FIREARMS APPRAISAL SERVICES

Why appraise? A professional appraisal provides the firearms owner with a proper description and documentation of value. . .

Who am I?

I have a lifetime of hands-on experience with antique and older firearms of all types as a shooter, re-loader, antique arms dealer, gunsmith and author.

30 years of experience as a full-time gunsmith, firearms restorer and arms dealer specializing in antique and obsolete firearms. Colt, Smith & Wesson, Winchester lever guns are just a few of my specialties. Major arms makers such as Browning, Cimarron Firearms, Marlin, Remington, Smith & Wesson and U.S. Repeating Arms Company trusted my work enough to regularly refer owners of older firearms of their manufacture to my shop.

I have acted as a consultant for; The American Gunsmith, Bullet 'N Press, Cimarron Firearms, Colt Custom Shop, Man at Arms magazine, Navy Arms, Rifle Magazine and Uberti USA.

Member: S.A.S.S., Colt Collectors Assn., contributing editor to the American Rifleman.

 

My book "Gunsmithing Guns of the Old West" published by Krause Publications since 2001 is now in print as an expanded, 2nd edition.

Since 1996 I have been the technical editor of Bullet 'N Press, an antique firearms newspaper. My articles have appeared in The American Gunsmith, Bullet 'N Press, Dixie Gun Works; Black Powder Annual, Man at Arms magazine, Shotgun News, The Rampant Colt, Remington Society Journal, S&W Collectors Journal, Winchester Arms Collectors Journal. I am also a contributing editor to the American Rifleman.

Guns of the New West is now available.

Smith & Wesson Sixguns of the Old West is also currently in print from Mowbray Publishers.
 

Just out! Gun Digest Manual of Antique Firearms Assembly/Disassembly

  
APPRAISALS:
Normally I like to examine firearms "hands-on" before I will offer an appraisal, this is the only truly accurate method, and is highly recommended for valuable antique arms. A "hands-on" appraisal will also provide you with substantial, written documentation on my stationary for insurance purposes. Fees
How to send firearms
 
I am often able to provide the owner with a sight-unseen evaluation based on the owner's description of the weapon(s). This type of evaluation will only be as accurate as the information I am given and will be reflected as such in the appraisal. In the case of more valuable weapons, a sight-unseen evaluation may not provide sufficient documentation for some insurance purposes.
 
Please, do not send photos via e-mail unless I ask for them*.
If I ask you to send photos, please try to keep them small (under 200kb).
Photos should be clear and well lit, camera/phone photos that show a vague shadow of a firearm are of no value.
 
* Note: I do not accept e-mails with photo attachments unless I am expecting them.
 
For sight-unseen appraisals, I will require as much information from you as possible about the weapon, information such as answers to these questions below (feel free to add more information; the more I have the more accurate the appraisal is likely to be.) Fees
What are the factory markings, and are they intact?
What is the caliber or gauge?
Let me know how much original finish the gun has (using percentages 0 -100%) or has the gun been reblued or replated?
What condition is the wood or are the handgun grips in? (please note any damages)
How is the bore, and is the gun in good operating condition?
Is it a rifle, or is it a carbine?
Does it have a round, octagon or 1/2 round barrel? How long is the barrel?
If this is a shotgun: is the gun a double, or single barrel or does it use a pump or semi-automatic action?
On doubles: Does the gun have double or single triggers? Automatic ejectors?
Has the gun been altered from standard in any way?
Are you aware of any factory special order features?
In addition, it would help a great deal if you can e-mail me a clear digital photo or two, one being a close up of the action, along with the written details.
Please, do not send photos via e-mail unless I ask for them, no images over 200kb.
Fees for firearms appraisals vary according to the amount of research work involved with each individual weapon. Some examples are given below:

Payment of fees:

Payment may be by Visa/Mastercard or Discover for a quick e-mail answer. In the unlikely event I am not able to provide you with an answer, I will e-mail you back with a Sorry: I am unable to help, and no charges will be invoiced. When I cannot provide a substantial answer, I will always try to refer you to someone who may.
You may also mail me your check or money order for the answer, but you will have to wait until your payment arrives before we can send your answer(s). I sincerely apologize for having to adopt this policy, unfortunately my trusting nature has been taken advantage of one time too many.

 

Sending firearms for appraisal or consignment sale:
Since I am a federally licensed firearms dealer. As an individual, you may legally ship firearms to me for consignment or appraisal. Some notes;

Return shipment to the owner: Shipping charges from the owner to me and/or back to the owner are solely the responsibility of the owner.

  • Long-guns return will cost $35. plus cost of insurance desired by owner.
  • Modern handguns $40. plus cost of insurance desired by owner. (shipped Fed Ex overnight)
  • Antique handguns $30. plus cost of insurance desired by owner.
    • David R. Chicoine
    e-mail dave@oldwestgunsmith.com for a mailing address.
    Please type in "APPRAISAL" as the message subject.

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