I’m curious and have never been to an “estate” sale. If one (me ) were looking to pick up firearms at such a sale, how on earth do you find them? I mean, is there some listing somewhere people use? Is there a way to find out if firearms are available without hitting every estate sale in the city? Probably not I’d assume, but I thought I’d ask..

I used to go to a lot of estate sales, we have this site send us notifications each week on sales near our home. https://www.estatesales.net Lots of times, I walk away empty handed, but occasionally will get something worth the time and money. Bought books and record albums cheap. Bought some nice elegant bar ware for cheap. Bought our pool table, a really nice Olfhausen table for real cheap. Got some great wall hangings for a good price. I have seen firearms occasionally, and the ones that looked interesting were over priced. Haven't been to a sale at all this year.

Good to know, thanks!

There been have a number of estate sales around here offering firearms. I learned pretty quick you have to be there when the doors open the first day to have a chance. Yes they are generally priced high

Seems most in my area are online auctions. I'm on the email list of a few auctioneers and often get the chance to buy estate items.

here's a current link

https://www.wardlowauc.com/auctions/detail/bw111491

Any advertisement of an estate sale on the net that lists "firearms" I bet will be picked over within 30 minutes of opening. I held a sale once añd a car pulled up and asked "any guns or tools?" I said no and they didnt get out of the car, on to the next one. I shop them occasionally, need to have cash and get there early. Need to be wiling to check out a bunch before you find something really good.

I’m pretty sure there are a lot of folks who make it their business to attend estate sales and auctions. I assume they keep the prices at least competitive.

As said above, I use estatesales.net app on my phone. I've been able to find some nice mid-century stuff as well as lots of FiestaWare (I'm addicted). My shooting buddy Bob has a wife that owns an estate sale company. It more than pays the bills.

The ones that I have gone to that have firearms usually have very high prices on them and / or sell them the first day.

I have found quite a few American made Vice Grips, Crescent Wrenches, etc., for a dollar or two each. The last day of the sale, they often let you fill up a shopping bag for $5 with tools that didn't sell.

I always ask whoever is running it if there’s any old guns or ammo they want to sell. Always been no so far. Doesn’t hurt tho ask.
All contents of a house that had an elderly lady in that passed away down the street was liquidated before the house sold. Lots of good vintage Pyrex other old lady stuff picked up a cobalt blue Pyrex for my wife. The new Pyrex is not the same FYI. Need the vintage. And i mused a sweet hand hammered copper couldron like a rendering pot for like $50. Some dude grabbed it before I could.

Garage had a lot of the husbands tools for sale but had been picked over hard. Some garage /estate sales have good stuff old US made craftsman tools and snap on etc. most things of value at a discount have been grabbed up by the family or possibly friends of the liquidators or liquidators themselves.

All the grandkids had multiple opportunities to take as much stuff Fromm my grandparents home as they wanted before my mom and her sister hired liquidators. Lived in that house 70 years Sale was 3 days and people lined up like it was concert tickets. They bought my grandmas post cards they had received over the years. Hand written recipes. Insane what people would buy. Only thing I regret not grabbing was his legit 100 pound anvil and some black smithing tools he had. After seeing what a real anvil goes for it probly was sold for pennies per pound.

The wife loves to go to estate sales, even more than garage sales. She uses www.estatesales.net too. However, I have never seen firearms or ammo at an estate sale.

That being said, the wife targets sales in the more affluent areas and has gotten some great deals. Our dining room table, a set of couches, and two sets of end tables all came from estate sales.

I have tagged along a few times and scored some great books. Books don't seem to attract much attention from buyers and are usually sold for $1 each (sometimes less).

Thanks for all the info and advice folks

I used to work for some girls that conducted Estate sales . When a gun was located in the home they had a guy that would appraise it for them . There were no deals to be had . Somebody usually snatched it up before the sale day .

My wife likes estate sales. I'd say they are fun, particularly if the owners were people of consequence. But estate sales of regular folks sometimes have good stuff. Case in point, a recent estate sale, mostly junk more or less, was a very old but outstanding quality, but fully serviceable, small shop drill press. The quality was so high I'm sure you can't buy anything built that well any longer. If I had room for it in my garage I would have bought it on the spot. I hated to see it go to a thrift store, which is where I suppose where most of the stuff goes when it's left over.

Good info, thanks

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
I used to work for some girls that conducted Estate sales . When a gun was located in the home they had a guy that would appraise it for them . There were no deals to be had . Somebody usually snatched it up before the sale day .

This site sells estate firearms. https://www.alderferauction.com/specialties/firearms

I furnished my mid-century home nearly 100% from estate sales. My kids call it "dead people's end-tables". As others have said, you need to be there and queue in line as early as possible before the doors open. This is where professional antique shops get inventory. Less reputable estate firms run the best stuff out the back door, but they need to leave enough to tempt a crowd. I have never seen anything particularly good (memorable) in the firearm space. Guessing (in PA at least) it's best to just take that to a local FFL shop and sell off.

The only estate auction that I have been to that had any decent firearms was one about 15 years ago in a local town. I managed to pick up a couple of decent rifles.

One was a pre-64 Winchester model 94 in 30-30. It came in the original Winchester box and was made in 1954. It looked like it never had left the box and it drew a lot of attention. I couldn't believe it when the bidding died out at around $500. I took it home for a $550 bid.

The other rifle I took home was a Remington Fieldmaster 121. This one had definitely been used but was in decent condition and had been obviously cared for, it was made in the 1940's. I have always had a soft spot for the old pump .22's. I took her home for a $300 bid.

I used to hit these pretty regularly as I have a pretty flexible work schedule but got burnt out and haven't been to one in over six months. Most advertise on Facebook, so they don't advertise if they have guns because of FB problems related to that. There is one local guy that just does it with his dad and has two sales a week and he doesn't pre price anything. You grab a pile of stuff and take it up to him and he gives you a price. Its a usual Grade A shit show of chaos and people getting pissed off. He doesn't know jack about guns and his dad prices tools cheap, so if any sale looks like it had stuff from a hunter or veteran or tool-user/collector, I go to them. I've gotten some great stuff, a brand new WWII 1903a3 barrel for $10, a tacklebox with a 1911 .22 conversion kit, .460 Rowland slide and ammo for $40, 50 pounds of vintage Craftsman for $50, a box of war memorabilia for $75 that included a patch I sold on eBay for $300. Its fun, but when I add up my time, especially for all the duds, I probably broke even. Plus, one time I watched some dude back into someone else's car and drive off, that would really put a damper on things.

I've seen some where the people running the estate sale get really nervous about the guns they are selling, even if it is a single shotgun. I think most just tell the people they don't want the liability and take them to a FFL.

As a follow up to my previous comment . There is a huge difference in Estate sales versus garage sales . I've found that estate sale prices can be through the roof on most decent items . The whole point of the sale is to make as much money for the client as possible which makes your percentage higher . It's also a lot of work for the people that conduct the sales . Around here , the items are organized , priced , and when the sale is over , the house is empty and broom clean unless some other arrangement was made .