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I am not asking for specific values. I am still learning and I am a relative newbie when it comes to rifle building. But curious as to why the value of some rifles are so low when the labor to build them is high. I can only use my rifles as an example. I rebarreled a Mod 700 22-250. McGowen barrel with a faster twist to shoot heavier bullets, action was squared, put in a Boyds laminate stock, pillared and bedded. In essence it was custom built. Oh yeah the barrel is a McGowen #3 contour as I recall, slightly heavier than Remington factory barrel. Awhile back I was discussing it on another forum and I was considering selling it but later changed my mind. It shoots 1/2 inch at 100 yards with my handloads. Never shot factory ammo through it. In any event, I asked on the forum what they thought the value was. I was told by several around $500-$600. If I was to calculate the hours I had in it, that would about cover it. I have another rifle I built in 6.5-06 on a Charles Daly Mauser action and it has a Winchester safety. The action was squared and has a McGowan #5 contour with a Boyds Laminate. Belgium Blued, pillared and bedded. I posted it on another forum and was just curious as the value. I said I clearly did not want to sell it. I was told it was only worth about $600. Again if I calculated my labor in building it, that would cover it. I am curious as to why they are valued so low when you search around on the internet and see custom rifles being built that range from $2000 to more money than I will ever spend on a rifle. They guarantee certain accuracy etc. My rifles shoot under their guarantee. Since I am still learning I figured I would ask the question to cure my ignorance. I do not want to sell any of them but if I had a theft or burglary, it would be nice to know a ballpark figure. | ||
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Quality, and name recognition of the builder. As you found out, just assembling an assortment of random parts and dropping them into a factory stock does not constitute an increase in "value", if that means resale price. It is the reality of the market; to most guys looking for "custom", that means something other than just assembling parts, no matter how it shoots. He wants a hand made stock, hand fitted parts, and something unique. Sorry to break your bubble, but it is very real. Best to enjoy them yourself and forget about the value, as it plummeted the day you bought them. | |||
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Most custom rifles sell for between 55%-60% of the original build cost unless the maker has a following then they will go for higher. Sometimes an individual will have had a custom made or bought a custom before a maker became famous and may actually be able to re-coup there cost or make a profit but that is a very rare occurrence and usually when the buyer gets "utility" by being able to say "I own a John Doe rifle". In these cases the buyer is more buying his definition of "art" or what he perceives others definitions of art. Certain builders almost have a cult like following related to their "art" and their cult beliefs anything they build is art at its finest. But back to your question of why... I believe the why is When Joe commissions a custom he gets to specify exactly what Joe wants and that specificity has great value to Joe but to Fred it is just a nice used rifle that has the general characteristics of what he wants so he is not willing to pay anywhere near full price. Mike Legistine actu? Quid scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Now, have one built by a top name builder like Wiehe and you have a different story. But basically, buy or build, or have built, the rifle that you want, for personal enjoyment. Not for monetary appreciation. Custom rifles are not good for that. Go for collectable ones like 19th century Winchesters and Colts, and WW2 Military rifles. | |||
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I have no bubble to burst  . But your explanation is what I was looking for. I am not looking to go into business building rifles or anything else. I was just curious mostly why. I do understand name recognition and fine tuning things etc. I built all my rifles with my Dad's help and guidance so the value to me is much more than I could ever get for them. Thanks for information. | |||
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