Hey guys, I had a guy offer me some rifles today and I need a little help with them.

He has 3 Merkel 140.2 Safari Grade No. 2 Rifles he wants to sell as a set. The rifles are a .375, .470 and a .500, and say "African Safari Series No. 2" in gold letters on them. A simple google search and look on gun broker say that they are worth anywhere between $18,500 and $22,500 new, but the guy wants me to make him an offer. The guns are in perfect condition, the .375 and the .470 have never been out of the box and the .500 has been assembled but never fired. They are flawless. He acquired them in a bankruptcy settlement, then sustained an injury that made him unable to hunt Africa again.

What do you guys think would be a reasonable offer for all 3 guns? I don't want to lo-ball him too bad, but I really don't want to drop $60,000 on 3 guns.

Thanks guys!

Greg

I would suggest offering what you can afford or tolerate to spend on three rifles ... honestly telling the fella that he can probably do better if your offer is less than $45k.

Ask this question on the double rifle forum. It will get you better answers. He may have gotten them for penny's on the dollar ask him what his best deal is and see if you are close. When I think of 20 k double rifles merkel does not come to mind. Unless the rifle have the same stock measerments and the serial # are in order they are not a matched set, haveing 3 does not
add to the value. Are you buying to keep or re-sell that will make a big differance in what you should pay. A fair price on a rifle you will keep is a good deal , a fair price on a rifle you plan to resell for profit is a way to lose money.

JD

I've had 2 of these rifles; in 470 and 500. They are quite nice, with octagonal barrels, animal engraving (based on caliber), and are numbered. While they were $18,995 or so new, those trying to get that much now have had them sitting for months. I think $45K would be a fair price, if you're buying all 3.

do you want them? if ot, tell him about gunbroker .. a custom bolt gun is 50cents on the dollar, retail, if used.

If I were buying them to make money 45% of retail or less remember one has to sit on these type of guns for a long time to sell them.

if your buying them to use and hunt with then one could spend a bit more. I always try to buy guns so if I have to sell them I can still make a little off them.

Thanks guys, I'm thinking about buying them both for my personal collection and to sell them. I have one guy who wants the .500, and I want the .470 so the .375 would sell. My thoughts are, if I buy all 3 and sell the .375 (being fully aware I will sit on it for a while), I can get into the rifle fairly cheap or at least at enough of a discount to make it worth thinking about.

Thanks guys!

get the money for the 500 FIRST .. just saying

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
get the money for the 500 FIRST .. just saying

Point taken. The guy who want's the .500 is splitting the cost of the three rifles with me, so if I don't get his money, we don't get the rifles.

I wouldn't buy them, period...use the same money and buy one GOOD British rifle!!
If you have to have them, best check the docs from the estate sale/bankruptcy to ensure it is a legit deal...have a dealer run them in NCIC!!
FYI, many doubles on the Internet sites have been there for a year or two now...don't base your buy on asking prices!!
Hope this is helpful...

GB,
I have used your logic several times and am still in the hole on that route. Custom guns are "someone else's dream". They usually dont' sell for much more than a high grade stock gun.
A case in point is a Mauser made solely by hand in 450 Rigby and auctioned at SCI for astronomical numbers; I later saw go begging at $4500 on GB. It was an exquisite gun by anyone's standards.
You can rationalize anything if you try.
One other point, they are his guns and he should know what he needs for the price.

RIGHT ON, Doc!! Well said and I agree completely...even more inportant when you get into double rifles...and they are NOT British!! Mill stones to a great degree...if you can steal one to shoot...no big deal...but plan on owning them a LONG TIME!!

I concur with 470Eddy on the one good British gun.


Dutch