I am wondering that the real buyers of British Double Rifles are seeing out there these days?

It appears to me they are finally moderating in actual transaction prices....not Big Brokers asking prices.

I recently tracked a nice Westley Richards BLE with C-bolt action, 450-400 3", nice shape, in Portland OR private party hands...asking $16K, actually sold for $12K...while I was tracking it down..I missed it!! DAM*!!

I recently purchased a beautiful H&H Dominion, ie 1898 backaction sidelock, extractor in 303 Brit, excellent shape at a Vancouver Auction $CAD8,000 plus buyers comm of 15%, and I had to go get it-full day on the road and a tank of gas and food for my Dealer/self...so $US under 10K all in!!

Seems to me there are finally some deals out there!

What are you seeing?

I often wonder what the Big Brokers actually get for those priced high and sit for a year??

Cheers,

IMO and from what I see, moderately priced doubles (under lever bpe, average vintage rifles in average calibers and dropping bit in price. Top end rifles, Pudery, Holland, and rare caliber such as .577 or .600 are holding their own or rising a bit. For 15 years I have kept a log of .600s that have sold or offered for sale and the prices are still going up. That's good for someday mine will go on the block. For the average .450-400, prices are down a bit.
I don't pay attention to modern, post WWII, European etc., rifles. Only vintage arms from the UK.
For what it's worth….
Cal

Thank you Cal!

I neglected to mention a discussion with a Seattle dealer who does NOT deal in many doubles last week, he had previewed a beautiful old H&H Royal ejector in 500/450, 19xxx serial number indicating 1901-2 build. Cased in original H&H case with letter.
My opinion, having not seen the rifle, only a telephone description....maybe in the $45-55K honest sale price. I mentioned the Big Brokers prices on Royals but also commented most had been sitting for a year or two...and that one 375H&H Royal by private party asking $59K is marked "Sold" on Guns International.
Just more to ponder!
Cheers,

Some of the dealers are just plain smoking crack. There's no other explanation for it. When you see prices listed at 30-70% above what any reasonable person would pay and it doesn't sell month after month you really have to wonder. I'm 31 years old and I see that most of the vintage British crowd is 30-50 plus years older than I am, so I have to wonder if there's going to be a glut and lower prices at some point when these collectors start passing away.

Brett

Bite your tongue you young whippersnapper!

Brett:
For your information, I am not a dealer and when I do sell a rifle my prices are reasonable. And, I do smoke crack from a pipe fashioned from an old Rodda 8-bore case for the bowl and using a .400 Purdey straight for the stem.
You doctors don't know everything!

Cal

Brett I've got first dibs on Cals trash collection.He only has ten years on me so I'm waiting. That crack is going to catch up to him sooner or later.

LMFAO

quote:

Originally posted by alaska one:
Brett I've got first dibs on Cals trash collection.He only has ten years on me so I'm waiting. That crack is going to catch up to him sooner or later.