old lever action

[finnman]

Well I have a pickle....an old friend of my dad's has offered me his families old winchester lever action. It is a model 92, 24" octagular barrel, in .25-20, all original, blueing is 70%, wood is 60%, barrel is clean, firing pin perfect. It does have a cracked stock and a sliver of it missing by the tang. I checked the serial number it is dated at 1906 and was purchased by his grandfather.
I took it in and had it appraised at $1,300 to $1,500. I don't have that kind of money sitting around, so do I offer him less or just tell him to sell it, or ask him if I can pay him off later?
It is a cool  piece of history that is still shootable!

[duckmen1]

I would ask him what he wants to sell it for and go from there.

[crazysccrmd]

I would ask him what he wants to sell it for and go from there.

Yep. Let him know what it appraised for and go from there. Could be he wants a family friend to have it more than he wants full market price for it.

[300rum]

That sounds way too much with a cracked stock with a piece of wood missing.

Where did you take it to get it appraised?  If it was a gun shop, after they give you an appraisal, ask them what they will give you for it if they where to buy it.  That will give you a good idea what it is worth. 

[finnman]

I did take it to a gun shop, they gave me a verbal appraisal.
I will ask him what he is wanting for it and go from there, I will post a pick once I have it.

[Biggerhammer]

A better question to ask the shop that appraised it would be.

How much would you purchase it for? Then add 200.00 bucks and that would be a fair offer to make your friend.

[mountainman]

Blue book and real world prices are miles apart. Buyers are not paying for "collectable" guns, and havent for several years now. Hard to sell guns that "book" when people are buying guns as tools, not as investments. Looking at the bid column on Gunbroker will give you a feel of real world value...http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=349514113 not a bad price, but no bids on a gun that sounds to be in better shape then yours.
   But remember, all it takes is that "one" person, looking for that "one" gun, on that "one" day!

[HighlandLofts]

I alway look at the online gun auctions and see what they are bidding on any particular gun for a up to date value on a gun, There is a Ruger Mark 2 , blued with a ten inch bull barrel 22 caliber started out at $800 or buy it now for $850. I'll bet there will be no takers for this one item. I bought the same gun except the one I bought is stainless and I paid $516 with tax. If you take it to Cabelas they'll probably low ball you then jack the price way up on the re-sale.