Gun Auction Madness

[ocelot397]

Hello all,

First post, so here goes.

I'm currently on the lookout for a nice 20/16g and thought an auction would be a good place for one. Fast forward a few weeks to the auction and I sat through most of it.

To me it came across as utter madness! Things going for rrp, or higher, unsafe guns going for big money. I appreciate there are other factors to this, collectors, online only bidders speculating etc. but the whole auction followed the same pattern near enough.

Anyone else had any expierence with this, or any thoughts?

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Welcome to Pigeon watch.

[flippermaj]

Use holts. Sealed bid is best and if no luck look at the unsold lots.

[HantsRob]

Morning newbie

I have seen this in auctions of all kinds, but remember an auction is not designed to give you the best price, it's designed to give the seller the best price. Whilst some think it's the place to get a bargain, remember there are multiple targets.

An RFD who has already paid for his gunsmith may see a dangerous gun that's rare as an investment that he can fix in house, and mark up suitably
Someone wanting that right piece of wood on a H&H will be willing to pay retail price, as he gets what he wants with the right spec
Some people just get auction fever, a foolish and dangerous place to be

I'd suggest the room had more people like you in it rather than people in trade, and maybe had a higher than average amounts of fools who either got into bidding fever, or have realised it's game season and don't have the time or money to have to go elsewhere later on to buy a gun if they don't get it there or then!

[Border1]

Most of the auctions I’ve been to, run of the mill guns go for peanuts. Good guns are rarely a bargain once the VAT and buyers premium has been applied. Small bores (especially pump and semi auto) always fetch decent money. And ammo seems to be snapped up by dealers.
I still like to go though, had a laugh one time with my mate. He bought 3 shotguns for £15, all full choke singles with 30 odd inch barrels, all about knackered. Couldn’t fit them in his cabinet so spent a couple hundred on a new one. Don’t think he’s fired the guns yet 😅

[ocelot397]

22 hours ago, HantsRob said:

Morning newbie

I have seen this in auctions of all kinds, but remember an auction is not designed to give you the best price, it's designed to give the seller the best price. Whilst some think it's the place to get a bargain, remember there are multiple targets.

An RFD who has already paid for his gunsmith may see a dangerous gun that's rare as an investment that he can fix in house, and mark up suitably
Someone wanting that right piece of wood on a H&H will be willing to pay retail price, as he gets what he wants with the right spec
Some people just get auction fever, a foolish and dangerous place to be

I'd suggest the room had more people like you in it rather than people in trade, and maybe had a higher than average amounts of fools who either got into bidding fever, or have realised it's game season and don't have the time or money to have to go elsewhere later on to buy a gun if they don't get it there or then!

Yes, I think auction fever is most likely! It's still a shame though and I hope it wasn't the fool section buying the knackered guns (which I saw in person on the day)

Holts sealed auction is a more hopeful candidate I feel.

[ocelot397]

5 hours ago, Border1 said:

Most of the auctions I’ve been to, run of the mill guns go for peanuts. Good guns are rarely a bargain once the VAT and buyers premium has been applied. Small bores (especially pump and semi auto) always fetch decent money. And ammo seems to be snapped up by dealers.
I still like to go though, had a laugh one time with my mate. He bought 3 shotguns for £15, all full choke singles with 30 odd inch barrels, all about knackered. Couldn’t fit them in his cabinet so spent a couple hundred on a new one. Don’t think he’s fired the guns yet 😅

It's the single barrel ones that went for silly money despite being knackered! I feel it's almost obligatory for Belgian.410s to be pitted!

[Stimo22]

The last Southams auction had loads of cartridges for sale, there was a lot of clay cartridges with some Gamebore Evo 21g which I generally use. I pay about £74 a slab buying 1000 at a time. The ones in the auction went for £77 a slab but then there was a 25%fee on top. Wish I could get the mugs name and I could make a killing selling on what I buy 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

My eldest Son was at an auction recently with two Mates.

One bought a couple of guns in the first part of the auction, when the auction moved on to accessories, he went and paid and collected his guns.

When he came back in to the auction room my Sons other mate waved at him and bid and bought some 20 bore shells, he is yet to return to buy a 20 bore gun though.

Auction madness is rife and great fun to watch.

[Scully]

I once asked a local RFD what he did with all the sh trade in firearms he couldn’t shift. He told me that eventually he would submit them for auction where they often sold for higher prices than they’d been in the shop! 

[theshootist]

I've had some absolute bargains and also overpaid when I've got excited. Auctions should be approached with caution but there's often a gem to be found. 

[steve_b_wales]

Auction fever in some cases. I went to a shooting/fishing auction many years ago, and there were guys bidding way above the retail price for cartridges, not wanting to be beaten by someone else I presume. I always kept a maximum fixed price in my head and did not go above that, not even one pound.

