Firearm Customizing and Resale Value

[Brass Balls]

Does customizing add to the value of a gun? Pretty broad, I know, but what are the parameters in your opinion? Does the base gun make a big difference? What about the work that was performed and who performed it?

What are your experiences and impressions?

[Sutcliffe]

It depends

Customizing can increase the value of your firearm. It would be highly unlikely that you could actually sell something for equal or more than the amount you put into it though. Collectors usually focus on getting factory pristine examples of some things(Colt SAA for one- and not even considering examples that have had the cylinder turned)and are turned off by things that deviate. Often a refinish will destroy collector value on many things. My best friend's father in law would always go to nevada and add to his collection of WWII era handguns. SOme time in the mid- seventies he got a wild hair and had a c-96 Mauser and a luger reblued. When he unloaded his collection about 5 years ago those two were the last to be sold and didn't get nearly as much as his other items.

My only custom piece is a Ruger Bisley that I had Dave Clements work on.
Custom 5 1/2" Douglas Barrel
Bowen rear sight.
action tune.
Line bored and forcing cone cut to 11 degrees
.44 Super black hawk cylinder recut to tight .45 Colt
Matte hard chrome finish

All told I have $1500 between purhase price and Clement's work. I'm certain I could get a lot more than the standard Bisley's out there on the resale market, but I'm not kidding myself that I could sell it for what I've spent. For what I spent I could have bought a freedom arms 83 and got the finest production revolver in the world that would have a much higher resale value. A fool and his money I guess.
Hope this helps

[rivviepop]

If your piece was customized by someone like Jim Clark Sr. or F. Bob Chow it can be worth top dollar, well well beyond "street value". If it was customized by Frank the deli guy on the corner, it's worth a lot less.

[halifax]

I had a guy bring in his deceased father-in-law's rifle and wanted to know how much it was worth. Originally it was a 1949 Winchester 70 chambered in .257 Roberts.

However, in the early sixties he had a barrel chambered in .257 Weatherby Magnum put on it, accurized the action, and changed the stock. The work was all very professionally done and it served him well for years. He hunted all over the world and took many trophies with it.

If it were in factory original shape it could fetch $2000 - $3000. Now it is probably only worth the price of the accurized receiver...$500 - $700.

Oh well, I doubt he was customizing it to increase its resale value anyway.

[Waingro]

Putting night sights on a Glock will increase the value.

Putting night sights on a HK P7 would most likely decrease the value I would assume. I have been researching HK P7's and people pay a few hundred dollars more just because of a warning stamp on the slide.

[Spiggy]

"Customizing" & Adding Value- Applies to:
AR15s, 10/22s, M700's, and other commercial "Mr. Potatohead" guns that have plug & play parts accessories

"Customizing" & Decreasing Value- Applies to:
EVERYTHING ELSE, ESPECIALLY COLLECTABLES AND C&RS

[The SoCal Gunner]

Anyone want to give me their opinion of the worth of this gun (add to value or decrease)? Work was done by Clark's Custom but I have no proof of it.

[Brass Balls]

If your piece was customized by someone like Jim Clark Sr. or F. Bob Chow it can be worth top dollar, well well beyond "street value". If it was customized by Frank the deli guy on the corner, it's worth a lot less.

Even then though if the work was done to Charles Daly 1911 I don't think the gun would fetch half of what it would if it was a Colt. Don't you think?

[gunsmithcats]

THat is some very niec beautiful work.
Clarks' definitely increased it IMO

But im a 1911 whore.

[aplinker]

I hate you right now... I'm not only a 1911 whore, but I LOVE 9mm 1911s.

There was a nice Clark custom in CA that just sold on GunBroker, that actually would give you a good benchmark. Similar, but not 9mm. Unless you find someone like me it being a 9mm is a detractor

Any interest in a trade?

Anyone want to give me their opinion of the worth of this gun (add to value or decrease)? Work was done by Clark's Custom but I have no proof of it.