the sale, payment, variations, sending FACs sorting out RFD transfers or contemplating Face to Face sales and where to hold the sale. So now I can get on with sorting out which of my collection are next.
One good thing is that virtually all of my collection was purchased during the halcyon days of shooting when prices were much much lower.

[targetman]

My "collection" is somewhat eclectic, Martini Henrys, Sniders, Rolling Blocks, Lee Enfields, Schmidt Rubins, 7.62 Target and Match rifles, Composed snipers|:- Lee Enfield No4(T) and L42A1, Mauser K98 and Mosin Nagant. 1910 Ross. P'14, Trapdoor Springfield, Anschutz Match 54........plus a few others. Physical difficulties and a considerable reluctance to have so called "Police Monitored" alarms fitted has driven me to the point that I shall give up, I shall be 80 years of age in September and my FAC is due for renewal in October.

I am totally pi££ed off about it but there we are...such is life.

[Martiniman]

My "collection" is somewhat eclectic, Martini Henrys, Sniders, Rolling Blocks, Lee Enfields, Schmidt Rubins, 7.62 Target and Match rifles, Composed snipers|:- Lee Enfield No4(T) and L42A1, Mauser K98 and Mosin Nagant. 1910 Ross. P'14, Trapdoor Springfield, Anschutz Match 54........plus a few others. Physical difficulties and a considerable reluctance to have so called "Police Monitored" alarms fitted has driven me to the point that I shall give up, I shall be 80 years of age in September and my FAC is due for renewal in October.

I am totally pi££ed off about it but there we are...such is life.

You have a lot of desirable rifles in there. I would expect quite a few to reach decent prices.

[Itskeith]

Yes I am - got my FAC yesterday

Just agreed the purchase on two (secondhand)...

Sounds like a wonderful collection and hope you got some good enjoyable shooting out of them.

Good luck with the sales.
Keith

[Itskeith]

Hi targetman - pm sent.