Author Topic: What is it worth...stainless Ruger Bisley 45 LC customized by John Linebaugh... (Read 3475 times)

Lee Robinson · « **on:** September 20, 2009, 10:31:09 AM »

This gun is NOT for sale yet, but I am just trying to get an idea of what it is worth. It a Ruger Bisley in stainless chambered in 45 LC (also has a conversion cylinder in 45 ACP) with a 5.5 inch barrel and with factory adjustable sights...both cylinders custom fitted by John Linebaugh.

The gun has...(all work done by John Linebaugh of Linebaugh Custom Sixguns)

1. Trigger job set to 3#,
2. Oversized base pin with Barrel head w/ a locking set screw to hold the pin under heavy loads,
3. Free wheel cylinder that will rotate in either direction when the loading gate is open without "clicking" (when the loading gate is closed, the cylinder clicks and rotates like the standard cylinder...this feature only alters the reloading by making reloading slightly easier),
4. Oversized cylinder latch (I think this is what it is called...it is the allignment pin the goes into the cylinder to line it up/tune it to the barrel),
5. Reshaped factory laminated wood grip to Linebaugh's liking...
6. and states "Linebaugh Custom Sixguns" on the top of the barrel.

I ask about the value because I am CONSIDERING selling it. I have shot it some, not a lot...and it is in EXCELLENT CONDITION. (If it was really cleaned it would be difficult to tell it has ever been shot to be honest, as it shows no wear). I would say it is a 9.9 out of 10 as far as condition goes. I am not sure if I am willing to sell it or not, as it is a tack driver and I like it...but I do have another that is a blue Ruger Bisley Vaquero (also customized by John Linbaugh) that also shoots really well that I also like...and find it easier to carry (it is a fixed sighted gun and I have a leather holster for it)...and I really don't "need" both...so I am curious as to what this gun's value is.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2009, 10:41:47 AM »

I'm certainly no authority on such guns but I think that nice as it is to own such and that if you keep them it might be considered money well spent if you sell one you shouldn't expect to get much more than half what you have in it back.

Lee Robinson · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2009, 12:16:57 PM »

Given the rarity of a stainless vaquero (they are out there, but kind of hard to find) and given the wait time on John Linebaugh's work...if you are correct I would be surprised to be honest...but I don't know..however, if you are correct then it will stay here...as I am just checking.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2009, 01:04:07 PM »

As I said I'm not really knowledgeable of prices of this sort but as a rule custom work seldom returns one half of what they paid in general. Some smith's work might do better.

Bob Riebe · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2009, 04:35:07 PM »

Linebaugh, Bowen, Clement etc. five -shot coversioons have very high resale value, but if the gun has been, "improved" by a smith, but is still really just a Ruger, odds are, --but in this day and age involving selling firearms , insanity rules,-- odds are you will not get back what you have into it.

44 Man · « **Reply #5 on:** September 21, 2009, 03:18:43 AM »

Well, probably not what you want to hear, but being a 6 shot Bisley, w/an extra cylinder, probably $400 to $450 area. Most used Rugers sell for $350 or so. The extra cylinder gets you a little extra, as does the custom tuning, but not a lot, reguardless who it is done by. If you like both, then I would keep it. Sometime down the line you will regret you have sold it. I know, I've 'been there and done that'! 44 Man

Lee Robinson · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2009, 11:06:43 AM »

First, let me say I am NOT offended by anyone's reply, but I must say I am surprised. I was looking on Gunbroker and the bisley in stainless is a rare find. I found 1 45 LC stainless bisley NIB w/ both cylinders and bidding is starting at 889. Of course it is a NIB and he may not sell it at that price...but given the stainless bisley isn't easy to find, I would have thought with all that was done to this gun by such a notable/quality gunsmith it would still be worth what the stock guns goes for. I may be wrong, but I know Linebaugh's work is worth something, but maybe only to the right person. Oh well...it can stay here. I don't need to get rid of it, as I was just checking.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2009, 11:36:47 AM »

first that guy selling that bisley is smoking crack! hes got a 500 dollar gun there tops. Id say your gun is worth a bit more then that. Like was said in the previous post you wont recoup as much as you would have been it a 5 shot full blown conversion but the nice thing is it does have linebaugh custom guns on it and usually 6 shot tune up guns like that John doesnt even put his name on. Id say you have a gun thats worth in the vacinity of 750 bucks. Problem is and its the same with even a 5 shot conversion is you have to find a buyer that is looking for something like that. Now if it were a 44 mag and a 4 5/8s gun wed be talking. Personaly if it were mine id ask 750 and hold firm on it and if nobody wants it for that id just keep it and sell something else. Its well worth that price.

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2009, 11:59:37 AM »

The problem with paying for such custom work whether on a handgun, rifle or shotgun is ya best be happy with it and if you aren't planning to keep it then don't do it. If you keep it and it's what you want then it's money well spent I figure. But if someone wants a custom anything then most likely they want to order it the "way they want it" not the way someone else wanted it done.

That winds up resulting in a significant loss in value to try to resell it compared to what you invested in it. Buying such as an investment when you have the work done is a losing proposition mostly. But if you can pick one up used and hold onto it you might someday make a small profit.

