[Adam Helmer]

All the good folks who post here have vast stores of knowledge about military surplus arms and I think we tend to assume "everyone knows" about these guns. An enlightening event occured last week that prompted this post.

An attorney friend from church knows I collect military surplus arms. He called me last week and asked me to identify and appraise a gun collection for an estate he is handling. I spent half a day inventoring a nice military collection and then came home and looked up values in my books on same. I printed out the list and rendered it to him. I was amazed at the amount of money tendered for my services. I said as much and he advised, "other specialists get paid well for their services" and I am now on retainer for future collections.

I think we tend to forget for most folks, a collection is "just a pile of old guns." We all know a Mark III, a P-17 or a Webley Mark VI which is "greek" to most laymen. We all acquired vast knowledge incrementally and I suggest we not work for free, if there is a need in your area.

Adam