How much is your vintage gun worth? These readers find out

I’m hoping you can take a look at the photos of my newly inherited Henri Dumoulin rifle (above) and tell me a bit about it. From my research, it appears such Belgium-made rifles are quite rare, but I can’t find much more about them. Chambered in 7mm Rem. Mag., my rifle is in quite nice shape, with some obvious character scratches on the stock from being used as a hunting rifle in B.C. Otherwise, it is has no rust or major blemishes. The serial number is 2546. Thanks for any info you can provide.

STU REILLY

PRINCETON, B.C.

Henri Dumoulin was a respected Belgian gunmaker from roughly the 1960s to the 1980s. His business was taken over by his son Ernest, who currently produces just 100 to 150 high-grade shotguns and rifles a year. Your rifle was made on a Belgian FN action, most likely back in the 1960s or early 1970s. Stock features such as the prominent Monte Carlo and white-line spacers were popular at that time. It would have been considered a high quality, but still practical, hunting rifle when it was made.

Indeed, your gun remains a fine sporting rifle, and I think it would have some collector appeal. I don’t know of any collectors specializing in Dumoulin firearms, but there are quite a few who appreciate quality workmanship. As a practical hunting rifle, it would appeal mainly to those of us getting on in years who still appreciate blued steel and walnut stocks; it seems younger generations of hunters prefer stainless steel and synthetic stocks.

Strictly as a hunting/sporting rifle, your Dumoulin should be worth at least $600, but to a discriminating rifle enthusiast who appreciates quality and history, it might bring in $1,000 or more. Of course, finding such a buyer can be tricky.