Can You Buy Guns at an Auction?

Buying guns at an auction is an excellent option if you have the time to spend sitting and waiting until the sale of the guns begins. If you visit enough auctions run by the same auctioneer, you will eventually figure out what time the guns typically go off. If you develop a good rapport with the auctioneer over a few months along with making some expensive purchases, he will even wait a few extra minutes for you to arrive before starting the auction of the guns.

Of course, you’ll also have to realize that you aren’t going to get any real bargains like in the past. Gun enthusiasts and guns store owners have discovered auctions and the fact that one can purchase guns legally at these auctions. This fact limits the opportunity to purchase a gun that is worth its weight in dollars at a reasonable price. Even if you have a lot of money to spend, you are still going to have quite a bit of competition that is going to drive the prices up.

It is important to note that anyone who purchases a gun at an auction will need to follow the proper procedures for registering the weapon. Typically, this will increase your cost by at least twenty-five dollars and sometimes as much as fifty dollars. Of course, it is all worth it if you can purchase the gun that you want. This fact means that you won’t actually walk away with your gun unless the auction house is set up to register the guns that they have sold. Instead, you’ll need to go to a pre-designated sports store and register your weapon.

It is important to arrive early to the auction house before the sales begin. You’ll want time to look over the available guns for sale in order to check them out for signs of damage, wear and tear, and functionality. Of course, there’s no dry firing allowed, but most avid target shooters and hunters will experience no problems in quickly identifying the usefulness and value of any gun that is up for sale.

While many of the weapons for purchase at an auction are older and in less than pristine shape, at least they are available. Whether this fact will change in the future remains to be seen. Not all auctions will include guns for sale, so it is important to check out the details of the auction prior to making the commitment to go.


Intro: Guns are available for purchase at some auction houses. What should you know before setting out to buy?