Old Spoon Information/research?
 

I have two older 'muskets' that I need to have a ballpark 'wholesale' price for (i.e.) if they needed to be liquidated, I could easily expect to get that much for them. Any thoughts on value? How do I go about getting a 'value' on them? is there anything that should be done to 'protect' them since they show signs of surface rust?

I've attached a few fuzzy pictures. One is stamped Crown over BF and Beuret Freres, Liege. Ballpark 1860's?

The other is umarked but has a diamond shape carved into the 'stock'. Its in much worse shape.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1288110672.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1288110683.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1288110694.jpg

More information is needed. Do they have rifled barrels or smooth bore? Better pictures are going to be needed.

I cn tell you straight up that the Liege gun has minimal value..mostly as a decorative wall hanger. So lets say $200 would be more than fair.

The other one is a percussion something? More info is needed tomake an evaluation . However all things being equal it to has minimal value of lets say $200 as a decorative wall hanger.

The first is a Belgium trade musket. These were inexpensive cap and ball smooth-bore muskets made for the American and other colonial markets.

The second looks to be the same type, but of course without manufacturer's marks I am unable to identify the maker.

Huge numbers of these types of arms were made and made as inexpensively as possible. Since America never had a Proof House the European manufacturing countries of England and Belgium flooded the American market with these low quality arms at great profit.

Value of 1st is about $200 -$400, 2nd is about $150 to $250, if you sell them as decoration to the right group.

Thanks guys. I would have been surprised if they were worth more than that. I don't want to screw the guy over, but I also don't suspect that the guy that I am loaning money to will be paying me back (this is part of some collateral). I have little interest in keeping them long term. I'll try to get up some better pictures this evening.

Tabs... I'll swap you these for a painting in a year or so? ;)

-B

I kinda like the old rusty one. Here's a closeup. I dont see any lettering on it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1288113662.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1288113672.jpg

U mean the one I did with crayons this morning...I am afraid the dog did something on it...which when dried should make it worth the value of those two wonderful spoons you have if you throw in some cash with them.

Perfect. Sounds like a deal.

BTW the second spoon looks like an American made persussion rifle.