Value of a first year Red Label 20 ga?

I have not posted in a long time having sold almost all of the many Ruger firearms I had in order to pay medical expenses.

One I have remaining is a 20 ga. Red Label that was made in 1978, the first year of production. I want to trade it to an acquaintance in exchange for some work he is doing for me. I am hoping you all can give me some advice on a fair value. The shotgun is in good to very good condition.

Condition! Condition! Is there a box, papers, etc. choke combinations. Sleet and skeet, etc. need more info to arrive at a fair price.

I don't know if this is of any use, but there is a first-year 12 GA being offered for sale (Gumbroker auction) right now.

You could see how it ends up and if there was a possible premium paid for the firearm - being a first year - as compared to a typical 12 GA Red Label.

Not apples to apples but it might provide some guidance.

Ruger Red Label 12 Gauge 1st Year

kevin masten said:

Condition! Condition! Is there a box, papers, etc. choke combinations. Sleet and skeet, etc. need more info to arrive at a fair price.

Click to expand...

FWIW, the early blued RL's had fixed chokes.

IMHO, one in pristine original issue condition would bring about $2K today - but I haven't really kept myself up to date with the RL market.

Less than 100% remaining original condition, no box/papers, or other mods would drop my above estimated value like a stone.

.

Thanks, guys.

I'll check out the gunbroker link.

No box, no paperwork, just a good shotgun in good condition.

I had a first year Red Label, 20 gauge, Three digit serial number. It had fixed chokes of IC/M. 26" barrrels. It was a great grouse gun, although a tad heavy for a 20 gauge. I sold that on Gunbroker about three years ago for about $900 if I remember correctly. It had some honest wear from hunting, but I would have rated it about 90%. No box.

thanks for the data point. The condition of yours sounds like mine. I don't think it has a three-digit serial number, though.

Anyhow, whether the Red Label goes to my acquaintance or not, it is time to pass it on to a new owner.

If I was going to buy a used one for hunting my top would be $650. Skeet and skeet version would be less.

Just my two cents...

rugnelli

rugnelli said:

If I was going to buy a used one for hunting my top would be $650. Skeet and skeet version would be less.

Just my two cents...

rugnelli

Click to expand...

I doubt you'd buy too many at that price.

Have a couple.

"...a used one for hunting..." Was not in the OP query.

Used and carelessly-handled Red Label 20 gauge guns start around $950 and go only up, in my travels.

Condition is everything. As new, in box guns have been very hard to find, hands-on IRL for under $1250 to $1400...
"internet guns" require shipping and transfer fees as true costs.

Thanks again for the info. The contractor has decided not to take it in trade for his work. So I will be selling it in a few weeks.

Their soft firing pins shorten usability, but 100% condition can be $1500.00 down to $475.00 at 60 % condition. However as I mentioned they don't hold up. Around here you can pick them up fairly inexpensively, but they may not work and unless my friend has steered me wrong the only way to get new firing pins is to have someone make them for you. Of course the failure to fires are Trap shooters guns so they have had thousands of rounds through them before the pins are shot.

List it on GI for $1000 and you'll sell it. O/U's are out of style, especially with fixed chokes. You can't, or shouldn't, shoot steel in those. Everyone wants an autoloader these days so there isn't much of a market for O/U field guns. People want to be able to shoot waterfowl with steel. JMO.

Don't know about values but just a heads up on repairs, I have one of the older ones (no changeable chokes) and it was having issues with firing a few years ago so I sent it to Ruger and they fixed it at no charge.

California Kid. You have an opinion about the Red Label that is only your own. These guns are incredibly durable and completely underestimated. You can take your opinion somewhere else.

Sagebrush, I wish you luck and I'm sorry for your health issues. Selling your guns has to suck.