Shotgun values

[Mike Cutler]

No, I'm not looking to find out how much something is worth or anything like that. Just an observation.

I bought my shotguns many years ago, 30+years, so just for jollies last night, I was looking up the current used prices on used shotguns, and just kind of seeing where the evolution of the shotgun was at.
First off, I was stunned at how much the "cheap Japanese made" Winchester 101's I have are now valued at. I hope I never drop one in the field now, which is one of the reason I bought them in the first place, to be able to accidentally drop one in the field and not start crying, because they were relatively inexpensive then. I also saw that shotgun shells from 30-40 years ago now sell for much, much, more than what they cost back then. I know this because I have boxes of 12,20 and 28 gauge shells from the 80's and 90's, with the prices still on them.
I get that "things" naturally increase in value over time, one of them being firearms in general, but I never expected to see something like shotgun shells become "collector items".

[John K Jordan]

No, I'm not looking to find out how much something is worth or anything like that. Just an observation.

I bought my shotguns many years ago, 30+years, so just for jollies last night, I was looking up the current used prices on used shotguns, and just kind of seeing where the evolution of the shotgun was at.
First off, I was stunned at how much the "cheap Japanese made" Winchester 101's I have are now valued at. I hope I never drop one in the field now, which is one of the reason I bought them in the first place, to be able to accidentally drop one in the field and not start crying, because they were relatively inexpensive then. I also saw that shotgun shells from 30-40 years ago now sell for much, much, more than what they cost back then. I know this because I have boxes of 12,20 and 28 gauge shells from the 80's and 90's, with the prices still on them.
I get that "things" naturally increase in value over time, one of them being firearms in general, but I never expected to see something like shotgun shells become "collector items".

You are right. I have an old M1 Carbine with a bayonette in my gun safe and stacks of boxes of ammo. I was astounded at value estimated by some people who know guns.

Maybe I'll sell it and retire. Wait, I've been retired since '06...

JKJ

[Jamie Buxton]

Part of the issue is inflation. Since 1990, the US has had just about 100% inflation. That is, a dollar in 1990 had the same buying power as two dollars today.

[Mike Cutler]

Part of the issue is inflation. Since 1990, the US has had just about 100% inflation. That is, a dollar in 1990 had the same buying power as two dollars today.

Definitely!
Some things outpace inflation, some don't.
I think I paid just less that $300.00 in 1981 for my first 101, new. The second one I bought, 28 gauge, a few years later, was used and a little bit more, but a progressive reloader came with it. When screw in choke systems became the rage, shotguns that didn't have them were basically worth nothing back then unless they were Parkers,Purdey's Boss's, and such.
I know that a lot of the shells I have are no longer made, or legally allowed for waterfowl any longer, due to the lead shot. Maybe that's what makes them "collectible"?

[Todd Mason-Darnell]

There can be lots of drivers--inflation, belief that "they made them better back in the day".

One of the issues I have seen is a general run up in pricing for all guns and ammunition. A lot of my friends do panic buying because they are afraid of changing in the laws, which create scarcity which in turn encourages bulk buying and hoarding. It becomes a self perpetuating cycle. Of course the market reacts, but the pricing increasing with the increased demand.

[Wade Lippman]

When my MIL passed we got two old guns; a beautiful double barreled shotgun and a 22 that looked like a truck ran over it. We put them on consignment at a local shop and got $150 for the shotgun and $250 for the 22. I didn't think the 22 would even sell; maybe it was rare.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Part of the issue is inflation. Since 1990, the US has had just about 100% inflation. That is, a dollar in 1990 had the same buying power as two dollars today.Tell me about it....I entered the workforce full time in 1970 - making $2.50 an hour.
I retired from full time work, in 2010, making something like $25.50 an hour.
While I made ten times as much - everything seemed like it cost ten times as much...
I just ran in place for 40 years..... :(

[Larry Edgerton]

Tell me about it....I entered the workforce full time in 1970 - making $2.50 an hour.
I retired from full time work, in 2010, making something like $25.50 an hour.
While I made ten times as much - everything seemed like it cost ten times as much...
I just ran in place for 40 years..... :(

Same story here except I am still running.

Just because of this thread I looked up a Ithaca SKB 200E I bought in 1975. Its worth what I paid for it, so I lost money.

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

I remember 30 to 40 years ago when some "turn of the century" shotguns were literally worth more than their weight in silver and some, even gold. (model 12's, etc) Then around 1990 the bottom fell out and those same shotguns were selling for a quarter of what they were 20 years earlier. I had a large Collection of Remington No. 1 single shot rifles. Around 1970, I paid as little as $15.00 at yard sales for them. Today, Some of them would now be worth a grand or more a piece. However in keeping with my luck, I lost them in a fire. Around 1970, I purchased old muzzleloaders that were pretty much considered scrap. 20 years later some were worth an unbelieveable amount and I sold them. Of course we don't brag about the things we purchased that never went up in value the way we expected.

