Carpenteri - Gun Traders Guide to Rifles: A Comprehensive, Fully Illustrated Reference for Modern Rifles with Current Market Values

A Comprehensive, Fully Illustrated Reference
for Modern Rifles with Current Market Values

Edited by Stephen D. Carpenteri

Copyright 2013 by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gun traders guide to rifles : a comprehensive, fully illustrated reference for modern rifles with current market values / edited by Stephen D. Carpenteri.

pages cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-62636-026-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Rifles--Catalogs. 2. Rifles--Prices. 3. Rifles--Collectors and collecting. I. Carpenteri, Stephen D.

TS536.4.G89 2013

683.422--dc23

2013027945ISBN: 978-1-62873-481-2

Printed in Canada

Welcome to Skyhorse Publishings Gun Traders Guide to Rifles. This book is designed to provide the professional and amateur rifle enthusiast with all the information he will need to buy, sell, or trade the most popular rifles of the smokeless powder era.

Fans of the Gun Traders Guide, another Skyhorse Publishing publication that has been a standard reference for gun collectors for over fifty years, will find the same level of detail and accuracy in this and other related books in the Skyhorse collectibles series. We work hard to provide accurate descriptions of listed firearms and their variations, plus up-to-date values for each listing.

Over two million gun buffs have found the Gun Traders Guide a useful reference and a valuable aid in the identification and comparison of sporting, military, and law enforcement rifles, including some rare and unusual collectibles and commemoratives. This first edition of Gun Traders Guide to Rifles continues that theme, offering thousands of listings accompanied by hundreds of illustrations of the most popular collectible rifles manufactured since the late 1800s, with detailed descriptions of the most common modern smokeless-powder rifles. Not every rifle ever made can be listed in any catalog of this size, but we have made every effort to include the makes and models that are most commonly encountered by American traders and collectors. Please note that the Gun Traders Guide to Rifles does not include recent or antique blackpowder arms or the newest modern firearms that currently have little or no collectible value.

Collectors should also understand that there is often a wide variation in value in various models. This is caused by a number of factors including quality of original manufacture, the condition of the firearm, and the popularity of the item among collectors, dealers, and auctioneers. It makes sense that any New in the Box rifle will have the highest value because it is in pristine condition, has never been fired, and shows no signs of wear or use; it is as perfect as the day it left the factory. Such rifles command premium prices and, to the right collector, may bring offers that are substantially higher than the values stated here.

Rifles in Excellent condition show few signs of wear or damage, function perfectly, and have had no upgrading, alterations, or repairs. A rifle that is in excellent condition should generate considerable interest from collectors or traders seeking to add the piece to their own collections or who know other collectors who have shown interest in that particular rifle.

Rifles in Good condition are often sought by beginning collectors who want to establish a grouping of rifles representative of the manufacturers catalog but who do not want to pay top dollar for them. This is a good way to start a collection of specific model firearms, gradually trading up in condition and price until the grouping is complete.

The format of the Gun Traders Guide to Rifles is simple and straightforward, listing rifles manufactured or imported since the late 1800s in the United States and abroad. Most entries include complete specifications, including model number and name, caliber, barrel length, overall length, weight, distinguishing features, variations, the dates of manufacture (when they can be accurately determined), and date of discontinuation. Photos accompany the text to help the reader with identifications and comparisons. Also, first/last entries are listed at the top of the page for additional ease in finding a particular manufacturer.

The Gun Traders Guide to Rifles will be revised periodically to ensure that its wealth of information is both current and detailed. The principal features that contribute to the unique nature of this rifle reference guide include its extensive pictorial format and accompanying comprehensive specifications. It provides a convenient avenue for identifying popular collectible rifles while simultaneously determining their current value.

Values shown are based on national averages obtained by conferring with knowledgeable gun dealers, traders, collectors, and auctioneers around the country, not by applying an arbitrary mathematical formula that could produce unrealistic figures. The values listed accurately reflect the nationwide average at the time of publication and are updated from time to time. Users should keep in mind that the stated values are averages based on a wide spectrum of variables. No price given in any such catalog should be considered the one and only value for a particular firearm. That figure is ultimately determined by final agreement between the buyer and seller.

Rifle values are also affected by regional preferences. For example, the Marlin Model 336 leveraction in .30-30 caliber is extremely popular on the East Coast and will command higher prices than it would in other parts of the country, where long-range bolt-action rifles, or the so-called bean field rifles, are more desirable among shooters, hunters, and others who seek these models. In some cases collectors will purchase regionally-popular models elsewhere at relative bargain prices and then offer them for sale later in regions where they are considered more valuable.

Successful collecting of any valuable commodity from rifles to rugsrequires patience, research, and experience. Never be in a hurry to buy, sell, or trade any rifle no matter how attractive the offer. Study the sale and consult with known experts before closing a sale. Be sure you know what you have and what it is worth before buying, selling, or trading it away.

Rare or one-of-a-kind items are not listed here because very little trading takes place. Most of these transactions are private sales between individuals or their agents with few opportunities for public bidding. In such cases it is nearly impossible to set or obtain current market values. Rifles that are worth $20,000 to $1 million or more are offered for sale only at exclusive gun shows or private auctions. The occasional gem squeaks through the system (usually during estate sales when the owners are unaware of the value of a particular item), but those opportunities are extremely rare.