Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Getting guns appraised?

My renter's insurance only covers my firearms up to $5k. They told me I would need to get them appraised to have them covered for more.

Where do you go for something like this? Are there certain insurance things I should consider? I don't want to get worthless or the wrong coverage. I don't know a lot about different insurance obviously.

Thanks.

Ask your insurance agent who they will accept as the appraiser.
It could be a gun store owner, gunsmith, or some other expert, like a recognized firearms collector or museum curator.

My whole thing is I don't want Billy-Bob down the road to see my custom gun based on an M700, and write down it is worth $300 because it is a used Remington.

Just ask the insurance agent. Any reputable insurance company is going to have an appraiser on thier payroll. I appraise firearms for 6 different companies.

NRA has an optional insurance program. It's not cheap, but you don't have to list individual guns unless you want to declare a specific value. No serial numbers either.

Paul

I am also concerned with fine print, or not really understanding my insurance. I have heard stories of people saying they had $20k in firearms insurance, then when they get them stolen, they get a check for like $500. Something about being insured for "up to $20K", no guarantee or something. I actually want my optics insured too.

1. Don't use Billy Bob to appraise your guns

2. Photograph all of them, the entire firearm, both sides, and close ups of each section.

3. Keep a file of every firearm, SN, condition, purchase price, date, any marks or wear. Make copy, and keep it off premises.

4. Insure for REPLACEMENT value of each.

I appraise collections all the time, and help several people a year sell off large portions of collections (elderly people, heirs, attorneys). No one who does this competently, even for free, is going value anything too high or low, because of the liability issue, which carries criminal as well as civil penalties.

It's actually a very good practice to take a video of your home and it's items.
In the eveny of a major loss, it will help you itemise your loss.