A photo of John Dale as a younsgter dressed as a cowboy with his toy gun. Photo provided by John Dale.

By John ‘Butch’ Dale
Guest Columnist

Yes, I have been asked that question many times. And no, I am not a hunter. I don’t collect guns either.

John ‘Butch’ Dale

I own three … a Smith & Wesson revolver with my name engraved on it which I carried when I was sheriff, an old .22 rifle, and a single shot 410 ga shotgun.

I also do not carry a gun for self-protection. I just don’t think I need to here in Montgomery County; however, if I were to live in Indy or some other crime-ridden city, I might change my mind. But as many of you may know, I have had an FFL (Federal Firearms License) since 2006, which allows me to buy, sell, and transfer firearms.

I have always had an interest in older firearms that are referred to as “curios and relics,” which means they are 50 years old or older. This is likely because of all the westerns I watched as a youngster and also because I taught U.S. History. Most older guns were made one at a time by skilled machinists and craftsmen, and these older guns, if kept in good condition, maintain their value, keep up with inflation, and often increase in value. New guns, many of which are made of synthetic materials, do not. I consider myself to be very knowledgeable when it comes to older firearms.

Sometimes people inherit guns from an estate, and they have no desire to keep them. Or they may just want to sell one or two guns to have a little extra money to meet an expense or to finance another hobby. That’s when they call me.

When I first started out, a fellow called and wanted to sell an old double barrel shotgun which he had inherited.

I asked him how much he wanted, and he stated that he would like to get $200. A pawn shop in Lafayette had offered him $100. You should have seen the look on his face when I informed him that the gun was worth $800! Of course, I have also had people bring me guns which they thought were very valuable, but were soon disappointed to discover they were not.

A gun’s value depends on several factors, including condition, rarity, workmanship, and desirability.

Several years ago, a retired police officer called to tell me that another retired officer who he knew had passed away. The deceased officer had collected guns for 50 plus years, and his widow, who was in her 80’s, wanted to sell all of the guns.

We drove to her house to take a look. In the basement were hundreds of guns, all high quality collectibles … rifles, shotguns, pistols … many unfired in their original boxes. We were flabbergasted!

To make a long story short, I sold all of the guns for her on consignment. It took a year and a half! As it turned out, there were over 750 guns … that’s correct … 750, and the sweet lady ended up with over $220,000. She just could not believe it. She had no idea they were worth that much.

I believe that if a dishonest person or unscrupulous gun dealer had offered her $10,000 or less, she probably would have accepted the offer. All of the guns were transferred to buyers who could legally own a gun and passed a government ATF background check. The vast majority ended up with collectors who will never even fire the guns, which they consider an investment.

I estimated that her husband had spent around $50,000 when he had first purchased these guns new. He definitely knew quality and which firearms would increase in value over time. The lady had collected turtles during her married life … all kinds … glass, marble, wicker, wood, etc. She lamented that she should have bought more. “Well, you can buy all you want now!” I told her.

So, what is your old gun worth? Call me at (765) 404-1354. … Don’t sell that old gun until you find out it’s value. Yes, it may not be worth much … or you might be pleasantly surprised!