A friend of mine asked me to find out what a used but really nice Pedersoli 2nd pattern brown bess was worth . He is thinking about selling one of his . Any help on a fair price would be appreciated.
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Pedersoli brown bess
- Thread starter TRIN
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$850 would be for one in pristine condition...., without a bayonet.
The problem is the condition varies quite a bit. I normally won't buy one for more than $750 and that includes the shipping.
Some can be rather ragged, having been used for decades as reenactor arms, and need a lot of restoration and won't go for more than $550 plus shipping.
On the other hand some have had some custom work done on them, and could go for $1000, but they are very rare indeed.
LD
The problem is the condition varies quite a bit. I normally won't buy one for more than $750 and that includes the shipping.
Some can be rather ragged, having been used for decades as reenactor arms, and need a lot of restoration and won't go for more than $550 plus shipping.
On the other hand some have had some custom work done on them, and could go for $1000, but they are very rare indeed.
LD
Depends on the condition. I would say 750-900 depending on the age and conditioner of the whole musket.
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I see used but nice ones at auction now and again; you gotta be prepared to pay over 600 for one.
Thank for the help guys. I will pass the info on to him.
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If he decides to sell , post it on here, I’m sure it’ll go pretty quick
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That's a sale price and you'd be lucky to find one at that price. Pretty close to $1,500 elsewhere.
I've had my eye open for another Pedersoli Bess probably around a year, now. Had one about three years ago and ran into a guy who wanted it worse than me. I've found a few in top condition or new and $1200-1500 is pretty consistently what I'm seeing.
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Depends. The newer pedersoli Bess’s in really good condition sell for around 800-1000 used. The older generation of pedersoli Bess’s sell for a higher amount in very good condition. The older pattern’s from the 1970’s are characterized by a slightly different stock shape in European Walnut, and larger lock And slightly lighter barrel, these can sell for up near 1200-1500.
From my understanding is that they are more (but not completely) historically accurate than Pedersolis...same for the Charlevilles.
bjarard, thank you for the explanation of the difference in the two. you would think that if the JAPANESE could do it so close, so many years ago that the ITALIANS could at least do them a little more historically correct in the 21st. century?
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The Japanese made Brown Bess Muskets are often sought after as a type of commodity because they’re no longer in production.
As for comparing quality, they both offer different things. The pedersoli bess typically has the higher quality walnut stock, some Japanese Bess’s were made in walnut or cherry which is desirable however most were made in either birch or lower quality maple. The locks were marked tower, which is very desirable for period correctness and the barrels were made well in either .72 or .75 caliber.
The locks were great sparkers too, with a very strong mainspring, ‘too strong‘ in my opinion.
I‘ve seen miroku Bess’s sell for upward near 1700$
Most factory made guns will never be 100% authentic, the most authentic factory gun i‘ve ever seen was a 1763/66 Charleville Musket, the locks are just a little larger than the originals but mostly everything is very close. The stock was a little chunky in the butt, wrist and lock area otherwise, the pedersoli 1766 Charleville is more like a 1763 Charleville, which is very hard to reproduce accurately.
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Yes a factory new, with a warranty, Bess starts at around $1140.00
Since used ones are no longer under warranty, and since the Bess go on sale each year for about $140- $200 off..., this lowers the price of the used Bess.
LD
ODD...,
I've seen Older Pedersoli Bess accept new locks from Pedersoli, and drop right in. No size difference.
Stocks are identical
The older ones often have a thinner barrel, which makes them a few ounces lighter.
I've never seen an older Pedersoli go anywhere near a new Bess price. I've seen folks ASK for that much, but not seen them sell for that.
And Miroku Bess selling for upwards of $1700? Again I've seen folks ASK for such prices...not the same as actually selling for such a price. I suppose there are foolish folks that might pay that.
I regularly buy and sell both. I buy and then work on the guns to bring them back to better working condition, then resell them. So yes, when I'm bidding against a person who is going to put the musket to personal use, they can go a bit higher than myself, and get one with shipping at around $900.
Most folks that I've encountered Won't buy a Bess for $900 or higher when they can drop another $150 and get a factory new Bess under warranty
LD
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Actually the Miroku Bess are LESS accurate than the Pedersoli, with the Pedersoli inaccurate too. The damaged trigger guard on the Miroku Bess is the problem. Folks give Miroku points for using "TOWER" on their lock instead of "Grice"... it's poorly stamped as is the crown on the lock so that too is a problem for the Miroku.
Miroku made Bess, being Japanese so without a proofed barrel, had the same comments made about them as the India made guns do today. Over time, with the Miroku frim making barrels for a very respected modern gun company, and the fact that their Bess have stood the test of time, especially the locks, the rep has changed. They work great and take a pounding in the field.
There is absolutely NO collectability factor for Pedersoli nor Miroku repro Bess muskets....not from what I've seen.....
LD
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The Japanese were provided an actual short land pattern Bess to copy. And copy they did as seen in the misshapen trigger guard.
Pedersoli was provided a short land pattern Bess to use as basis for their musket. Manufacturing efficiencies were incorporated to make an acceptable but more profitable musket.
The Pedersoli and the Miroku Besses are good quality and good functioning muskets. Better for a more or less correct AWI reenactment use than for F&I.
Pedersoli was provided a short land pattern Bess to use as basis for their musket. Manufacturing efficiencies were incorporated to make an acceptable but more profitable musket.
The Pedersoli and the Miroku Besses are good quality and good functioning muskets. Better for a more or less correct AWI reenactment use than for F&I.
