The Economy as Reflected by the Price of Guns at Auction

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As most of U know I follow the Gun Auctions across the USA.
Well it looks like prices are still rising like there is no tommorow.

On Sunday at JC Devines in NH a friend of mine bid on a Griffin & Howe 505 Gibbs built on a Mauser Action, it went for $24,000.00 out the door against a presale estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. The gun was built in the 1930s, didn't have any engraving on it to speak of., but is in near new condition.

On Monday at Greg Martins in SF.....prices were going well above estimates on just about everything. He had a collection that was probably started in the late 1940s where everything in the collection was choich....on the 2 I was interested in...

1. An Edwin Wesson Muzzleloading Tgt rifle with False Muzzle that had a pre sale estimate of $3000 to $4250 sold for $7400.00 out the door...The gun was in near new condition...which is exceptional since Wesson died in 1854. I talked with an expert in the field of Muzzleloading Tgt rifles, his opinion was that the rifle was worth $5000.

2. A Slotter and Co of Phil. & later CA...muzzleloading tgt rifle with false muzzle and Short Starter that had a plaque inscribe "The Great Central Fair 1864." Lincoln and his wife attended the event in Phil. It is in near new condition and had a presale estimate of $8000 to $10,000 it sold for apx $12,000 out the door.. The opined value by the expert on the rifle was $8000.

The expert was incredleous when I told him the prices these rifles fetched, and I got depressed since the prices were well above what I can afford...

The only thing I can conclude is that the economy is roaring away for so many people to be throwing money around like it is water...

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Tabs,

Not really what I've noticed around here. Prices are sluggish, most models are not moving very well. The exception seems to be semi-auto assault weapons, but the people buying these are often back trying to unload them because they don't know how to keep them clean/operational. Three years ago weapons were moving very well here, two years ago people started selling off collections, last year nothing moved very well. Just my take from shows.