One problem new sellers face is knowing the real market value of their individual pieces. The original purchase price is not always a good indicator...the gun could have been much better than the seller thought, or perhaps the buyer was over-eager and paid a premium. And prices have changes the last few years...run of the mill rifles are harder to sell and usually go more cheaply than 10 years ago, while top end pieces still bring strong prices. Buyers are also more focused on condition these days, and restoration, damage, etc. are more closely looked at and at times reduce the price of guns purchased several years ago.
A lot depends on how well the seller knows the value of his individual rifles. If he knows the current market, then he can sell individually on internet sites by setting reasonable min. bid values. However, if the collection is reasonably good, but the buyer hasn't kept up with market values, he is probably better running them through a known auction house that handles a lot of antique firearms, has a good customer base, and advertises their auctions well.
It's also good to keep in mind that many antique rifles sell better in the area where they came from...buyers are more knowledgeable of their local rifles and more attached to them. If many of the guns in the collection, which is housed in New York, are eastern rifles, then they will sell stronger in the East. If the collection is more of the normal PA, VA, MD, NC, OH type material, then a good auction house closer to those states will usually pull better prices. If there is a "Million Dollar" item in teh collection, or one is suspected of perhaps being a great rifle, have it appraised before doing anything with it. Big auction houses like Cowans in Cincinnati or Rock Island in Illinois will be glad to discuss any special gun in the collection and provide an idea, or range, of what it will probably bring. Of course, they will need good photo coverage of the gun, or seeing it in hand, to make a valid appraisal.
So before any decision is made, the collection owner needs to reflect on his personal knowledge of his collection and individual values, identify any pieces that may be superior and have potential big value, and know what he is doing before he lists anything. You pay more in fees with an auction house, but if they handle antique firearms and advertise well, they bring bigger prices due to having a lot more interested people see the item.
Many collectors have made contacts over the years with other collectors with similar interests. Knowledgeable collectors usually prefer to sell their better pieces to friends/collectors who have an interest in the same type/kind of rifles. That gets the seller good prices without a lot of fees or stress of auctions...then sell the lower end "stuff" as you see fit.
Shelby Gallien
