Gun Selling Advice

[Homer]

I'm going to walk a big gun show in a couple weeks (Crossroads of the West - PHX - 22nd) with a couple leverguns for sale. I bought them awhile back and they've appreciated considerably (one was NIB until I fired about 30 rounds through it - the other was used when I bought it). I know most folks collecting them often want both at the same time, but others prefer only one. As for me, I want to get as much money as possible (this time to help out an ailing relative). One gun is a Ruger 96/22 in 22lr, and the other is a Ruger 96/22 in 22WMR. Is it better to sell them as a pair or separately? I need to move them fairly fast, but want to get as much as I can. Please advise. Thanks.

[Pete44ru]

.

I've been successfully selling guns via walking around funshows for over 40 years, and have found that there's only one chance to make a first impression, and that a seller needs to draw attention.

I (wearing a bright/distinctive hat, so I could easily be "re-found" by tire-kickers) would walk them through the show with two-sided flags made from index cards flying from /attached to a drinking straw flagpole, dropped downbore.

Although on my signs, all sides read "FOR SALE" - for yours I would suggest you print both sides of one flag: ".22LR For Sale" & the other flag ".22Mag For Sale", then stick the flagpoles down the muzzle, carrying both rifles slung from your shoulders (or get a helper to co-walk the show with you).

Before going, I would decide on how much dinero is wanted for each rifle separately, then figure a slightly lower price (no more then $10 lower) for the pair.

Be prepared to hear low-ball offers from the show FFL's - but be sure to ask every one of them anyway, if they have any interest. You just never know if/when one will fall in lust with what you're selling (or know/have a ready customer for it).


.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I bet they will sell quicker singly. Probably got more for them also. Not everyone will want both IMHO.

[AJMD429]

They will probably sell quickly either way, and for a decent price, as they are no longer made, and those who have them tend not to want to sell them.

One 'selling point' for the 22 WMR is that you can turn it into a 17 HMR in about five minutes with nothing but an allen wrench - the same magazines work in either chambering. I did one of mine this way, and the only 'thing' is the slimmer 17 HMR barrel is free-floated in the larger 22 WMR channel stock, but not enough to be an issue to me.

Anyway, if a potential buyer wants a 17 HMR he can have one for the $100 or so the extra barrel costs, and convert it back again whenever he wants.

Another neat little option is an integrally-suppressed barrel for the 22 LR - the ones for the 10/22 only have to have a second extractor groove cut (10 minutes or so with a small hand-file) to work on the 96/22.

[Pete44ru]

.

All excellent talking points (the E-Z/peazy .17HMR conversion) when speaking to somebody interested in the rifles.


.

[Lastmohecken]

I have had mixed results at gunshows, I do best if I get a table, as opposed to walking around. All of the dealers try to low ball you, but when you are sitting on the dealer side, the tables are turned a little.

[Homer]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll get them sold.

[Streetstar]

If you have a couple of weeks -- you can list them on here for what you would like to get --cost you a couple of pictures , ---you might sell them for what you wanted before the show

there are guns out there i would gladly pay a little more to purchase from a levergunner on this site -- others i have paid a little more on only because i knew i might not see another like it for a couple of years (that seems to be the case with the Ruger leverguns, they dont pop up all that often , mainly due to their short production run -- plus the guys' who have them, tend to hold onto them ) --- It would have to be exceptional circumstances for me to pay over maybe $100 what i thought was a fair price - but would be entirely dependent on the gun

I found out in the fall that it is pretty easy to ship a gun too --- buy a $20 Plano plastic case from one of the big box stores -- wrap it tightly with duct tape - take package to UPS hub, then they charge you another $20 to ship it to the FFL of the buyer's choosing

[Mescalero]

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR THEM SEPERATLY?

[Homer]

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR THEM SEPERATLY?

I'll likely mark the 22LR at $500 and the 22Mag at $550. In the gun shows I've walked guns at I've never sold a gun for what I initially marked it at - everybody wants to feel they talked you down. I'm a little embarrassed about the prices, but these guns have been fetching a bag of cash since they were discontinued. We'll see.

[6pt-sika]

Sell them on Gunbroker or something like that . I usually get more that way and less tire kicking .

[AJMD429]

There are guns out there i would gladly pay a little more to purchase from a levergunner on this site -- others i have paid a little more on only because i knew i might not see another like it for a couple of years (that seems to be the case with the Ruger leverguns, they dont pop up all that often , mainly due to their short production run -- plus the guys' who have them, tend to hold onto them ) --- It would have to be exceptional circumstances for me to pay over maybe $100 what i thought was a fair price - but would be entirely dependent on the gun

I found out in the fall that it is pretty easy to ship a gun too --- buy a $20 Plano plastic case from one of the big box stores -- wrap it tightly with duct tape - take package to UPS hub, then they charge you another $20 to ship it to the FFL of the buyer's choosing

Yep...