Posted 22 April 2005 - 08:48 AM
I was involved with the purchase of a collection a couple of years ago and moving it. We asked tall prices on some of the pieces that were rather exotic. In particular, I recall an original HK pre-May MP-5K that we got big money for, considering that it was a pre-May sample, because it was an unusual and rare piece. Some other stuff too. If I would have known WH's were going to be bringing $12k, we would have hung onto ours for a little while.
If I had the spare change, I would be interested in the VSP piece, and would pay some premium for it. You never know who is out there with a fetish for that particular weapon.
In trading and negotiating, you can always come down, but it is difficult to go up. Price it to low, kill the deal, and move the price upward, and see what happens.
I have ended up with a post-war MG-42, imported by Colt, in .308. Wartime and reweld MG-42's are running mid-$30's these days. Considering there are only about 6 of these guns in the registry, I would probably price it at or near $100,000. Crazy, sure; do I really want to sell it, not right now; but if someone came along at that price, they can have it.
I personally thought the Thompson prices were a little high, but I was not "shocked" by any means. Prices like this will level with a willing buyer and willing seller at some point. That sets the benchmark and value for the rest of us.
Ken