Jay da bro,
Let Mr. Capitalism...peon style.....get involved.....(yea, you guys love me, you just don't want to admit it.
)
Ok, you now have a kick butt rifle in as new condition...with the box and papers.......after a couple of shots are fired and the action worked, which leaves slight marks, well, that tells an experienced collector it's no longer new.
1.) there is a finite number of these guns made.
2.) NOTHING grabs a collector more than a low serial number...single digits are the best...double digits are next in line, followed by triples.....after that the desirability wanes.
3.) single digit guns...only in desirable makes...Winchesters, etc....will bring up to ...and more....5-10x the value of the same gun in comparable condition. Double digit guns will easily bring double to 4x.....I sold number #16 Winchester Model 61 for 3 g's...and the guy was happy to get it. Serial number 1 in the famous Colt Single Action..IIRC ..brought something like $300,000 some 20 years ago...don't quote me on that number...going from a faded memory.....
4.)Yours is a low double digit in a comparatively modern gun so it will still bring 20-40% more than a regular number.....yes, you have to take the time to advertise. As the years pass, the value goes up but as you are a semi old guy now, you might as well take advantage of the premium.
With the liberals pushing to be in control of us all, an original cased Colt Texas Paterson might be soon regulated to the scrap yard.
5.) (important to know). There is a seat for every azz in this world so that means there is always someone who wants what you have and is willing to pay a premium for speciality. There are lots of people who love to display and show off their wares at the finer gun shows...not the fire hall types.......especially guns that are of the rarer variations with low serial numbers.
6.) I'd advertise it on Gunbroker with an emphasis on the serial number possibly making a 40-75% profit and then buying one that's slightly shot without the box.
7.) if all of this is not worth the aggravation, just go ahead and shoot the phuck out of it...it's not a NIB 1886 made in 1891.
8.) I had my dirty hands on some of the finest German Lugers ever made tonight...ww1-2 , standard, artillery, shoulder stocks, snail drums, cased, engraved, presentation,.....most all in like new condition. Even handled a presentation plaque to a German Major signed by the number 2 man...Herman Goring..........presentation swords, daggers, knives, early Colt percussion guns..cased....like new Colt single actions...yes...first gen..... New Services, pre war smiths.....etc....I was sick when I had to leave....but....tomorrow is another day! At least a hundred Winchesters...mmmmm...send me down some of that Maine money....---6
Choot 'em, Choot 'em.
