Before you sell a gun, divide a collection among heirs, or file probate paperwork, you need to know one thing: what is it actually worth? I provide professional firearm valuations based on real market data, in writing, so you can make decisions with confidence.
I'm a licensed FFL holder running Gun Legacy in Parker, Colorado. Valuations are where almost every client relationship starts, and they're part of my free consultation.
What a Valuation Includes
Every valuation covers three things. First, identification: make, model, serial number, and any proof marks or stamps that tell us what the firearm is and when and where it was made. Second, condition: original finish versus refinished, mechanical state, completeness — the details that separate a $400 gun from a $1,500 one. Third, fair market value: what that specific firearm in that condition actually sells for right now, based on real recent sales data — not a number pulled from thin air, and not a lowball dressed up as an appraisal.
You receive a written summary for each firearm. That document is useful far beyond our conversation.
When You Need a Valuation
The most common reason is probate. If you're the executor of an estate that includes firearms, you need defensible fair market values for the estate inventory — "we think it was worth about this much" doesn't hold up. A written valuation gives you a number you can stand behind.
The second most common is dividing assets among heirs. When three siblings are splitting a collection, an independent valuation keeps things fair and keeps the peace. Everyone sees the same numbers.
Valuations also matter for insurance — documenting what a collection is worth before something happens to it — and any time you're deciding whether to keep, sell, or consign. You can't make a smart decision about a firearm's future until you know its present value.
A Word About "Free Appraisals"
Be careful with free appraisals from anyone who wants to buy the gun. That's not an appraisal — it's an opening bid, and it will come in low. A gun shop offering "free appraisals" at the counter is telling you what they'll pay, which is typically 20 to 30 percent of market value. An independent valuation from someone with no interest in buying your firearm at a discount is a completely different thing. That's what I provide.
How It Works
Contact me for a free consultation — call (720) 998-4776 or email info@gunlegacy.com. We schedule a time — I'm by appointment, Monday through Friday, 9 to 5, serving Parker, Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and the Denver metro. I examine each firearm, research comparable sales, and give you honest values in writing.
One note I give every family: don't clean, polish, or restore anything before the valuation. Original condition is where the value lives, and well-meaning cleanup can cut a collectible's value in half before I ever see it.
What Happens After
A valuation doesn't obligate you to anything. Some clients use it purely for estate paperwork. Others move on to consignment — I sell firearms on the open market for a 20 percent commission — or an FFL transfer to an heir. Whatever you decide, you'll decide it knowing exactly what you're holding.
Call (720) 998-4776 or email info@gunlegacy.com for a free consultation. Find out what you have before you decide what to do with it.