Value of old firearms
Learn what affects old firearm value, including maker, model, serial, condition, originality, provenance, and legal/safety cautions.
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Learn what affects old firearm value, including maker, model, serial, condition, originality, provenance, and legal/safety cautions.
Auction records are market evidence, not a final appraisal. Condition, authenticity, provenance, size, maker, completeness, legality, and demand can materially change value.
Firearms laws vary by jurisdiction. This page is for identification and appraisal triage only, not transfer, possession, shipping, or compliance advice. Review current federal, state, and local requirements and, for federal licensee guidance, see the ATF Federal Firearms Licensee guide.
Quick checklist
- Photograph the full item, maker marks, serials, inscriptions, measurements, materials, accessories, cases, scabbards, labels, and documents.
- Document condition before cleaning: corrosion, sharpening, repairs, missing parts, moth damage, replaced components, fading, holes, and restoration.
- Keep provenance, service records, capture papers, certificates, unit history, receipts, and related groups together.
What similar items actually sold for
To help ground this guide in real market activity, here are recent example auction comps from Appraisily’s internal database. These matched sales are market context only, not an object estimate or identification, and they do not guarantee a price for your specific percussion pistol.
Shown USD range: USD 125-USD 8,500. Median of these 4 USD examples: USD 512.50.
| Comparable | What sold | Auction house | Date | Lot | Source-reported amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
PORTUGUESE PERCUSSION PISTOL | Corte Real, Leiloeira | 2020-10-02 | 788 | EUR 50 |
 |
1840 CASED PERCUSSION PISTOL | Burchard Galleries Inc | 2024-02-18 | 1359 | USD 425 |
|
Southeast Asian Percussion Pistol | Marion Antique Auctions | 2025-12-06 | 501 | USD 125 |
 |
19TH CENTURY DOUBLE-BARREL PERCUSSION PISTOL | Sheppards | 2025-11-26 | 1274 | EUR 380 |
 |
ANTIQUE ENGLISH BRASS BARREL PERCUSSION PISTOL. | William Smith Auctions | 2025-11-19 | 522 | USD 600 |
 |
‡ A 20 BORE GERMAN (PRUSSIAN) PERCUSSION PISTOL, DATED 1832 | Olympia Auctions | 2025-12-04 | 296 | GBP 380 |
 |
RARE JOSEPH LONG MARKED PERCUSSION PISTOL. | Poulin Antiques & Auctions | 2022-05-08 | 3386 | USD 8,500 |
 |
‡ A 21 BORE GERMAN (PRUSSIAN) MODEL 1823 PERCUSSION PISTOL | Olympia Auctions | 2025-12-04 | 295 | GBP 450 |
How these auction records were verified
Each row retains its exact source URL, lot identity, retrieval time, access result, and immutable record hash. Live source access was blocked; the exact record matched Appraisily's immutable pipeline provenance. Inspect the public comparable provenance record.
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