Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Citori value ?

I would say to follow your instincts as it would be over priced in my opinion. I would expect a fair price to be around $650 or even a bit less around here based on your description. Price might change depending on area as some places are much more expensive than others though that tend to be more the exception than the rule. If you live in one of those areas it's great when you sell but sucks if buying.

Overpriced and then some. I’ve seen as new 20ga field models go for $900 to $1000. Rust on the rib posts may be an expensive fix. Walk away.

Overpriced and then some. I’ve seen as new 20ga field models go for $900 to $1000. Rust on the rib posts may be an expensive fix. Walk away.

Weims, you're looking for a break action shotgun for less than a grand, right?

Suggest you look at the new Weatherby Orion with a street price of $899, or an older one made by SKB, if you can find it. Well made, nice looking, point great, a shotgun for using.

I had a Winchester 101 once, nice gun and I could hit with it but it beat the crap out of my cheek. Down the road it went. YMMV. The newer ones might be different. They can be found in your range.

Citori is hard to find in your range but can be found if you look long enough. I have a Citori, bought it new (Seventeen years ago Sunday, in fact) and its a great gun. You won't see many worth owning for less than a grand. Same with Beretta. CZ made some nicer O/U's as well.

I know this a stretch asking for info without pics or serial numbers but ......
I have been looking for a pheasant/quail gun when today I ran across a Citori 20ga 2.75 chamber at a local shop.

Steve’s on South Main by chance? Sounds like their pricing structure anyway.

It sounds like a very decent buy based on your earlier price point but I am very doubtful the adjustable comb is factory. I do not have my reference books handy but this what I can recall of the Citori line of that era. It is not to say it did not occur but I don't recall seeing that option on Browning's price list back then. It may be that it was an option not extended to me but considering what was available back then it is more likely it was not available or I missed it.

The first reason to doubt is 3" chambers as Browning insisted on 2 3/4" for all their target guns at the time. Some guns had 3" chambers but the barrels were factory stamped 2 3/4". Browning believed one got better patterns with the shorter chambers when shooting target loads even though Beretta chambered all their guns for 3", even those targeted for competition.

Second reason is the Lightning designation. The Lightning was primarily a field model as few competitors wanted the round knob in the 90's. The slim roundish fore end was another facet that many deemed undesirarable for competition and I recall the GTi Lightning as having a thicker and squarer fore stock than the field Lightning. The GTi did not have an adjustable comb as I recall.

Lastly, the 28" barrels. By the late 90's the rage was 30" barrels for competitors with shorter barrels being undesirable. 28" barrels were an option offered but very few were made in comparison to 30". Since 28" barrels were offered it is carries little weight on its own but it does add a little when added to the rest.

That is not to say your gun is not factory original but just that it would be an unusual model. I would look at getting it lettered as that might gain you a couple hundred dollars on a trade or resale. Being an unusual model many, me included, would not realize that and would subtract all the avove from the price if looking for a competition gun and subtract the adjustable stock if wanting a field model. Having the paperwork stating it is an unusual option would help to justify a higher, more appropriate, price for some buyers.

You did buy a good gun at a very fair, if not very good, price - I think you did well. My comments are meant as food for thought for future resale and how to protect yourself against an ignorant or unscrupulous buyer. I know I've been the former, I hope I haven't been the latter.