Sporting & Antique Gun Appraisals and Appraisals

Sporting guns appraisals

If you'd like to get a rifle, sporting or antique gun appraisal, one of the fastest and easiest ways is with Value My Stuff Now. Whether you have a sporting rifle by Holland & Holland or a pair of guns by J. Purdey & Sons, our sporting guns specialists can give you an honest and objective appraisal within 48 hours. Simply upload a photograph to get started. Our clients also use our online sporting gun appraisal service to find out the value of an item before buying it from an auction, a dealer, eBay or privately. The appraisal we provide will give you a useful guide, letting you know whether the price you're paying is reasonable.

Our sporting guns expert

Our specialist has been working in the Gun Trade since 1982, when he first worked for Sotheby's both at their London and Sussex salerooms. Joining Sotheby’s full time in 1987, apart from a brief stint with London Gunmaker Boss & Co., he has spent his entire career working for or associated with Sotheby’s, the Worlds Leading Auction House. He has been involved in the sale of guns belonging to Heads of State, Royalty and Rock Stars, including many rare and unique pieces. Record prices have been achieved in almost every category and he continues to have an active involvement in this business.

Get an appraisal

It's quick and easy to get an expert appraisal report.
Upload a photo of your item to get started

The auction market for sporting guns

The Auction market for sporting guns is quite buoyant. There are many competent rifle makers and fine pieces regularly appear on the market. Famous London makers include James Purdey & Sons, Holland and Holland, Boss & Co., Woodward, William Evans, John Dickson & Son, Westley Richards. Items range from English and Continental side-lock, bock-lock and over-and-under shotguns to bolt-action rifles, double rifles and pistols. In the UK, an auction dedicated to sporting guns is held each year at the Gleneagles Hotel, gathering many international collectors. This year’s Gleneagles sale’s top lot was a pair of self-opening side-lock ejector guns which sold for $120,000 to a private Scottish buyer. They were made quite recently, in 1999.

Many other makers’ works appeal to collectors. In July 2010, a side-lock ejector gun by Boss & Co sold for $39,000 in London.

Determining the value of sporting guns

Obviously limited edition rifles or sporting guns sell better. Also, the provenance undoubtedly add to the value of the piece. In 2007, a pair of Purdey 20-bore that belonged to former triple World Champion Formula One racing driver Jackie Stewart sold for $129,000.

Get a sporting guns appraisal today

To determine the value of your sporting gun, simply upload a photograph of the item and any of its marks and give as much information as possible. Our dedicated sporting guns and rifles appraiser will evaluate all of the relevant criteria. Within 48 hours, you will receive an online gun appraisal, in the form of a printable certificate. We will also provide a web certificate that can be used in eBay listings.