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alvin · 07-05-2015, 04:14 PM

Selling some C&R items from collection is a good experience. There were surprises too.

I had an early small ring hammer C96 acquired from a gunboard.com member back 10 years ago. The gun had some cold blue applied on its left side. I worried so much when I listed it, you know, that issue had to be disclosed in advertisement. Say, "it's good except there is a cold blue patch applied on left side of the frame many years ago". Be honest, if the previous seller had disclosed that to me 10 years ago, it would not come to me -- It's not cheap, almost $3k. "Who would want this... this must be a hard item to sell".... Who could expect this gun was sold the 2nd day!! Buyer did not care the cold blue patch. I even made $100 profit on it. Unexpected, unexpected....

But not always easy like this. Perfectly good gun could hang for long time without selling. The darn "flatside C96" was such an example. It's scarce, in excellent original shape. At the beginning, I expected selling it within 1 or 2 months. Who could expect it took me almost a year and a half. Numerous queries from people under table, but no one took it. That's unexpected. Finally, I sold it at a discount (I seldom do that).

Of course, many other cases too. There are buyers buying $5000 C&R without a single question, and there are buyers buying $160 Nagant revolver with lots of questions. There was buyer looking at FN 1900 and could not believe it's original -- it's hard to explain FN 1900's current market price actually does not worth top professional's time to restore, but people saw too many worn examples has built up a fixed pattern in mind, etc, etc.. Just like buying, there are some fun in selling, don't miss it.

07-05-2015, 04:14 PM	#21
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Selling some C&R items from collection is a good experience. There were surprises too. I had an early small ring hammer C96 acquired from a gunboard.com member back 10 years ago. The gun had some cold blue applied on its left side. I worried so much when I listed it, you know, that issue had to be disclosed in advertisement. Say, "it's good except there is a cold blue patch applied on left side of the frame many years ago". Be honest, if the previous seller had disclosed that to me 10 years ago, it would not come to me -- It's not cheap, almost $3k. "Who would want this... this must be a hard item to sell".... Who could expect this gun was sold the 2nd day!! Buyer did not care the cold blue patch. I even made $100 profit on it. Unexpected, unexpected.... But not always easy like this. Perfectly good gun could hang for long time without selling. The darn "flatside C96" was such an example. It's scarce, in excellent original shape. At the beginning, I expected selling it within 1 or 2 months. Who could expect it took me almost a year and a half. Numerous queries from people under table, but no one took it. That's unexpected. Finally, I sold it at a discount (I seldom do that). Of course, many other cases too. There are buyers buying $5000 C&R without a single question, and there are buyers buying $160 Nagant revolver with lots of questions. There was buyer looking at FN 1900 and could not believe it's original -- it's hard to explain FN 1900's current market price actually does not worth top professional's time to restore, but people saw too many worn examples has built up a fixed pattern in mind, etc, etc.. Just like buying, there are some fun in selling, don't miss it.