What is a collector grade Airgun?

[Harves]

Those of you who collect airguns, what are your standards for condition? NIB / 95%, rarities?
I look at for sale guns on the classifieds & hope to learn what you who are collectors look for.

 

[AirSupply]

It’s always nice to find an example in very good condition. At time I’ve bought guns that may be described as fair/good as I know there may not be another opportunity to own one.
If I know I’m likely to come across a gun in better condition I’ll pass.
Part of my love of older Airguns is to understand the classics I enjoy collecting. To use them and get an insight into how they were made, the skill of the gunsmiths that made them and of course to shoot them.
It’s always a balance between rarity ,price ,condition and the desire to have the gun.

 

[AirNGasman]

I got into airgun collecting in the early eighties, but over the course of the ensuing four decades have transitioned to long-range airgun competitions (to 100 yards) and airguns capable of same.

But typical of airgun collectors, early in my collecting experience I concentrated on very-good and better condition. With more experience I evolved toward excellent and better condition, seldom settling for less except on hard to find guns; then sometimes refinishing and/or modifying them.

As I've sold off most of my collectables, of course I've kept my favorites and/or those attached to my fondest memories. Like this Sears & Roebuck Ted Williams variant of the Crosman 160 that I won a State Champion title and National Record certificates with in NRA Silhouette competitions when the 1950s-vintage gun was a half-century old.

I've owned several Crosman 150s, but am down to my favorite example that I've modified to my tastes and purposes. It consistently averages 1/2" groups at 25 yards, and has taken jackrabbit to 30 yards and cottontail to 35 yards with offhand shots-

I refinished and customized this 1949-1954 vintage Crosman 112, that was in only good to very good shape when I got it-

Benjamin's first Co2 pistols were of very impressive quality and used the little 8 gram cartridges. This 1950s vintage .22 model 252 was in like new condition; wish I hadn't let it go-


There have been so many, I could fill a book...

Or five.

 

[readyfisher9]

Real eye candy. I have collected nice copies of the Crosman 150, Crosman 600, SW 78G, and 79G. The latest puppy is my Weihrauch HW75. Fun Stuff!

 

[holo07]

I agree with the above, I like the older Crosman and Beemans and Smith & Wessons

 

[ctshooter]

The best purchase I've made recently is volume 13 of the Blue Book for Airguns. It's opened my eyes to proper pricing and grading of the quality of an airgun. From this I've learned that I desire 90% condition or better. Apparently 100% condition means it's basically NIB so nothing you'd find on the used market.

Surprisingly wear on the sharp edges of an airgun do not degrade the value of an airgun as that can still grade at 90%. Scuffs, dings, marks, chips do bring down the value and I would likely only purchase if the item is very rare.

I bide my time and don't really focus on just one model at a time.

I recently purchased a HyScore 802 .22 Repeater from eBay and feel I got a great deal on a 95% pistol. Fired it a few times to confirm it all works and was amazed how much harder it is to cock than some of the other HyScore examples I have. It is actually so unused it is still dieseling on each shot.

 

[RM100GUY]

I thought there would be more responses to this thread as I know of several serious collectors. I collect Theoben gas ram air rifles made from early 80s to 2012...I simply like the way they look and the engineering and they do shoot quite good too. I specifically like the SLRs (self loading rifle). Condition, rarity, model # is all factored into collecting...the pristine prime collector/museum quility guns that function properly are few and far between as most were used in one fashion or another and not many were made of some models originally...a few dings and scratches on an example may be required to own an example at all. Pictured here are an example of what I would consider "quintessential" collector grade airguns...the Carbine. 22 is near perfect in appearance and function and the FT .177 which has a ding or two in the stock but is very rare and has some history behind it, the Carbine is a Beeman branded
22 SLR 98 and the FT is an SLR88 .177 Imperator, both Theoben gas rams.









.

 

[Harves]

The responses are very helpful. I just ordered the blue book of Airguns so that will be a helpful reference.
At present I’m not clear a on how condition impacts pricing.

 

[KWK]

Best bet these days is see what eBaggers paid in the sold listings. Or other popular auction sites. What items sold for at auction is the true market. Popular items, pricing is easy. Rare items, Blue Book just takes a W.A.G..
How much is this one worth? Rhetorically.

Or this?

Or this Lincoln Jeffries?

Or LNIB HW55?

A Mk1 Webley?


You won't know until the hammer drops. There are very few if any comparables.
Collecting is partly or sometimes entirely a romantic endeavor.
None of my guns are for sale!

 

[wijib]

I thought there would be more responses to this thread as I know of several serious collectors. I collect Theoben gas ram air rifles made from early 80s to 2012...I simply like the way they look and the engineering and they do shoot quite good too. I specifically like the SLRs (self loading rifle). Condition, rarity, model # is all factored into collecting...the pristine prime collector/museum quility guns that function properly are few and far between as most were used in one fashion or another and not many were made of some models originally...a few dings and scratches on an example may be required to own an example at all. Pictured here are an example of what I would consider "quintessential" collector grade airguns...the Carbine. 22 is near perfect in appearance and function and the FT .177 which has a ding or two in the stock but is very rare and has some history behind it, the Carbine is a Beeman branded
22 SLR 98 and the FT is an SLR88 .177 Imperator, both Theoben gas rams.









