Jerry L. Dobesh, ASA, is a trusted Portland, Oregon, based appraiser who specializes in appraisals for estates and trusts, insurance, and donations. Jerry is an Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers, with a specialty designation in antiques & decorative arts. Another of Jerry’s areas of strong expertise is firearms.
Contact Jerry for an appraisal, or call.
Do you need an appraisal to insure your firearms collection? A credible appraisal with accurate and current value conclusions will be helpful in determining accurate replacement value coverage.
Or did you just inherit a Model 1911 pistol, but you don’t know much about it, you have no idea what it’s worth? Depending on who made it, what condition it is in, and what the history of your pistol is, prices for different makes and models of 1911 pistols can range from as little as $150 to well over $400,000…… even for a WWII era pistol. A competent and accurate appraisal can help you understand both what you have, and what it is truly worth.
Or perhaps you’re trying to divide an estate fairly, and you can’t decide if that old lever action rifle is a $150 ‘wall hanger’, or a $20,000 collectible Winchester? Jerry can help. He has performed appraisals of firearms for over 40 years.
Many attributes contribute to the value of a firearm. First, of course, might be what it is. Who made it? When was it made? Were there many of this type of firearm manufactured? Is the finish original? What condition is it in? Are the parts all original to the gun? Are there any special markings? All of these features have an impact on value. Often times, more important than the gun itself, is the history, or provenance. Was it owned by a historical figure? Was it used in a well-known historical event?
Provenance can add substantially to the value of a firearm, even if it was not owned by someone famous. For example, a factory letter stating where a rifle was shipped, on what date, and what features it was shipped with, can significantly increase the selling price of an antique rifle. Or, a simple ‘capture paper’, which was written permission to bring a pistol home as a souvenir from WWII, can add significantly to the value of even a common pistol or rifle.
Jerry knows what is important about firearms, both antique and modern. He understands the markets, including the dealer and collector markets, as well as the auction markets for both antique and modern firearms.
Jerry has appraised a full range of firearms over the years, including shotguns, rifles, pistols, revolvers, even 18th and 19th century cannon. These range from muzzle loading black powder flintlocks and percussion pieces, matchlocks, any number of rifles and revolvers from the old west, through all manner of WWI and WWII small arms, up to contemporary sporting arms and even Class III weapons (machine guns).
When you want to know what you have, what your firearms are worth, and you want someone you can trust, contact Jerry to schedule an appraisal, or give him a call.
Appraising is his only business. Jerry will not buy your property, or sell it on consignment. Jerry has the knowledge, experience, and resources to know what you have. You receive professional objectivity without conflict of interest.
Jerry is a professional appraiser. He is not a dealer. He is not an estate liquidator. His fees are never based on the value of the items. Jerry’s sole interest is to provide you with an accurate, well supported, and unbiased appraisal.
Jerry has been in the antiques field for over 40 years, as a dealer, an auction house evaluator/appraiser, and as an independent appraiser. He specializes in antiques & decorative arts, and is an accredited senior appraiser (ASA) with the American Society of Appraisers. Prior to founding his own private practice, Jerry spent over a decade as a full-time dealer, working in most of the United States and Canada. Then as an auction house evaluator/appraiser, he consigned, estimated, and sold a wide range of antiques, firearms, collectibles, and decorative and fine artworks. He served as the director of both the fine art and firearms departments. As an independent appraiser, Jerry provides trusted appraisals for estates, trusts, insurance, charitable contribution, and other needs. His reports are USPAP compliant, and meet the 2020 IRS Qualified Appraiser/Qualified Appraisal requirements.
While the majority of Jerry’s work is in the Portland and Vancouver metro area, every year includes appointments statewide, including Bend, Eugene, and the Oregon Coast. He is willing to travel as necessary, and regularly works in Washington State, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Over the past 40 years, Jerry has worked in nearly every state.