I'm taking a poll to help me make a decision.
Is an old Beeman R (Weihrauch) worth more with OE parts or tune kits installed?
Is an old Beeman R (Weihrauch) worth more with OE parts or tune kits installed?
Beeman Resale value
- Thread starter Mycapt65
- Start date
Can't speak to Beeman brand but anything found, gifted or inherited, I'd try to determine value first. (Series of photos on forum would be a start.) Value of a rare, one-of-a-kind airgun can suffer by modification or aggressive cleaning. On the other hand, a simple airgun, produced in large numbers, might only hold value as a functioning product, where modifications, or upgrades, won't affect value. WM
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I'd pay more if it had fresh lube, a new seal, and tune kit installed. I'm a user, not a collector.
R
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Definitely worth more with new components
.IMO The old spring guide, spring and piston seal are garbage.
I don’t know why anyone would value them?
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Let's say desirable but not super rare by any means. It'd be functional either way but as Kurt (SG) noted it functions nicer with a kit in it. Labor is irrelevant so I don't know if it would be worth giving away a fresh kit if it doesn't add value. Forget it if it detracts value.
thanks for your input
Ron
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I think it depends on ones intention. If they are going to shoot it, kit for sure. If they are going to just hold on to it as a collector maybe original. I agree with Kirk, the old parts would be of no value to me.
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I would say it depends on the buyer . Some would prefer an OG never taken apart , even when told it needs a new seal ..The old leather seal has a softer shot cycle feeling . Others want a new kit installed , but then their is a question of who did the work ? then there is the "i did the work myself "
Who ???
Who ???
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IMO it’s all about condition. Weather it has after market internals is far less important. I would not include them myself. Unless you don’t have a need for them.
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Hy-Score spring piston target pistol gifted many years ago by retired missionary. Not alot of these around, especially in chrome with ivory-colored grips. Still works and occasionally use, but no heavy cleaning nor modifications. Corny, but like to think I'm preserving a small piece of airgun history. WM 
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Not corny at all. Totally understandable. Similarly I'm struggling with removing the Blue Ribbon scope on my NTM (new to me) Hw77 MkI because together it's a classic Beeman airgun time capsule on the wall. On the other hand I hate the scopes design so it ruins shooting the rifle. Sure i can take it off but once it's off it's probably not going back on unless I sell the rifle. Even then the scope is probably worth more separated than packaged with the rifle. And (to everyone) the 77 isn't for sale.
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From being a member of this forum for a short while and seeing your postings, you seem to know your way around them pretty well and the gun would no doubt be better and worth more after your tune. That being said, there’s always a chance (however slim) you might damage the stock, internals, or metalwork finish that could possibly make it less attractive to a buyer or at least cause you more work. (Yes, I’m sure it’d be fixed properly, in any case!) Just a thought.
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Thanks Dave, noted. Anything is possible. I get it. The more times you have something apart the greater the possibility of incidental damage. Happens to the best of us.
Be well
Ron
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It depends on the history of the individual gun and the quality of any new parts/work.
I'm admittedly more "collector" than "shooter," so I mainly look at exterior condition. I've bought a BUNCH of old HW's and most are in very nice condition; yet I'm not a "mint/boxed/paperwork & accessories" sort of guy. If a random gun at a show has evidence of internal work (and the majority over a certain age will; springs and seals being inherently perishable after all) it's neither a plus nor minus to me, if the outside bits look complete, age-appropriate, and not abused.
But on the other hand...YES, I would pay more for a gun that someone like you, Paul Watts, Dave Slade, or another known pro had worked on! I've hung around enough Weihrauchs to know they work better with some tweaking, and that there are some vastly better tweakers than me out there.
I'm admittedly more "collector" than "shooter," so I mainly look at exterior condition. I've bought a BUNCH of old HW's and most are in very nice condition; yet I'm not a "mint/boxed/paperwork & accessories" sort of guy. If a random gun at a show has evidence of internal work (and the majority over a certain age will; springs and seals being inherently perishable after all) it's neither a plus nor minus to me, if the outside bits look complete, age-appropriate, and not abused.
