Antique Guns for Sale: A Quick Buying Guide

Looking for antique guns for sale? Old firearms like civil war muzzleloaders and late-1800s lever-action Winchester rifles may be hard to come by and care for - but if you know where to look and how to buy, you’ll be able to round out your collection. Here are some things you need to know.

Where to Find Antique Guns for Sale
There’s no one, single place that you can turn to in order to find antique guns for sale unless you’re in the vicinity of a gun trader.

Rather, you need to set a plan for where to look and how to find exactly what you’re looking for.

1.Check online gun shops
Since some antique guns for sale, like many muzzleloaders, are not considered firearms, you can shop for them online and in many cases can ship them directly to your house. The downside of shopping online is that everyone else looking for the same guns as you can do the same.

The upside is that the online marketplace is that you can shop across sellers all over the country and the world with a few keystrokes. Start with that: search for the gun of your heart’s desire and see what comes up.

2.Stop by local gun shops - frequently
Without a doubt, the greatest resource at your disposal is a local gun shop, especially if they sell used guns, antiques, or take consignments. Much of the time, this is where you will strike a real deal.

We know a buyer who found an unfired CVA Upland Double in a gun-unfriendly state and bought it for less than 200 dollars. If that’s not a steal, we don’t know what is.

The only reason he was able to get it at such a great price was that he was in the right place at the right time. Check in with the local gun shops and stop by frequently. A rare deal won’t last on the rack for more than a few days if it’s really a gem.

3.Be friendly and ask questions
When you’re at the range or in a gun shop, be approachable. Ask the shop owner or the people behind the counter if they have anything special or where you might be able to find one. They’ll be the first people to offer help.

The next time you’re at the range if you see someone with an eye-catching antique like a Winchester Model 12 or an M1903 Springfield, ask them where they got it. Much of the time, you’re going to get “It was my dad’s” or “It was my Grandpa’s,” but every once in a while, a fellow shooter or collector may point you in the direction of a shop you didn’t even know about.

4.Check on forums
If you belong to a forum, ask the users on there for some help. Don’t blast the forum with constant posts asking for help - make sure you offer your own - but if you’re a regular contributor in good standing, all you need to do is ask a question. Fellow users may point you in the right direction or even offer to sell you one of their own antique firearms.

Antique Gun Buying Tips
If you’re looking for antique guns for sale, follow these maxims.

1.Set your sights
Unless you’re just milling around, figure out what you want to buy and set the goal. When you stop in a gun shop, let the owner or the workers know what you’re looking for. They may even be willing to call you if they come by it.

2.Establish a budget, but strike while the iron is hot
While it’s important to set your price, there are some guns that are so rare they won’t give you a second chance. You need to be flexible in how much you’re willing to spend if you are serious about bringing home that object of your interest.

3.Create a circuit and stick to it
Make a list of all the gun shops in your area that sell antique guns or used guns and make sure you stop in there at least once per week, if not more. It takes mere moments to scan a used gun rack, and being a friendly familiar will increase your odds of locating something you really want.

What Else You Need to Buy with Antique Guns for Sale
Antique guns for sale are, by their very definition, old. That means they’ve likely been around the block. When you buy one, don’t just buy the gun. You’ll also want the following.

1.A cleaning kit
Even a gun that looks clean may have internals that have seen better days. Moreover, you should never shoot an antique gun and leave it dirty. Buy a cleaning kit with it and be fastidious about cleaning off fouling and oil immediately. Keeping your gun clean won’t just make it look pretty. It will keep it operable and protect the value of your investment.

2.Any proprietary tools
Some antique guns require specific tools for changing parts, adjusting sights or disassembly. If you buy the gun, make sure you make it a point to find all of the accessories you’ll need for maintenance or use, even if you can’t get them from the same shop from which you bought the gun.

3.If you’re going to be shooting - ammo
If you buy a functioning antique gun, one more thing you might want to get with it (or at a local shop) is ammo. Many antique firearms shoot rare cartridges that are very difficult to find. You might either need to find a specialty shop or get into reloading, especially if you start shooting .303 British or .56-56 Spencer.

Quick Care Tips
If you end up with an antique gun and it’s the first one in your collection, you might also be able to make use of these helpful tips for basic care. If you have any more platform-specific questions, be sure to get in touch with us and our firearms experts will help you out.

1.Replace any non-functioning parts
A missing trigger guard or front sight isn’t just a functional nuisance, it’ll make an antique gun look like a piece of junk instead of a nice display. Replace these parts when you get the gun, especially if you intend to shoot with it.

2.Store your antique firearms in a cool, dry location.
We cannot stress this enough, whether you actually use the gun or not. Store your antique firearms in a cool, dry, preferably dark location. If you display them, it’s also best to protect them from light as light can fade wood stocks.

Ideally, you should keep them in a cool, dry gun safe, but if you must dispaly them, choose a cool, dry location away from direct light if at all possible.

3.Clean them immediately if you shoot with them and dry them off
If and when you do take an antique firearm into the field or use it at the range or in a match, give it a thorough cleaning as soon as you get home, if not earlier. This is not a suggestion, it is imperative, especially for firearms that use black powder or shoot black powder cartridges.

Fouling has a habit of getting into the action, the trigger assembly, around bolts and lugs, and underneath the barrel. It will find a way in and it will cause rust and damage. Strip the gun, clean and dry it thoroughly, and then lightly oil it before reassembly.

You’ll thank us later.

Come Visit Us
Do you have any questions about what we currently have in our store? Give us a call at 610-250-3960 if you’d like any additional information on top of what we’ve offered in this guide, or better yet, come visit us at 50 Hilton Street in Easton, Pennsylvania. We’d be thrilled to connect you with the antique firearm you’ve been looking for.