I am thinking about selling my 450-400 3 1/4" Boswell and am curious as to what the market value would be. My thoughts are with the accessories around $18,000

It is circa 1907, in good shape, rifling is fine, was bought through Champlin's by me in 2009.

I have plenty of brass, some bullets, two sets of dies, and a leather covered hard case to go with it.

No cheek piece, neutral cast, I shoot it fine as a left hander. It is an extractor gun.

I do not need to sell it, just have too much stuff and am thinning out the herd.

My opinion is the market is a bit softer than that. I would think to actually sell it you would need to be closer to 15K or less. JMO, But hard to judge condition by just those two photos.

I think McKay is right. I would look at it for $14,000. I am sure it's worth more to you.

I keep track of much of this double stuff. In today's market McKay and Slider are correct and maybe a bit high. Two doubles in the same caliber sold for 12K and a third has no bites in two years for 10K.

All doubles except the high end ones are selling for 50-70% of 5 years ago. I have sold some from my collectdion and marked them down a good amount to sell.
Cal

PS. Mike: these are our opinions. If you had put this in the classifieds at 18K we would not have given our thoughts. Your post was asking the market value. If you don't need to sell it, keep it until the market rises some. No one knows when that will be. As to why it has low, I have two opinions: When the market was high it was flooded with many doubles trying to get top dollar, some sold, and those that didn't have been for sale for a few years and are still there. Secondly most folks don't appreciate a fine vintage double and would rather have a new Sabatti, Merkel, etc., One gent told me, when asking my price on a .450-400 I was selling a few years ago, said, "Remember I can get a Sabatti for $5000."
Your double is a fine piece. No doubt a few years ago 18K would have been a steal. However there is a alternate route. Send it to George Caswell. He has a large client base, far more than here on AR, and he can command prices individuals like you and I can't. The down side is he will charge maybe 20%, but he will have a good chance of selling it and making it known to the double rifle fraternity.
I would be very proud to have your double in my gun safe. It is a fine piece of vintage UK history.

I'd prefer this over the Chapuis I bought, but budget dictates. You have come to the right place for opinions, though.

there is a C Boswell 450-400 at Vintage Doubles
http://www.vintagedoubles.com/
they are asking 13,600

Without comparing this Boswell to the one at Vintage Doubles, both seem approximately equal. Kirby's price is $13,600 and he will move some on what he sells.
Just FYI
Cal

I appreciate the feedback.

IIRC Champlin's listed the rifle I purchased for around $27,000 in 2008. I paid substantially less when I purchased it in 2009.

The rifle and accessories are worth more than $13,600 to me. I would sell everything for maybe $16,000, but it does not appear the market will bear even that. Good thing it does not take up much space.

The rifle in the attachment is definitely similar in appearance to mine.

Smart move, I would not want to be selling any vintage doubles in this market.

quote:

Originally posted by McKay:
Smart move, I would not want to be selling any vintage doubles in this market.

It could get worst.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeBurke:
I appreciate the feedback.

IIRC Champlin's listed the rifle I purchased for around $27,000 in 2008. I paid substantially less when I purchased it in 2009.

The rifle and accessories are worth more than $13,600 to me. I would sell everything for maybe $16,000, but it does not appear the market will bear even that. Good thing it does not take up much space.

The rifle in the attachment is definitely similar in appearance to mine.

Mike:
The market won't, but you may find an individual who is looking for exactly what you have. It's worth a try.
Cal
PS. What are the accessories?

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:

quote:

Originally posted by McKay:
Smart move, I would not want to be selling any vintage doubles in this market.

It could get worst.

I'm hoping so as I want to still buy more vintage guns.

I would weather the storm!!!

The 450/400 for sell through Vintage Guns has been for sale for a long time. I wish someone would buy it.

http://www.vintagedoubles.com/catalog/?sort=5

The Lyon & Lyon sidelock looks like a bargain IF it is a tidy gun.

The 465 made by Wesley Richards also looks attractive.

I really thought hard about the Lyon & Lyon before I bought my Heym, but wondered how it would shoot the heavier bullets. The rifle sure shoots the 350 grain bullets in the test target well. I like the practical aspect of the Heym, but will admit I love the look of the English guns better. To me it was a trade off between 100 year old steel and modern steel, claw mounted scope and a rifle I knew would be in proper regulation. With all the options the Heym has if I get to where I have to have an old English gun, and their market value stays soft I can probably do a fair trade.

I have longed for that Lyon & Lyon as well. As a 450 BPE it would be a nice addition to my 450 NE since I have all of the reloading components.

Zephyr,
I probably shouldn't tell this on myself, but when I looked at the gun listing I thought it was a nitro gun. I thought it was a heck of a deal, but was stumped by the 350 grain load. I got to get some glasses.

No storm here IMO, the over inflation of doubles is settling to a more healthy market, like I said IMO...but Africa has changed, fewer folks are hunting there, more that go are going for PG as Tanzania went totally nutso, and being a tribal gov. could care less what the market or the US concerns are..LIke I said just my opine..

I wouldn't sell your gun for less than $16,000 but the market is closer to 10 to $12,000 and will remain or go lower I think.

However, it never hurts to put it out there on the internet on GA, Guns Int. Ar and as many places as you can and just wait and hope..you might be surprised and sell it.

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
http://www.vintagedoubles.com/catalog/?sort=5

The Lyon & Lyon sidelock looks like a bargain IF it is a tidy gun.

But +10 Ibs..It´s too much weight for a BPE as I see it. But a lovely and good looking gun it is for sure.

$13,600. is way out of line for a "black powder" rifle IMO even considering they surge about two or three years ago..