SKB value based upon importer

[Tall John]

Do we have any SKB experts on the wire?

 

I was recently trying to look up the age of one of my SKB100’s based on the serial # and found that my gun was mfg’ between 1981 & 1984 because imported by Mitsui is stamped on the bbl.  Further, this particular gun has an engraved receiver, a 26” bbl and a beaver tail forearm.  It is also unified and 99.9%.  I have the box, plastic and the owners manual with the blank warranty reg card still attached.

 

so my questions are?

Are shotguns valued differently based upon importer?

im “told” that Mitsui didn’t make many 100’s with my configuration?

 

Given the age and condition is my shotgun more valuable to SASS cowboys than collector’s especially if I cut the bbl down and have it slicked up by one of the known skb smiths?  
 

I know that Johnny Meadows and Doc Noper are renowned for their SKB work but is there anyone else I should consider?

 

if you were me, who would you pick and why?

[Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life]

Not an expert, but I do have several SKB’s. Mine are model 200E with the beaver tail forearm. All have factory engravings to one degree or another, all have been set up by Johnny Meadows in the past with mechanical resets. Since I haven’t needed another in the stable for awhile I am not up on pricing these days but around here they would go for $1500-$1800. I had one like you described (model 100 with beaver tail) and several years ago sold it to someone for $1300, which was the going rate for a cowboyed SKB of any model. No real difference between models for what we need a shot gun for. 
BTW I have had one forearm begin to split in the last 14 years (since repaired). All my stocks were inletted at the time of slicking up and are still in good condition. YMMV

Finally collectors will pay a lot for stuff beyond it’s value as a cowboy gun, but doubt it would bring much of a premium in CAS. 
Regards

    

Gateway Kid

[Badlands Bob #61228]

I'm not aware of anyone interested in paying a premium for SxS SKB shotguns outside of the Cowboy Action community.   Before Cowboys discovered the SKB, they were just another $400-$500 imported shotgun.    The value is in the new condition of the shotgun, not in the box and paperwork.  The only people who will pay current prices ($1,200+) for this gun will probably hack off the barrel, slick up the action and bang it up in a gun cart.

[Hoss]

In no particular order the SKB smiths I know are:

Johnny Meadows

Doc Noper

Shotgun Boogie

Fast Eddie

Lefty Wheeler

 

I’m sure there are others, but these are generally considered the go-to guys. 

[Turquoise Bill, SASS #39118]

I would add Persimmon Dan to the list of SKB smiths.

 

TB

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

The importer is not going to matter - with respect to valuation or quality.

 

As said above, these guns do not have any collector premium.   Just shooter's value, and that is largely limited to cowboy shooter crowd since VERY few hunters or other type of shotgun shooters wants side by sides now.   So, it matters little who the exact importer was and how nice the engraving is.

 

Barrel length if shortened to remove chokes ruins any standard shooter value.  It might add $50 to the value to a cowboy since they don't have to cut it.

Other Cowboy tuning and smithing work (even by the very best) also - only of value to cowboy crowd.  And that is a shrinking group.

 

So, the only real value is as a shooting gun in cowboy action.  That makes it something you have tuned to suit yourself, and if you EVER do sell it, you won't get much out of it except to a cowboy who likes what you have done.  That makes it a $500 to $700 firearm.

 

6 hours ago, Tall John said:

if you were me, who (which gunsmith) would you pick and why?

Pick the fellow closest to you that you have seen his handiwork.   Most likely with an SKB ALMOST any cowboy gunsmith will do a fine job, if you tell them exactly what you want.  SxS guns are the simplest things to work on in the sport.  Johnny is working on a few guns by appointment and might not be able to fit something else in right away.  But maybe you would get lucky. 

 

good luck, GJ

 

 

 

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

As said, the Importer for an  SKB is meaningless...so far as adding any collector value...which is rather funny anyways since the only one's that really care about 12ga SKB SxS's are Cowboy Shooters.

 

Phantom

[Tall John]

Hi Phantom,
Your view seems to be the consensus!  Just thought I should ask before taking a pristine 40yr old NIB shotgun to the woodshed!

 

Thanks everybody for your feedback!

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

11 minutes ago, Tall John said:

Hi Phantom,
Your view seems to be the consensus!  Just thought I should ask before taking a pristine 40yr old NIB shotgun to the woodshed!

 

Thanks everybody for your feedback!

A NIB gun that's 30+ years old...with obvious exceptions...would not be touched by me. There are a lot of well used guns that can be modified...whatever...rather than butchering a gun that has survived. 

 

Phantom

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

It's a gun that has been unwanted and unfired for 40 years.  Time to show it some use for which it was designed - shooting!  It's no one's heirloom at this point.

 

But, it is now one man's property - to do with as he pleases.  If you are just beside yourself with unease at the concept of it being fired, then be quick and make a healthy offer to purchase it.

 

THAT is capitalism.    GJ 

 

 

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

1 hour ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

It's a gun that has been unwanted and unfired for 40 years.  Time to show it some use for which it was designed - shooting!  It's no one's heirloom at this point.

 

Wow...where did you arrive at the "fact" that it's been unwanted for 40 years?

 

1 hour ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

But, it is now one man's property - to do with as he pleases.  If you are just beside yourself with unease at the concept of it being fired, then be quick and make a healthy offer to purchase it.

You're first off stating the obvious...secondly, I don't think anyone said anything about not firing it. But to butcher it for stoopid CAS is rather silly. If you are referring to me purchasing it...sorry...already have a half dozen uncut sitting in my vault. But if I had one that was unfired and in the box, it would never be butchered. And no, collecting SKB's in not on my list of collectable interests.

 

1 hour ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

THAT is capitalism

What is...?

 

So many on here and other forums talk all tough about butchering up firearms...like...look at me! I'm a He-Man!!! I shoot all my guns cuz that's what they're for!!! Anyone else is just a sissy collector. Right...preserving a few nice examples of guns no longer made is such a utterly useless and anti-capitalist endeavor.

 

Whatever...

 

Phantom

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Careful, Phantom. He’ll go edit his post and try to make it look like that’s not what he said. Do what I have to do with him. Take a screenshot of his posts.

[Cypress Sun]

12 hours ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

Wow...where did you arrive at the "fact" that it's been unwanted for 40 years?

 

You're first off stating the obvious...secondly, I don't think anyone said anything about not firing it. But to butcher it for stoopid CAS is rather silly. If you are referring to me purchasing it...sorry...already have a half dozen uncut sitting in my vault. But if I had one that was unfired and in the box, it would never be butchered. And no, collecting SKB's in not on my list of collectable interests.

 

What is...?

 

So many on here and other forums talk all tough about butchering up firearms...like...look at me! I'm a He-Man!!! I shoot all my guns cuz that's what they're for!!! Anyone else is just a sissy collector. Right...preserving a few nice examples of guns no longer made is such a utterly useless and anti-capitalist endeavor.

 

Whatever...

 

Phantom