.View attachment 301751View attachment 301752

Russell, your Theobens are exceptional, especially the 88. The SLRs are extremely hard to come by and in pristine condition they are almost unheard of.

 

[wijib]

My SLR98 in Hyedua. This stock in particular is luminescent and unbelievable. Pristine condition and this one is in .177 carbine with the muzzle air bypass in the cocking lever. Perhaps one of the finest examples in existence. I am very fortunate to be a caretaker of this fine airgun. Photo's courtesy of Johnny Piston.

 

[RM100GUY]

My SLR98 in Hyedua. This stock in particular is luminescent and unbelievable. Pristine condition and this one is in .177 carbine with the muzzle air bypass in the cocking lever. Perhaps one of the finest examples in existence. I am very fortunate to be a caretaker of this fine airgun. Photo's courtesy of Johnny Piston.

NO DOUPT one of the best there is...don't scratch it!!! LOL

 

[RM100GUY]

The responses are very helpful. I just ordered the blue book of Airguns so that will be a helpful reference.
At present I’m not clear a on how condition impacts pricing.

Would you pay the same price for a beat up car next to a perfect one of the same year and milage....coins are even graded and one grade can make a huge difference in value...there are more people completing for a finite amount of airgun models and manufacturers these days,

those of us who like/bought them in the day had a head start collecting and realizing how nice these guns were, very expensive than too!
.

 

[AirSupply]

Some beautiful air guns. You can also see just how diverse collecting can be! People are attracted to a very wide variety of rifles/pistols.
Maybe there should be a spot on AGN for “Collectors”

 

[ghce]

My TX200 MK3. Was sent from AA to Jim MCcarrie where it looks to have received a custom Walnut stock and other upgrades. Was used successfully in competition before coming to me. I need to take some better photos, extremely accurate as you would expect and a load and shot cycle that is unbelievably buttery smooth. Sitting at 12 ft-lb for competition.

 

[ctshooter]

What @KWK mentions is correct. The BBoA is a starting point, but the auctions do determine the going prices. I find eBay to a bit on the higher end of things and do look for auctions with a make an offer sometimes. Sometimes I've gotten a steal and sometimes paid a little more than I wanted for something minty.

Here's a perfect example. The Crosman 150 is not valued very high, but the asking prices definitely are. 2 current eBay listings. Top one shows extreme wear on the slide and looks like someone used the tube as a hammer at one point. Bottom is looking minty fresh and comes with a box - the price reflects it.

Asking $200

Asking $375

 

[MDriskill]

Technical / financial aspects of collectibility are discussed well above: rarity, desirability (no matter how rare, not valuable if nobody wants one LOL), condition, presence of OEM paperwork and accessories, exceptional features like showpiece wood, etc.

But in a more personal sense...your "collectible" guns may be "none of the above" - but rather those that, for whatever reason, sing to YOU! Sentiment and plain old good looks make these collectible to me, LOL...

1947 Daisy 25. Fond memories of this gun pinching the bejeezus out of my fingers grandmother's house as a kid! She bought it to chase squirrels off her bird feeder

Benjamin 347 from Santa my freshman year of high school (its age none of your beeswax )

1960's HW 35E with 22" barrel

1982 Diana model 60 Tyrolean

Late 1960's Walther LGV "Olympia"

1970 Webley Mk 3 "Supertarget"

 

[MDriskill]

Asking $200
View attachment 301954

I simply don't know what to think of current auction prices (more proof that Covid made us all a bit daft?). I assure you, the numbers are quite different from what you'd see at an airgun show, or other face-to-face deals with knowledgeable collectors.

I paid $85 for a Crosman 150 at Findlay this year. It's much nicer than the first one above - and freshly re-sealed to boot. There were several very similar 150 deals at Hickory this weekend.

 

[AirSupply]

Best bet these days is see what eBaggers paid in the sold listings. Or other popular auction sites. What items sold for at auction is the true market. Popular items, pricing is easy. Rare items, Blue Book just takes a W.A.G..
How much is this one worth? Rhetorically.
View attachment 301775
Or this?
View attachment 301776
Or this Lincoln Jeffries?
View attachment 301777
Or LNIB HW55?
View attachment 301779
A Mk1 Webley?
View attachment 301783

You won't know until the hammer drops. There are very few if any comparables.
Collecting is partly or sometimes entirely a romantic endeavor.
None of my guns are for sale!

I recognise the military pattern but what is the top one?

 

[kingfisher61]

My SLR98 in Hyedua. This stock in particular is luminescent and unbelievable. Pristine condition and this one is in .177 carbine with the muzzle air bypass in the cocking lever. Perhaps one of the finest examples in existence. I am very fortunate to be a caretaker of this fine airgun. Photo's courtesy of Johnny Piston.

Beautiful find Bill!!! Surprised that JP let it go.
Here's my most recent acquisition. .22 long.