But on the other hand...YES, I would pay more for a gun that someone like you, Paul Watts, Dave Slade, or another known pro had worked on! I've hung around enough Weihrauchs to know they work better with some tweaking, and that there are some vastly better tweakers than me out there.
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Ron, you might be a "who?" on an auction site but I'd say anybody here probably knows you know your way around a tune and wouldn't be selling junk.
Personally I'd rather buy a gun that has OEM parts and needs freshening up for a "needs freshening up" price. However, I would add 50% to 75% of the cost of new parts (recently installed) to the purchase price of a gun if the person who installed them knows what they are doing and they didn't modify those parts or cause the gun to be too hot.
To pay more than that I would have to see and shoot the gun and have enough appreciation for the work done to justify a higher price, and I have done that before. But that's just me.
If it were a hard to find gun I really wanted and in the condition I really wanted and the seller wanted full price for after market parts, I probably wouldn't bat an eye, but I'd like to see a test target and chrono results to make sure I am getting something for my extra money other than just new parts that deliver run-of-the-mill performance.
I like vintage guns and vintage aperture sights but don't care about vintage scopes. I'd rather a seller sell the scope to someone who'd want it.
ChrisK
Personally I'd rather buy a gun that has OEM parts and needs freshening up for a "needs freshening up" price. However, I would add 50% to 75% of the cost of new parts (recently installed) to the purchase price of a gun if the person who installed them knows what they are doing and they didn't modify those parts or cause the gun to be too hot.
To pay more than that I would have to see and shoot the gun and have enough appreciation for the work done to justify a higher price, and I have done that before. But that's just me.
If it were a hard to find gun I really wanted and in the condition I really wanted and the seller wanted full price for after market parts, I probably wouldn't bat an eye, but I'd like to see a test target and chrono results to make sure I am getting something for my extra money other than just new parts that deliver run-of-the-mill performance.
I like vintage guns and vintage aperture sights but don't care about vintage scopes. I'd rather a seller sell the scope to someone who'd want it.
ChrisK
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Whether all original or aftermarket-tweaked is worth more depends on the buyer.
The general buyer is (rightfully) suspicious about self-installations and non-standard parts, and lives with the idea that a gun just as it came from the (German) factory is almost magically the best it can be. The general buyer doesn't read the airgun buff forums, or think about airguns' internal life at all. They think the factory knows best, and any messing with the gun by the previous owner is not a boon but a bane.
An airgun buff is completely different. We know Weihrauchs as they come off the factory need work, and can be made MUCH better. A good kit expertly installed would be a boon to someone in the know.
The general buyer is (rightfully) suspicious about self-installations and non-standard parts, and lives with the idea that a gun just as it came from the (German) factory is almost magically the best it can be. The general buyer doesn't read the airgun buff forums, or think about airguns' internal life at all. They think the factory knows best, and any messing with the gun by the previous owner is not a boon but a bane.
An airgun buff is completely different. We know Weihrauchs as they come off the factory need work, and can be made MUCH better. A good kit expertly installed would be a boon to someone in the know.
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I think for a common R series rifle, whatever money and time spent on it (interior wise) is a wash when going to sell it. People will spend more on the rifle if the exterior is made nicer. Like a custom stock or a well done refinish. Scopes and peep sights are a gift usually. Unless collectible. People want to make it their own.
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Airguns, cars, motorcycles, I think everyone wants a virgin. My Santa Rosa R1 carbine .20 came to me unmolested. I replaced the piston and breach seals with Factory Weihrauch parts and even retained the original spring.
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I have R1 (1984).
I have an HW35.
If I were to be offered another Weihrauch or other springer that has been modified in anyway, I would pass.
I don’t want someone else’s junk.
I have a 12fpe VORTEK kit in one of my TX200s.
If I sold it, I tell the purchaser and either replace the kit or include the original spring with the sale.
I have an HW35.
If I were to be offered another Weihrauch or other springer that has been modified in anyway, I would pass.
I don’t want someone else’s junk.
I have a 12fpe VORTEK kit in one of my TX200s.
If I sold it, I tell the purchaser and either replace the kit or include the original spring with the sale.
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