Contender Value Question

[jvs]

After years of thinking about doing it, I am finally going to get rid of my Contenders.

But I have no idea what they might be worth.

I plan on putting them up for sale locally, but I was wondering if anyone here can help me out with values.  I dont think I will get anywhere what it cost me to put these pistols together, but I dont plan on being Santa Claus either. 

Both of my Contenders are 14 inch .35 Remingtons.  Both have Rings and Custom Grips and both have a Holster.   

One of the Contenders is a 14" Ported Hunter Barrel and sports a AimPoint Red Dot Scope.

The other 14 inch is nothing special, except the rear sight is removed in favor of Rings.  I do have the rear sight.

The Hunter has less than 10 shots thru it and the other one has about a box full.  Only the Hunter has been hunting and has not seen any blood.

Both are in very good to excellent condition. IMO.

Any info as to what they could bring would be appreciated.

[longwinters]

From what I have seen in my local area.  You tend not to get much for scopes or custom wood.  I don't know why but it seems that most people who are not "in the loop" via Internet, shooting club etc... really do not know what things are worth and those things are not all that valuable to them.  A scope is a scope and a grip is a grip etc... Plain stock Contenders, in very good shape, will go for up to $450.00.  Holsters are another thing that do not hold value in this situation. 

I hope you can do better than this in your area but this is how it goes in my corner of the woods.

Long

[crisisbill]

Did you check on Gunbroker.com to what what they have been bringing at auction?
In Jan of this year I bought an old style Contender with a Super 14 35 Rem ported barrel, it has a lighted retical 2 power T/C scope  and is in excellent condition for $500.00.

Yesterday I bought an older style Contender with a 14" blued 357 Max barrel and a 2 power Burris, sling, case, T/C holster and dies for 400.00 OTD
So as you see prices are all over the place, check the auction sites and check prices on current and past deals. Also seeing pictures always helps arrive at a fair value for both seller and buyer
I wish you were local as I am looking for more toys, I want extra frames to build a coyote carbine.
Happy Shooting
Bill

[banjoman]

I personally think you would make out better parting it out. Sell it as 2 seperate frames and barrels, seperate the red dots and such.  Just my .02 for what it's worth

[Graybeard]

You might HAVE to part them out. You'll have no trouble selling the parts but might the complete guns. All but the frames can be sold here on the GBO TC Classifieds and by the time you're ready you might even be able to sell the frames on the new Classifieds we're setting up just for firearms. As to prices go to Ed's TCs site (banner on TC Handgun Forum) and see what he's pricing them at. Chances are you can get about the same price he's asking if parting them out.

[jvs]

I have had contact last month with a local that deals mainly in Contenders.  I can consider his offers only if I am unsuccessful on my own.  I truely understand his limits on offers.  I know how it works.

I already know I can put them on the rack on consignment at my local gunshop (which is the avenue that I am leaning towards).  I can also list them on auction websites, but I frown on that idea with pistols.

I have also thought about parting them out, but I feel that I can find a person who will by both at the same time and do with them as he wants.   

It is more important to me to sell them to someone who can appreciate what they are.  And is willing to have them Transfered into his/her name.  All I want is what I consider a fair price.   

They are everything a Contender is supposed to be, with no cost withheld in putting those Contenders together, but I am not as enthusiastic as I once was about Contenders.