My late grandfather left behind over 90 guns. Can anyone help me identify some i shouldn't pass on?

[Demi-human]

Well done. And welcome to The High Road! We hope to see more of you around here.

 

[Walkalong]

Theirs a lot of really nice guns on that list

Yep, you need help from someone local you trust. We can always verify any prices they give you.

 

[CLP]

I'm sorry for your loss. He accrued a very nice collection. People chiming in will give you different answers based on their personal likes/dislikes. Profressional gun appraisers are scarce. It would behoove you to locate one and retain their services to find their current value and his/her opinion on which ones are poised to significantly appreciate in value. That being said, the ones I like are (based on nothing more than what I like):

Basically, 1-97

 

[Mike OTDP]

39. #500 Sten MKV M/78, Old Military Rifle with clip

Check this carefully. If it's a machine gun, your grandmother must get a copy of the NFA registration paperwork (ATF Form 4). Machine guns are very high dollar items if legal. A papered Sten subgun will go for around $7K.

I'm going to expand on this. A legally owned National Firearms Act item (machine gun, destructive device, short barreled rifle/shotgun, or suppressor) transfers to an heir on an ATF Form 5, without tax. The executor of the estate should file this with ATF.

As for the rest of the collection, I agree with the advice to not, under any circumstances, sell to the local gun store. Those are some very high dollar items. I'd seriously consider consigning to one of the big firearms auction houses, such as Rock Island Auction. GunBroker is good for items under about $2k in value...and can serve as a decent appraisal tool if you search the closed auctions.

 

[captain awesome]

why the hate for the mark V's? the ones i have handled/fired have been wonderfully smooth, accurate and beautiful.

 

[Telekinesis]

Check this carefully. If it's a machine gun, your grandmother must get a copy of the NFA registration paperwork (ATF Form 4). Machine guns are very high dollar items if legal. A papered Sten subgun will go for around $7K.

I'm going to expand on this. A legally owned National Firearms Act item (machine gun, destructive device, short barreled rifle/shotgun, or suppressor) transfers to an heir on an ATF Form 5, without tax. The executor of the estate should file this with ATF.

I was thinking the exact same thing. And if he had one machine gun, he may have had more. So check for that as well - I would think the AKs and ARs are worth checking.

I helped a friend's widow catalogue and a dispose of her husband's firearm collection several years ago. There were about 80 guns in all, including high dollar hunting rifles, nice revolvers, and NFA weapons. Some guy came in and appraised it and offered $3,000 for the lot. A laughable amount considering selling just 2 of the registered machine guns would net about $30,000.

 

[BigBore44]

We’re talking about a LOT of money. Don’t trust an appraiser within 100 miles of you. I have seen appraisers low ball values and then have guys they are in cahoots with offer the seller a little bit more in hopes the seller thinks they are getting a “higher than appraised” offer. Get a Blue Book. And be honest about the condition. Contact the manufacturers. Watch Gunbroker. Contact the NRA for a list of reputable appraisers. I’d trust the people here WAY before I trusted a local appraiser. Sure, some member might claim a $3,000 gun is only worth $800. But another member will come along and correct them.

 

[Scooter22]

Sorry for your loss. I agree get one of the big auction houses to look at what you got if your going to sell the bulk. DO NOT let someone come in and give you one price for the whole collection. Just looking at what you listed I wouldn't be surprised if you averaged out the total value it would be close to 1K per gun. jmho Best of luck.

 

[sbwaters]

I am sorry for your loss that matters more than the value of the guns.

That said, and to lighten your spirits with a sense of humor, I will gladly hold on to the Berretta 12 ga. O/U for you while you decide what to do with your collection.

I’d even take it out for exercise, no charge. ;-)

 

[doubleh]

I'm sorry for you loss. I know how losing you grandfather hurts. I agree that you need an honest appraiser for anything that is decided to be sold and don't be in a hurry to sell it off. I found item #91 to be intriguing as it sounds to be a rare Ruger.

 

[armedwalleye]

I know folks that arrange and run estate sales. I wouldn't trust anyone that arranges and runs estate sales to set a legitimate value on anything. It's in their best interest to make sure an item sells, not necessarily sells at full value. They make nothing on the $10k pistol that doesn't sell.

 

[Nature Boy]

Dang, the list went away

 

[Mike OTDP]

Probably for the best.

 

[FROGO207]

Late to the show as well. Sorry about your loss. I will also echo that the cost of a big nationally recognized auction house appraisal will be worth the expense.

 

[Manny]

One thing I noticed, some top notch glass on several of those guns. You may want to consider removing those and selling them separately as oftentimes you don't get the full value out of those optics mounted on weapons.