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375supermag

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Sep 14, 2013
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Southcentral Pennsylvania
Hi...
I attend a lot of gun auctions and generally enjoy myself whether I win some bids or not.

Today, I went to a auction here in southcentral Pennsylvania and it didn't go well at all for me.
Didn't win a single bid from the start of the auction until I left after an hour and a half.
Most of the stuff I was interested in went for more than I thought it was worth.
There were several lots of smokeless powder that in many cases had containers that were early empty yet they brought quite high bids.
Beat up rusted die sets went for prices comparable to new die sets.
A beat up Midway tumbler with damage went for $70.
There were several lots of new rifle brass that went for the price of brass at a retail store.

Disappointing...I don't attend auctions to pay retail. I go to auctions to get bargains.
I finally got frustrated and left without buying anything.

Pretty much ruined my plan for the day...I expected to be there all day and get quite a few things.

Didn't happen that way.
 
It can run hot and cold. Most of the problems come from people who have no idea of an objects value get involved. Of course, this can work both ways. I have pulled off a few steals over the years because no one else knew what the value was.
Take comfort in the knowledge that sooner or later those who paid inflated prices will figure it out and be kicking themselves.
 
The only way to get a deal at a public auction is if no one knows what a item is then you may get a deal same with gun shows popular items usually go for retail or above plus parking and entry stay home shop online has been were my best deals come from. Some time with estate sales you can get some deals especially if your willing to buy a whole lot of items and bundle them together
 
I tend to go less and less as the days go on. I used to go often, with my art welding, I am always looking for good deals on scrap steel and the like. Many items I want to bid on takes half the day to get to them, and usually the prices are 2-3 times higher then new. I am done with that. I can use that time cleaning my guns then wasting the day trying to get something that wasn't worth it in the beginning.
 
-My art welding usually involves junkyards and scrapyards for ordinary stuff, but the special items usually involve metal detectors, drag hooks and powerful magnets.
The results can be pretty interesting, but not as wild as what these guys dredge up:
The stack of Nazi anti-tank mines are really over the top!


Nice. Well, my art welding is usually robots, turtles, signs, all made from scrap metal or stainless steel silverware. 10570307_10152343355016088_8104364426227543379_n.jpg copper head 2.jpg last guardian 2.jpg IMG_1166.JPG
 
I found that Auctions that required a background check the guns sold for less. The ones that didn't get more.

You never know what the prices are going to go for. I hate the auctions that also have online bids coming in with live bids. I always felt that is a Shill paradise.
 
I found that Auctions that required a background check the guns sold for less. The ones that didn't get more.

You never know what the prices are going to go for. I hate the auctions that also have online bids coming in with live bids. I always felt that is a Shill paradise.

I agree...I absolutely hate online bids and phone bids. I think it allows for "mischief"...
 
The ones I went to the consumables and components went high, but most of the gear such as presses, dies, prime tools went cheap.
People like tumblers for some reason, might as well buy new.
 
If I were dispersing of a quantity of firearms it would a live, local public auction that is advertised

If you assume prices will be high to insanely high, you will be correct more often than not

Only auction I know of that went cheap was a local pawn shop that was getting out of the firearms business. For whatever reason he decided to hold it on thanksgiving day. Almost zero turnout and some went for less than 1/2 of actual value
 
I like to follow this auction to see what guns are going for. https://www.horstauction.com/gunsale19june.html

That is quite an interesting read - 265 Firearms listed.

Many sold in a price range I would have expected, some went for less than I would have paid (if I was looking to buy and IF I had the money), but the price on quite a few indicated that someone really wanted that gun.

Maybe the gently used LCP I am selling on GunBroker is worth more than I thought it was! :)
 
Last auction I went to had 3 Colt 6920’s sell for $200 more than the gun store down the street had them priced at. Some people have more dollars than sense.
 
The worst thing you can do is get caught up in a bidding war at an auction. Choose your max bid and stick to it. I have seen those that bid up and win only to cry when they have to pay and realize what they actually bid to.
 
The worst thing you can do is get caught up in a bidding war at an auction. Choose your max bid and stick to it. I have seen those that bid up and win only to cry when they have to pay and realize what they actually bid to.
And this exactly why I left the auction yesterday.
It was patently obvious that the other bidders were going to drive the bids so high that there was a very small possibility that I would win any bids at the prices I was willing to pay.

I am all about getting good quality items at a bargain price at auction. I can pay retail prices at a brick and mortar store...not doing it at an auction.

There are several upcoming auctions the next few weeks. I will probably attend some if not all of them. We will see what transpires.
 
I've bid on "Gun Broker" before and not too long ago got a really nice Ruger No.1 RSI in .243 Winchester at a very reasonable price. Then a again I recently I bid on a Bond Arms Patriot in a holster for slightly over $400.00, and that was about 2 minutes before the bidding was supposed to close and then I thought I got it, man, was I wrong the bidding went on for at least 2 hours past the closing time, and sold for over $800.00, you could buy a brand new one for that amount..
 
I go to a local gun and ammo auction twice a year, some guns go for the same or more than a local gun&pawn that sells a lot of firearms. I've seen some go for 50$ more than LGS was selling them for before the 10% premium. I've noticed optics go a little high also, black powder guns are hit or miss.
I've noticed that when the ammo and reloading items are near the end that the prices get decent, i purchased a "LOT" of bullets recently for 25$ that included over 500 6.5 and over 1000 308, I smiled as I paid that bill it also had some 6 and 7mm bullets I traded and sold. When older calibers go through you can get a good deal but 556, 9mm, 40 and 45acp is cheaper to purchase online, I purchased 45-70 for less than 10$ a box and the next item was 9mm that went for 10$ a box.
I print out the list and research what the items sell for that im interested in before going.
 
It'sh to find a deal now. Between all the good cheap stuff getting snapped up in the panics which also drove prices up and the internet ruining any chance of a neglected find I don't see any crazy "barn finds" anymore. Used to be there might be some greasy old gem on the pawn shop rac butk those days seem to be gone.
 
It'sh to find a deal now. Between all the good cheap stuff getting snapped up in the panics which also drove prices up and the internet ruining any chance of a neglected find I don't see any crazy "barn finds" anymore. Used to be there might be some greasy old gem on the pawn shop rac butk those days seem to be gone.

Guns wise, found a "modified" USGI Inland Division M1 Carbine on gunbroker recently for $300. Its not perfect, but I will have a great project to restore it. :)
 
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