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I am looking for someone to help me with evaluating a group of 1912s I have. I have around 30+ that were given to me from a friends estate and the family is looking to sell them but I have no clue as to where to start. The previous owner was very proud of them and said he had a “full set” but don’t know what he meant by that.
HELP!! lol
Thanks
Matt
Hi Matt. If you want help from our Model 12 experts the best way to start is to make a list of the serial numbers and post as many images as you can stand to take. The first step is to see what you’ve got, identifying the gold and the dross.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Yes I would think so. May I suggest you PM Mike, “TxGunNut”, who knows a good deal about M12 shotguns, who can advise you where to open the topic. My guess would be on Winchester Shotguns.
I assume these guns are property of the decedent’s probate estate and the executor has given you authority to act in selling them? It’s important to establish that sort of thing at the outset, to avoid embarrassment at the best and trouble at the worst. In other words, make sure of the nature and scope of your authority.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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Matt-
I am a student and a fan of the Model 12 but I won’t admit to knowing a good deal about them. I don’t have Bill’s experience with probate matters but I’ve been down that road and I’d be happy to advise you to the extent of my limited experience. As there were many more than 30 variations of the Model 12 I’m not sure what would constitute a “full set” but I suspect his collection is nothing short of spectacular. At this point an important thing to consider is the expectations of the estate and the executor. I most likely won’t be a buyer as I’ll soon be writing checks for a couple years wages for home repairs due to a recent tornado. I’m only a few hours up the road if the situation warrants an in-person evaluation. My brother and his wife would be glad to see me and I’m a bit behind on guest room privileges. If you’re wanting to expand your knowledge I’ve linked a book below. I’d try to find a more affordable copy, though!
Mike
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So just to answer the questions of authority to sell, my Father is the executor of the estate and the basic expectation is to get a fair market price for the shotguns and that money would be feed back into the estate. He has given me full legal authority to act on his behalf in all gun matters. There are some cool little Winchester .22s in the batch as well so once I get everything settled back in from moving them I will begin the documentary process and start the new topic.
You guys have been a great help and at least I now know where to start. Mr. Mike I will be sure and include you in the new topic so you have visibility and can offer you valuable insight.
Thanks!!
November 7, 2015
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Matt-
One of the first things to address is the timeline. To get the market price for the collection someone will have to invest time and money in marketing activities. The cost of taking the guns to collector shows and/or selling them online is significant. There are firms and collectors that will buy all or most of the collection but in order to sell at a reasonable price they will pay significantly less than fair market value as their expenses are quite high. Some may offer a consignment option. Marketing the guns yourself will take years and will involve significant expense. Setting up at a collector show costs me anywhere from $500-2000, depending on travel. Some collectors spend significantly more. Food, gas and lodging are all going up. If you’re selling to collectors you may or may not receive fair market value as some buy for resale. The upside is that you’ll meet some wonderful people and visit interesting places. Internet sales is another option but I know very little about it. I can assure you the marketing effort is significant and the logistics and paperwork of shipping can be a huge undertaking for the neophyte. Firms and collectors that regularly buy estate collections will take a few hours to a day to evaluate a collection and if a deal is struck will write a check and pick up the collection. No marketing effort or expense, no shipping headaches. It may benefit the estate to hire an appraiser to give you some idea what you’re dealing with and identify any special interest items. If the former owner had an inventory document that may be helpful.
Good luck!
Mike
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