[Tom M King]

I missed getting this shotgun for nothing, because it was hidden in a casket that I didn't open. This is one of my Great Grandfathers. The shotgun is a double barreled Parker 10 ga. with Damascus barrels. I was shown it when I was about 12, and told to never shoot it. I never saw it again after that, until the auction sale of the old home place that my previous generation decided to sell, since none of them wanted it. It included a 19th Century General Store that was closed in 1935.

Family members were allowed to take whatever they wanted, but it had to be taken out pretty quickly. I got some nice stuff, but didn't think to open the caskets, that had been for sale, up in the attic of the store. My Uncle had hidden some guns in one of the caskets. One of them was this shotgun.

There was a long list for the auction, but no guns listed, so the buyers that showed up were not expecting any. Long story shortened some, when they brought down the caskets, they opened them, and found the guns. They were sold under separate sales.

This Parker sold for $2500, with no real gun collectors there. I didn't want it bad enough to pay more than that for it, especially knowing that it had been shot a lot, and was kind of loose, from my old memory. I think this is the same gun, but not 100% sure. Picture is from sometime late 1860's into 70's.

[Mike Cutler]

A Parker 10ga. with Damascus barrels! That would have been something to see.
Loose, or not, I bet it was a beauty.

[Mel Fulks]

Tom, that's a fine thing to have. He knows he and the future are eye to eye. Kinda looks like Davy Crockett
(Fess Parker).

[Tom M King]

Those eyes had seen a lot, not too long before that photo was taken. He was one of three Brothers that all fought in the Civil War. In the first battle, one Brother was killed almost as soon as the battle started. Some time later, the second Brother went missing in another battle, and they thought he was killed. Thinking that two out of the three Brothers had been killed, Stonewall Jackson sent this one to the back of his Army's procession, and put him in charge of the horses.

Sometime after the war was over, the second Brother walked up to the home house, missing an arm. Most of us are here by the skin of the teeth of some of our Ancestors.

[Malcolm McLeod]

.... Most of us are here by the skin of the teeth of some of our Ancestors.

Along the same lines, in doing some genealogical digging I have been floored at the infant mortality rates even to 1900. You'll easily find a family unit with 4-5 children that never made it to 5yrs old.

My grandfather ran a grocery store for years, extending credit to nearly anyone. During the depression he amassed an arsenal as folks traded guns for grub. ...Some really odd = 11mm rim fire bolt gun, Swedish, I think? 100yr old Colt .45 SAA, and 4-5 beautiful rabbit-eared shotguns. Passed to his daughters, but sadly all gone now.

[Larry Edgerton]

I missed getting this shotgun for nothing, because it was hidden in a casket that I didn't open. This is one of my Great Grandfathers. The shotgun is a double barreled Parker 10 ga. with Damascus barrels. I was shown it when I was about 12, and told to never shoot it. I never saw it again after that, until the auction sale of the old home place that my previous generation decided to sell, since none of them wanted it. It included a 19th Century General Store that was closed in 1935.

Family members were allowed to take whatever they wanted, but it had to be taken out pretty quickly. I got some nice stuff, but didn't think to open the caskets, that had been for sale, up in the attic of the store. My Uncle had hidden some guns in one of the caskets. One of them was this shotgun.

There was a long list for the auction, but no guns listed, so the buyers that showed up were not expecting any. Long story shortened some, when they brought down the caskets, they opened them, and found the guns. They were sold under separate sales.

This Parker sold for $2500, with no real gun collectors there. I didn't want it bad enough to pay more than that for it, especially knowing that it had been shot a lot, and was kind of loose, from my old memory. I think this is the same gun, but not 100% sure. Picture is from sometime late 1860's into 70's.

I have a Parker double, damascus. They were a black powder gun from what I understand, no modern powder. I found it under an old house I was working on and the lady hated guns, gave it to me. I have never shot it. This one is loose as well, kind of forgot about it. Dad was a gun dealer, its over at moms house in the gun room, should go get it I suppose before someone grabs it.

[Lee Schierer]

I have a Parker double, damascus. They were a black powder gun from what I understand, no modern powder. I found it under an old house I was working on and the lady hated guns, gave it to me. I have never shot it. This one is loose as well, kind of forgot about it. Dad was a gun dealer, its over at moms house in the gun room, should go get it I suppose before someone grabs it.

