Some advice please

[ElKabong]

A friend has run into some problems and I'm trying to find homes for a few firearms.

However, they're kind of odd items so I'm not sure where to sell them or what prices to ask (I'm trying to make sure these people don't get taken advantage of).

One pistol is a Kimber Classic Custom Target with the 3 hole trigger (vs. skeleton) and it was assembled in Yonkers (so it does not have the coveted Clackamas stamp) but it is a Series 1. It hasn't been fired much (I'd bet under 200 rounds) BUT the grip safety isn't fitted right (looks like it was that way from the factory). I think it's a MIM part so repair might mean replacement if it isn't done at the factory. He has the original box, but I didn't see the owners manual. Blued with adjustable sights. Because it's a Series 1 1911 "collectors" say it's worth a few bucks, as far as wear goes I'd say it's at least 90% and the 1911 guys say that can be up to $600. But I'm not sure how the safety issue affects that (I'd imagine Kimber would fix that, but given the circumstances it might be better to leave that up to the new owner). Any advice? Something besides "Grip safety? We don't need no stinkin' grip safety!" would be good.

Another is a Colt Mk IV Series 80 Mustang .380 from era when Colt wasn't putting out the best product. This one hasn't been fired much either. The 1911 crowd says it's worth something (like $400) because it's out of production and bears the prancing pony (he does not have the box for it). IMO, this is one of those it's worth X dollars if you can find someone who wants it situations. I'm not sure if that kind of collectable market exists in CA. If we were in NV, AZ, etc. I'd take it to a gun show. Any advice?

I'm just collecting info so they can make the decision about if/how to go about selling them at this point, so depending on what they say I may try to list them here (but please don't ask me about it until then because I can't really do anything with them until they give me instructions).

Thanks in advance!

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[Sam Hainn]

If I were looking at the For Sale forum, and that Colt Mustang was like new in it's box at $450, and I saw the ad, and you were in the SO-CAL area for a PPT of logical driving distance, I would be all over it.

[guimus]

older colt's, regardless of caliber, quality, etc, are always going to draw a premium in CA because of THE LIST. Please keep those guns in CA if at all possible.

[ElKabong]

I helped them sell a couple other items that were a little more obvious and I always look for people in SoCal. Makes it easier for everyone, plus as you say I think most of the other states already have their share.

Besides those two the last item I have to help them sell is a Remington 700, but I'll post about that one later (I don't have the details on that one with me at the moment).

It's too bad he doesn't have the box for the Mustang. I suspect he tossed it because it was cardboard. What do you think it's worth without that box?

I figured there would be some interest in the Mustang. The Kimber... not so sure. The Kimber collectors seemed to be a smaller crowd.

[The SoCal Gunner]

I'll take the Colt for $400 depending on condition and I'm in SoCal. I can't afford the Kimber.

[leelaw]

If you're rating the Kimber at 90% (sounds low for a used gun with just 200rds) then I'd say it might be worth less than $600.. it depends on how much someone wants the Series 1 style.

[ElKabong]

The Mustang sat in a safe in a IWB leather holster for most of it's life, but I think it's still pretty clean. However, there are some marks on the ramp that I'm guessing are from normal wear because he's not the DIY Dremel-it-to-death kind of person.

The Kimber sat in a safe in it's plastic box all it's life so it's really clean. It's a flat blue finish so I really need to look at closely, but you are probably right and it probably is higher than 90% on the NRA scale. I'd stare at it while and photograph it (sans S/N) before listing it. The 1911 guys mentioned values between $500 and $700. I think $700 is way too much.

I'd buy it, but I have my eye on that new XD 45 compact so even at $550 I'm not sure I'd buy it because of the grip safety issue.

[pinheadbob2002]

Your prices seem a bit low. Looking on gunbroker- the colt is being sold for alot more then you are asking.
I would buy them both based on your desciption.

[ElKabong]

Thanks for all the input.

That's basically been the problem. I looked up prices in a guide and saw numbers around one price. Then I look on gunbroker and the numbers are significantly higher. Then I ask people who I know bought similar items from gunshows, etc. and prices are often much lower.

Makes it hard for them to know what prices are reasonable to ask for.

[maxicon]

Lots of the gunbroker and gunsamerica prices are high, and you see the same guns there time after time, or guns with no bids at gunbroker.

Watch the auctions at gunbroker to see what people are actually bidding on. If you have an account at gunbroker (quick and easy to get), you can also see what the guns actually sold for, which is really what you need to know.

The other approach is to search on forums and see what things are really selling for.

Hard to say about the Kimber - they're not my area - but the Colt Mustang is definitely worth $500 or so, IMO. The ones under $500 on gunbroker are seeing action, and the $600 and up ones are sitting there. Clean ones go for a bit of a premium in California.

[rkt88edmo]

After having helped sell some stuff for a friend after a death, I tried, and felt that I succeeded in getting a GOOD price for all the guns. It was less than I would have accepted if they were mine, but it was still way way more than they would have gotten if they sold them all to a dealer.

Since you have already sold a few for them you know how much work it entails.

If you are helping them sell them, anything you get is probably more than what the guns are worth to the owners now.

[pinheadbob2002]

Thanks for all the input.

That's basically been the problem. I looked up prices in a guide and saw numbers around one price. Then I look on gunbroker and the numbers are significantly higher. Then I ask people who I know bought similar items from gunshows, etc. and prices are often much lower.

Makes it hard for them to know what prices are reasonable to ask for.

True. I have yet to see a Kimber S1 go for less then $600. Look at what the last few sold for here. I bet you can get more. Any non list hand gun goes for a big mark up in Ca. It is a sellers market on hard to find 1911's.
You can send the 1911 back to kimber - they might fix it for free. Or send it to a good custom gunsmith for repair, then you can recoop your money buy calling it "custom work" - when you sell it.