If the gun NIB is worth the $550 Lloyd mentioned I'd be surprised to find a buyer at $750 used with the custom work done on it but then I am often surprised at what folks will pay for things as compared to what I value them at. I guess I just don't have the same appreciation of them as those paying the far higher prices than I would. The one custom I had I was barely able to get more than NI price for even tho I had never fired it. I won it and when trying to let go of it I sure got little for it. I figure when I try to sell the one I have now that I had the work done on it will be the same.

Lee Robinson · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:22:13 PM »

Llyod,

I have to ask...is that a neapolitan mastiff pup...or just a lab in your avatar photo? It is hard to tell. If it is a lab, that pup has some big bone.

Autorim · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2009, 03:03:17 PM »

I agree. I have a few stainless Bisleys with additional work by Alan Harton. I love the way they feel and shoot now, but I will not recoup my additional cost by selling. IMHO refinishing is in the same category as well as custom grips. It may add to your accuracy and shooting pleasure, but it is a depreciating asset.

Our guns are toys. As they say, "the only difference between men and boys is the games they play and the price of their toys."

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2009, 03:07:58 PM »

chocolate lab

Quote from: Lee Robinson on September 21, 2009, 12:22:13 PM

Llyod,

I have to ask...is that a neapolitan mastiff pup...or just a lab in your avatar photo? It is hard to tell. If it is a lab, that pup has some big bone.

Axehandle · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2009, 03:22:52 PM »

Yup... These custom guns are budget killers.. I sent a three screw off to Alan Harton early last year to have fully tweaked and no sooner than it was gone I found a Bowen custom exactly like what i had ordered for no more than the price of the custom work... Literally got the gun free... Now I have two!

The big thing to remember here is that our custom babies appeal to a very small segment of shooters.... When you sell you need to make sure that you advertise in the right place and be willing to wait...

John R. · « **Reply #13 on:** September 22, 2009, 09:51:53 AM »

A friend of mine just bought a 44 Mag Bisley. It had Bowen Rough Country rear sights, Weigan Custom front with fiber optic, 357 Maximum cylinder line bored to correct dimensions, 51/2" douglas bbl, and Eagle grips, along with a nice trigger job. All work was performed by John Gallagher. Oh yeah, it came with a Thad Rybka custom holster supplied by Gallagher. Cost was $850. The guy had shot a half of box through the gun.

Heavy C · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2009, 05:53:01 PM »

Lee,

Lloyd and Axehandle have it right. For what you have $750 is a fair price. I purchased a Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt done by John as well. I paid in that neighborhood, but that was two years ago and the economy was better. I was in the market and the fact that it was done by John appealed to me too. I love the way it shoots and will keep it. If you are ever in the mood to sell and find someone that is in the market and recognizes Linebaugh and his work you have a good chance of getting your money out of it.

Now that I have this one I want more. So now I have two Blackhawks being worked on by Alan Harton.

Heavy C

Luckyducker · « **Reply #15 on:** September 26, 2009, 03:22:32 AM »

I recently bought a used 4 5/8" Ruger Bisley stainless Vaquero in 45Colt that had been customized. It has the oversized base-pin, custom round butt grip frame, action tuning, adjustable rear sight, warning label polished off the barrel, throats reamed to .4525", but does not have the free-spin pawl. I gave $525 shipped. My S-I-L liked it so well he found and bought a custom stainless 4 5/8" Blackhawk 45Colt that is customized with custom grips, ovesized base-pin, free-spin pawl, action tuning, custom target sights, warning labed removed, and throats reamed to .4525". He gave $500 shipped for it. Both of these revolvers are in very good to excellent condition though neither have the ACP cylinder. I think the S-I-L's looks to be hardly ever fired. We both love these custom wheel guns but they didn't seem to draw much interest from other gun buyers. Maybe some folks are afraid something is not right with custom revolvers, but that is just a guess on my part.

Ole Man Dan · « **Reply #16 on:** September 26, 2009, 03:52:05 AM »

I have 3 John Gallaghar built guns. They are worth more to me than on the market. They don't take up much space and get a steady diet of 'Hard Cast' = Keepers.

My advice is keep your .45
Selling guns is like trading cars, there are too many folks who want you to give them yours and pay a high price for theirs...

When your safe gets full, buy another safe.
Some of these custom guns will become more scarce and newcomers will buy rather than wait 6mos to 2yrs to get one from a wellknown gunsmith.

Lee Robinson · « **Reply #17 on:** September 27, 2009, 04:56:00 AM »

Ole Man...ya...I decided to keep it.

Autorim · « **Reply #18 on:** September 27, 2009, 02:19:42 PM »

FWIW, when I have custom work performed. I save copies of email to the smith and keep the invoice received with the returned gun in the original box with all other papers. I can a least document the work.

Lee Robinson · « **Reply #19 on:** September 27, 2009, 03:35:33 PM »

Even one better...I had John Linebaugh put his name on it. Permenant...as I can't lose it.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #20 on:** September 28, 2009, 11:19:26 AM »

Out here in Tucson the I just picked up a 5 1/2 inch Mat SS Bisley w/adjustable sights in 45 Colt for $499.00. This is a used gun, but doesn't show it.

Hope this gives you a ballpark figure.