Edited November 16 by steve_b_wales

[dipper]

Went to a auction once at In Cheshire .I decided £250 was my top bid went to the guy running it to have a close look and ask him a few questions,So he knew I was keen I bid up to £250 then I stopped ther were 2 bids after mine .when it was over the auctioneer side kick came up to me asked me if I wanted the gun .I said sell it to the person who bid after me and walked out ..

[ocelot397]

I think the big thing working against bargains is online bidding; people just chance it without even viewing.

 

Shame though, but some interesting stories from you all.

[keeper96]

It’s really hit and miss, I’ve had an anschutz 1717 .17hmr for £90 including fees and an army and navy sbs for £60 that’s my go to gun during the season 

but since those 2 I’ve really struggled in my hunt for a bargain side lock ejector and a nice o/u 

[Cal50]

I used to use Holts a lot and Southams. Usually only bid on Airguns and Sect 58 but I have got the odd rifle and shotgun and only online. I found it to be very 50/50, I've got some excellent guns for a bargain and others very questionable bug of course that's the risk you take. 

If you're not in a rush you could get a very nice gun for good money but in my experience 20 bore guns are very in at the moment and therefore there will be a lot of competition on the day for them.

[ocelot397]

6 hours ago, Cal50 said:

I used to use Holts a lot and Southams. Usually only bid on Airguns and Sect 58 but I have got the odd rifle and shotgun and only online. I found it to be very 50/50, I've got some excellent guns for a bargain and others very questionable bug of course that's the risk you take. 

If you're not in a rush you could get a very nice gun for good money but in my experience 20 bore guns are very in at the moment and therefore there will be a lot of competition on the day for them.

Yes, you're right on 20s being the in thing at the moment. I think, as you say, patience will be key.

[marsh man]

I used to love auctions and like everyone else I have had some good buys and one or two not so good , the thing is nowadays you don't get as much rubbish guns as you once did , the reason is at our local auction house you have to spend £10 for a gun smith at the auction house to make sure it is safe for the buyer , this stop you putting in a cheap gun as you would be wasting your money , nowadays they get more guns to sell than they can handle so even the auction house can be a bit selective , with cartridges you have to remember that once they get to £50 they go up £5 at a time so if you put a bid in at £55 , then the next bid is £60 , if you wanted to bid again then with the fees they are going to cost you nearly mid £70s , I used to treat it as a day or a night out and stick to a price I had in mind , well most of the time 

[Gordon R]

Only been to one gun auction and failed to buy a silver action, heavily engraved Vostok trap gun - I dropped out too early.

Used to like going to machine auctions. Once bought 18k zip ties - sold 6k for what I paid, whilst still at the auction - still got one or two or the remaining 12k. Gave most away to mates.

I went with a good friend who insisted we bid on a canal barge BMC engine. I was a bit cautious and said "Just how are we going to get it home". In typical Alan fashion he told me I worried too much. As usual, he was right. We sold it before we left for £100 more than we paid.

[enfieldspares]

1 hour ago, Gordon R said:

Only been to one gun auction and failed to buy a silver action, heavily engraved Vostok trap gun - I dropped out too early.

Used to like going to machine auctions. Once bought 18k zip ties - sold 6k for what I paid, whilst still at the auction - still got one or two or the remaining 12k. Gave most away to mates.

I went with a good friend who insisted we bid on a canal barge BMC engine. I was a bit cautious and said "Just how are we going to get it home". In typical Alan fashion he told me I worried too much. As usual, he was right. We sold it before we left for £100 more than we paid.

Love it! Managed to do the same with a sword bought online at Holt's. Nice work if you can get it isn't it! Same sword but placed in a Leicestershire auction with an book I bought to accompany it from Amazon for £8.00.

Sometimes it is really what you know and not who you know. Do your research is the thing. Knowing what the relevance of that number "17" was. So £420.00 is £350.00 after commission less the £65.00 original cost was a nice day out to Norfolk for £280 clear "bunce". Compensates for those times I've bought stuff and been disappointed. 

A PATTERN 1822 INFANTRY OFFICER'S SWORD, mid 19th Century, with 32 in. single-edged slightly curved steel blade fullered on each side, Gothic hilt with Queen Victoria cypher, wire-bound black fish-skin grip, no scabbard, worn, blade stained with some rusting and pitting towards the point, guard dented, 38 in. overall

Purchased For
£65.00

An other ranks 1845 Pattern sword to the 17 (Leicestershire) Regiment for the Crimean War period. An other ranks 1845 Pattern sword to the 17 (Leicestershire) Regiment for the Crimean War period with relevant book of recollections

Sold for £420.00

 

Edited November 21 by enfieldspares