Years ago my insurance company requested an appraisal for a gift that my wife gave me for Christmas that year when I requested it be added to our home owners insurance policy list.
It was a Colt, single action, .44 Special, Nickel plated (not stainless steel), with real Ivory grips mounted at the Colt Factory, in the original factory box. It has never been fired.
We knew the original cost since my wife had ordered it directly from Colt, via the Fort Collins Dealer, when she purchased it. However we wanted a price based on current value for the insurance policy.
I took it to the gun store in Fort Collins and received a written value based on what the gun store would sell it for if it was for sale in their store. The dealer was happy to give me their appraise retail price since I do business with them. That Colt is not for sale, and I don't plan to ever sell it. The dealer did say that if I ever wanted to sell it, they would like to have first chance to buy it.
The insurance company accepted the written appraisal value by that dealer.