Considerations
• Most of the standard models of big brand guns such as Berettas and Brownings are sold with a stock length of 14¾in. This will either be suitable or too long for the majority of the general public, allowing for the easy procedure of shortening the stock. Cutting wood off is a lot easier than sticking it back on. If your gun has a shorter stock, around the 14in mark, you are decreasing the amount of people potentially interested in buying it. Adding a pad to the end of the stock can increase the length to a more desirable measurement and can enhance the appearance of the gun. There’s a range of options for different styles of pads, from the recoil absorbing Kick-Eez to the smart leather covered.
• A well-fitted gun will add a huge amount of personal value and pleasure when shooting. However, it may, depending on your measurements, make it less desirable when it comes to selling. Is there a happy middle ground? Are your measurements reasonably standard? An gunfitter will be able to tell you this. The standard drop at the comb is 1½in, 2in at heel, and for the majority of right-handed shooters their guns will be straight or around cast off. How long are you looking at keeping this gun for? If it is a long-term investment a fitting session is well worth undertaking, if not it may not be suitable for this particular gun.
• If your gun is reasonably modern, another way to make it more desirable is by adding multichokes. Teague choking offers shooters the ability to change their chokes depending on the discipline or quarry they are shooting. The procedure costs around £330, so not a small spend. However, it is a useful quality for a gun to be multichoked, especially for game guns when looking at lead alternatives. If your gun has chokes tighter than half, it is not recommended for use with steel. It is worth discussing the process of opening up the chokes with your gunmaker/gunsmith.
• A traditional oil finish can vastly improve the appearance of almost all wooden stocked guns, enhancing the natural patterns of the grain, conditioning the wood and aiding water resistance. There is a variety of finishes at a range of costs, from gloss to satin, or a more traditional ‘London’ finish. The aesthetics of your gun will certainly help in the sale of it, as a high shine and richly coloured stock is more likely to capture attention, whether on the shelf of a gun shop or via an online selling platform.
• If your gun has any accessories or a case, this too can be appealing to potential buyers. Look after the case, try to keep it as clean as possible and keep all of the accessories – chokes, choke screw, snap caps, cleaning oil bottles and so on – together. They may not drastically increase the selling price, but if there are two similar guns available this could just swing the buyer’s decision in your favour.
• When it comes to successfully selling anything, if the product is fit for purpose and looks the part, you are off to a good start. Keeping your gun in good condition is essentially ensuring it is safe to shoot, and likely to be so for many years to come. The value of your gun lies in how you look after it.