help with value on older guns

[WA hunter14]

i am trying to find the value on a couple guns for a friend and am having trouble finding the value of a browning auto 12 gauge(sorry i dont know anything else about it) it is pretty good condition but was hunted with so isnt perfect. a german luger 9mm in alright condition. i just need a general idea of what they are worth and can get pictures and more information if needed. thanks

[Biggerhammer]

Here is a start.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.htm?T=Browning+auto+12

It's worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

[CP]

"browning auto 12 gauge"  that could be anywhere from $75 to $7,500

[brokenvet]

What is the actual condition of the A5 and what is it?  It is a Belgian or Japanese?  Choke on the barrel?  Cracked fore arm?  light 12 or Magnum 12?

CP placed a $75 to $7,500 I would give it the same numbers.  However if you can post pictures of it, we can narrow it down. 

[WA hunter14]

thanks i will have pictures either tomorrow or friday

[WA hunter14]

browning is made in st louis missouri and is light twelve

[WA hunter14]

this is the luger if you need more pictures i have a couple more

[WA hunter14]

another pic of the luger

[WA hunter14]

oops same picture twice 

[WA hunter14]

hope this isnt the same one

[WA hunter14]

Japanese rifle i know nothing about, any information on it would be awesome specially cal an value

[CP]

browning is made in st louis missouri and is light twelve

$200 - $300 retail -

[WA hunter14]

another Japanese rifle exept this one was converted to 308. again any information on any of the guns would be greatly appreciated

[CP]

another Japanese rifle exept this one was converted to 308. again any information on any of the guns would be greatly appreciated

Converted = no historical or collector value.  Useful as a shooter only $150 - $200 retail

[rb2506]

are you going to be selling them for him?

[WA hunter14]

yea my dad will be, im just waiting to get values on them all and then post them all at the same time. unless your interested in one now? 

[WA hunter14]

and thank you to CP for the info!

[CP]

You’re welcomed.  If you want to date the browning you can match its serial number here:

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=13

I’m guessing it’s a WII era “American Browning” made in New York and distributed from St. Louis.  You can determine the choke by looking for *s on the left side of the barrel:

'*' designates full choke (F).
'*-' designates improved modified choke (IM).
'**' designates modified choke (M).
'**-' designates improved cylinder choke (IC).
'**$' designates skeet (SK).
'***' designates cylinder bore (CYL)

[WA hunter14]

you know anything about that japanese gun the unmodified one or the luger?

[Heredoggydoggy]

Japanese rifle i know nothing about, any information on it would be awesome specially cal an value

The Japanese rifle is an Arisaka, cal. 7.7 Jap.  I have one just like it that an uncle brought back from WW II when he was in the navy.  An interesting note, and one to be cautious of, is that the Japanese produced 3 types of 7.7 ammo--the type used in aircraft mounted guns, the type used in land based army machine guns, and the type used in the bolt action rifles.  Only the rifle ammo is safe to shoot in a rifle.  Google "Arisaka" and there is a wealth of info on them, arsenals, production runs, etc.  Unmodified guns are in demand for collectors, so it might be worth quite a bit to the right person.

[WA hunter14]

thanks great info! where would you recomend trying to sell it? or where to advertise it so collecters could see it?

[Heredoggydoggy]

It would probably get the most eyeballs on Gunbroker.com.  One other thing I forgot to mention:  If the Chrysanthemum on the receiver is intact, it will be especially desirable.  As part of the surrender agreement, all captured guns had to have the Chrysanthemum removed, as it was the emperor's emblem, and was not to be posessed by the enemy.  My uncle had to grind it off of mine to be able to keep it.  Any rifle with the Chrysanthemum intact was a pre-surrender capture.

[WA hunter14]

alright thanks im just gonna post it on here, how much more valuable would it be with the chrysanthemum intact?

[brokenvet]

St Louis,  That is a Remington made A5 for Browning.  It should have "B" in front of the serial number and they were made between 1940 to 1946. 

My guess $300.

browning is made in st louis missouri and is light twelve

[Heredoggydoggy]

alright thanks im just gonna post it on here, how much more valuable would it be with the chrysanthemum intact?

Don't know.  I just keep mine out of sentimental value.  An annual book called Blue Book of Gun Values gives general values of most guns in existence.

The Luger is probably the most valuable.  They were produced from 1908 through the early part of WW II, and phased out of the German military in favor of the Walther P-38.  If it has Nazi proof stamps, small Eagles with swastikas in their claws, it's a WW II issue.  If not, it's earlier.  As always, value is whatever someone is willing to pay.  This economy is not a good time to try to get top dollar for anything, sad to say...