Was cruising a LGS this morning and spotted a gallery gun behind the counter and asked to take a closer look. I own several makes and models that are shooter grade and always keep an eye out for the opportunity to pick up "just one more".

I own a Remington 12c with the octagonal barrel that I enjoy shooting. The one at the LGS was a 12a and was in good, but not fantastic shape.

I bought mine from a private owner and paid $400 within the past year. I was shocked to see a tag pricing the 12a at $875!

Here's my question (not criticism), is there that much difference between the 'a' and the 'c' model to justify that large of a price differential? Are the 'a' models that rare? Is my LGS insane??? Or did I score that big of a bargain on my 12C???

I don't know enough about Remington's to know.

Opinions???

Ya know that's a hard question. Comparing anything local to GB prices can be dangerous. It's akin to eBay where everything listed is "rare". LGS prices vary greatly but I've found that some of the smaller LGS's and pawnshops now price their items by looking at eBay or GB as a guide, rather than what the "local" market will bear. My local pawnshop has a used 60-70% Marlin Model 60 priced at $249 because that's what new retail is, even though you can pick them up for $80 used. They've had that rifle for a long time. My advice would be to enquire "why" they think that's a viable price and then dicker with them. Nothing lost.

Scorpion8 wrote:Ya know that's a hard question. Comparing anything local to GB prices can be dangerous. It's akin to eBay where everything listed is "rare". LGS prices vary greatly but I've found that some of the smaller LGS's and pawnshops now price their items by looking at eBay or GB as a guide, rather than what the "local" market will bear. My local pawnshop has a used 60-70% Marlin Model 60 priced at $249 because that's what new retail is, even though you can pick them up for $80 used. They've had that rifle for a long time. My advice would be to enquire "why" they think that's a viable price and then dicker with them. Nothing lost.

Thanks Scorpion! I don't really have an interest in the gun unless it was a real bargain and that one is a heck of a long way from that!! I was mainly just curious to know if there is something about a 12a that makes them special an/or valuable.

The 12c that I already own has an octagonal barrel which IMHO makes it a whole lot "cooler" gun.

huskerbob wrote:The 12c that I already own has an octagonal barrel which IMHO makes it a whole lot "cooler" gun.

There is a body of thinking these days that says "because it's old, it must be "rare" or valuable and thus we can jack the asking price up". It doesn't hurt to go in and make an offer, especially if there's a layer of dust on it. If it's dusty, then it isn't moving and the LGS is paying to store it and ride the books on inventory at tax time. Make 'em an offer and if you don't lowball them, who knows what they might say. You might end up owning two.

Scorpion8 wrote:

huskerbob wrote:The 12c that I already own has an octagonal barrel which IMHO makes it a whole lot "cooler" gun.

There is a body of thinking these days that says "because it's old, it must be "rare" or valuable and thus we can jack the asking price up". It doesn't hurt to go in and make an offer, especially if there's a layer of dust on it. If it's dusty, then it isn't moving and the LGS is paying to store it and ride the books on inventory at tax time. Make 'em an offer and if you don't lowball them, who knows what they might say. You might end up owning two.

Well, I paid $400 for my C model with an octagonal barrel (which I think is very cool). They're asking $875 for an A model with a round barrel. In addition, I'm not dying to have the gun they're selling. Bottom line........any offer I would make them would probably get me thrown out of the store.

huskerbob wrote:...any offer I would make them would probably get me thrown out of the store.

True, but that can be fun all by itself. There used to be a LGS here that had the same rifles on the wall for almost 20 years until he lost his FFL. He would NOT entertain any offers at all. So I used to badger the old coot (knew him quite well) that he could keep it on the wall, or 3-5 years ago he could have had $xxx in his pockets. He was paying to store the dust that had collected on those old guns and he rarely sold any of them. Sellers always think they know what their piece is worth, but in truth it's never worth any more than what someone is willing to pay. A "rare and valuable" items isn't worth what you think it is if you can never sell it and recoup that money at the price point you think.

!2's prices significantly jump when they hit the 98% or even the 95% for collector grade.
Anything worth having at all is worth 3-400, very nice can hit the 7-800 but mint can pull 1,200-1,400.
Also engraved can bring insane dollars people really like 12's.
A mint 12-F for 10G is not out of line.