Roy Vail 220 Swift Rifle Value
My dad passed down a few rifles to me. One being a custom 220 Swift done by Roy Vail. It has beautiful engraving and is in excellent condition. I understand he only made like 150 rifles or something. My problem is I would like to sell the rifle and don't know how to come up with a good price. Any advice would be appreciated.
0
-
Custom rifles are not that collectible, especially a 220 swift that is one of the hottest calibers out there.
Barrel life was short on the .220 and without a photo of the gun there is no way of determining value of a custom gun. Post some photos and maybe someone can come up with a value.
I sold a .Custom 1950's .220 swift on Gb about 2 years ago that was mint and a really nicely done custom gun and got $1400. Hope that helps some...It had a vintage scope on it.0 -
Thanks for the info. I tried to post a pic but can't figure it out. The insert image button does nothing. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by caseyd
Thanks for the info. I tried to post a pic but can't figure it out. The insert image button does nothing.
It really helps if you read the instructions for posting photos in the forum, on the "STICKY" on our splash page. I've made it easy for you here is a link to them.
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2592940 -
I see a couple of Roy Vail rifles a year for sale. You might look at some of the completed auctions and see what there is.
Roy Vail does have a following, he did hid own engraving as well as building the rifles. I believe that one of his customers was President Eisenhower.
"Custom rifles are not that collectible" Now that's funny, thanks for the smile.[:)]0 -
caseyd,
"Custom rifles are not that collectible..."
Custom rifles are completely collectible and have been for over a hundred years, when offered to the proper market for an appropriate period of time. The market is smaller and you will get interest but it may take a longer period of time to get the word out to those wanting this type of rifle.
"...a 220 swift that is one of the hottest calibers out there. "
This is a holdover from way too many years ago when the powder selection for the Swift was limited and the barrel steel was not up to today's standards. With an impressive range of bullets and modern powders, when combined with the best barrel steel, the Swift can be an extremely usable cartridge with good longevity.
Check the Auction side as suggested and be sure to post some good photographs of the overalls and some details of the action and wood. If you run into a snag, e-mail me or post again.
Best.0 -
quote:Originally posted by MP
I see a couple of Roy Vail rifles a year for sale. You might look at some of the completed auctions and see what there is.
Roy Vail does have a following, he did hid own engraving as well as building the rifles. I believe that one of his customers was President Eisenhower.
"Custom rifles are not that collectible" Now that's funny, thanks for the smile.[:)]Seems I touched a nerve, Ok you win. Custom Rifles are highly collectible and prized by the vast majority of gun collectors....[:D]
I guess I could have worded it differently. "The custom rifle market is a very small market compared to the factory market."
Sorry MP/Nononsense, but the vast majority of custom rifles have very little collector value. I know there are exceptions and I am not trying to start a fight, just stating a fact.
If this were a factory American or german rifle it would go about 10X the price, No?
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=1912610890 -
Good info, thanks guys. I also have a M1 Garand tanker model 30-06 but I'll save that one for another day. 0 -
cartod,
".the vast majority of custom rifles have very little collector value."
I have to admit, right from the start, that this `fact' will stun the thousands of custom rifle collectors that I know and have had the privilege of working with and for. I don't quite know how to tell them. I'm a little hesitant to just come right out at the next show and tell them that they and their chosen pursuit simply don't exist and never have. How do you tell someone who has invested 10's or even 100's of thousands of dollars into high grade custom rifles that they don't exist? Or that what they have been collecting and holding for the future generations doesn't have any meaning, or worse yet NO VALUE?
I fear we differ on the definition regarding the term `Custom Rifle' and that's what we're really up against.
There are the obviously false so-called `custom rifles' offered here on Gunbroker and every other auction service or in the for-sale sections of firearms forums. These generally consist of a standard factory or military action which has been transferred to an after market stock and offered as a custom rifle. Maybe an aftermarket trigger was added. Worse are ones where the folks tear off a factory barrel only to attempt to screw on an A&B barrel or some other garbage pipe in the hopes of realizing untold wealth by offering their version of the custom rifle for sale. There are literally dozens of variations on this theme. I'm sure you could add several more descriptions to this and you would be correct, these have no value as so-called custom rifles. If these are the `vast majority of custom rifles' you mention, then you are 100% correct by this definition.
On the extreme opposite end of this spectrum though are the true `Custom Rifles' as produced by real gun makers and expert gunsmiths. These rifles are hand crafted from nothing less than the very best of raw materials and some few manufactured components, usually over long periods of time. These are the Custom Rifles to which I refer when entering to this type of discussion. These not only have great value in the current market but will continue to increase in value in the coming years due to the lessening of the volume of this type of rifle being produced today and in the future. They will essentially become `rare'.
I suggest taking a look at the Holland & Holland version of custom rifles or Johann Fanzoj along with the dozens of other Ferlach gun makers. There are even several hundred such gun makers here in the U.S. if you take the time to look for them. Unfortunately they are hard to find or reach because they are too busy creating custom rifles. This is the `niche' to which I refer.
I'm locking this as enough explanation has been given and any more could result in rancor or hurt feelings. If any choose to continue this discourse, please feel free to use my e-mail address located in my profile.
Best.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
8 comments