Generally speaking shotguns with Damacus barrels should not be fired at all, they are considered dangerous. Here is some information from the NRA website regarding Damacus barrel shotguns.

The best Damascus barrels made by Belgian and English gunmakers were regarded as strong and elastic. However, differentiating these barrels from the plethora of inferior-grade Damascus tubes produced all over Europe is a job for an expert. These barrels, made of soft iron poorly welded together, are not only weak, but also tend to rust and pit readily.

Some authorities consider the best Damascus barrels, properly proofed, to be capable of handling light smokeless powder loads. However, considerable expertise, probably beyond that of the average gunsmith, is required to determine which Damascus barrels are safe with such ammunition. With these considerations in mind, the owner of even a "best quality" shotgun with Damascus barrels should avoid firing the gun with any smokeless powder loads.

[Mike Cutler]

I have a Parker double, damascus. They were a black powder gun from what I understand, no modern powder. I found it under an old house I was working on and the lady hated guns, gave it to me. I have never shot it. This one is loose as well, kind of forgot about it. Dad was a gun dealer, its over at moms house in the gun room, should go get it I suppose before someone grabs it.

Yes, you should!!
Loose or not, it's an original Parker! and they are always worth $$$$
I remember some thirty years ago, there were some much lower pressure shells sold that could be safely fired in vintage Parkers, with Damascus barrel. I doubt many folks actually shot them even back them, just because of their value.
Look up Parker gun values, and you'll get an idea.

I have a 1936, Browning Superposed with twin triggers, that I always forget about.
I bought it really, really, cheap, many years ago.I even told the guy it was worth more than he was asking, but he had caught his finger between those two triggers one time to many and wanted it gone.
I've actually only ever test fired, it some 30 years ago, but I knew then it would always be an uncommon shotgun to run across.

[Myk Rian]

Marlins with the JM stamp are worth good money. I have a model 60 22lr and a model 336 35 Remington.
Since Remington acquired Marlin, the quality has taken a steep dive. So hang on to those JM guns.

[Barry McFadden]

Marlins with the JM stamp are worth good money. I have a model 60 22lr and a model 336 35 Remington.
Since Remington acquired Marlin, the quality has taken a steep dive. So hang on to those JM guns.

You got me thinking..... I went and looked at my 22 rifle...... stamped on the barrel is... The Marlin Firearms Co. New Haven Conn. USA
Model 99 Auto-Micro-Groove Barrel Cal.22LR
and has KK stamped on the barrel.... anyone know what that means or if it is worth anything??

[Myk Rian]

You got me thinking..... I went and looked at my 22 rifle...... stamped on the barrel is... The Marlin Firearms Co. New Haven Conn. USA
Model 99 Auto-Micro-Groove Barrel Cal.22LR
and has KK stamped on the barrel.... anyone know what that means or if it is worth anything??

I'm trying to find some info on it at the Marlinowners forum. Searching there doesn't bring up too much. I'll ask about it there.
what are all but the last 2 or 3 of the SN?

[Barry McFadden]

I'm trying to find some info on it at the Marlinowners forum. Searching there doesn't bring up too much. I'll ask about it there.
what are all but the last 2 or 3 of the SN?

I took the stock off and don't see a serial number anywhere...

[Myk Rian]

Kk = 1967. $250-350.

[Barry McFadden]

Thanks for the info Myk......

[Larry Edgerton]

Yes, you should!!
Loose or not, it's an original Parker! and they are always worth $$$$
I remember some thirty years ago, there were some much lower pressure shells sold that could be safely fired in vintage Parkers, with Damascus barrel. I doubt many folks actually shot them even back them, just because of their value.
Look up Parker gun values, and you'll get an idea.

I have a 1936, Browning Superposed with twin triggers, that I always forget about.
I bought it really, really, cheap, many years ago.I even told the guy it was worth more than he was asking, but he had caught his finger between those two triggers one time to many and wanted it gone.
I've actually only ever test fired, it some 30 years ago, but I knew then it would always be an uncommon shotgun to run across.

i have a Superposed as well. Used it for duck hunting, too heavy to lug around for wing shooting.

[Lee Schierer]

You got me thinking..... I went and looked at my 22 rifle...... stamped on the barrel is... The Marlin Firearms Co. New Haven Conn. USA
Model 99 Auto-Micro-Groove Barrel Cal.22LR
and has KK stamped on the barrel.... anyone know what that means or if it is worth anything??

According to a gunsmith I was talking to, serial numbers were not required on all firearms until 1968 when the Gun Control act was passed.

[Andrew DiLorenzo]

You guys are talking about hand planes right? Oh, I'm sorry its shotguns, ok.