I have been driving into town bringing Mrs. Pete501 to physical therapy a couple times a week. With 45 minutes to kill, yesterday I decided to bring a rather rare Marlin Model 50 Autoloader to the big pawn shop in town. The shop that advertises they pay the most for firearms.
Walking in the first thing they said "is that a firearm?" How'd you guess was my reply. These guys must be smart.
They ask what I want to do, sell or pawn. Sell if the price is right.
I browsed the store while they looked it over, I had told them what I thought it was worth and offered it for about half of that.
Looking at the gun cases gave me sticker shock. $1700 for a S&W 17.
Done browsing, I see the guy holding the Fagen Blue Book of Gun Value. That book lists the Marlin 50 for very little money. That book's value is wrong and does not reflect the true rarity of firing from an open bolt design. Lots were destroyed and only 5000 made.
The owner points out the last one sold for $150. I couldn't find another that had sold or was for sale, on my computer. I suspect his statement was a lie. Then he says, "you know it has been re-blued, don't you?" I picked up the rifle and put it in it's case and walked out.
As I was walking out the owner recommended another shop in town that would be interested in it.
The re-blue statement was another way to lessen its value.
Years ago, a pawn broker was sniffing an old Savage 99 I brought in for a trade. I asked why the sniff? he said that re-blue has a certain smell. He was trying to give reason to suspect that it was re-blued.