Blue Book of Gun Values

[welldoya]

Really? You're gonna roll with what a gun dealer tells you about gun prices? Do you even know who S.P. Fjestad was? Or how he researched gun values? Have you ever looked at the books and understood the information provided within? I guarantee you one thing, the average "old gun dealer" knows next to nothing compared to what Fjestad knew about firearms history and values.
You DO reside in the USA, right? But you're saying that prices of guns aren't "like cars or other things?" Do you not buy "other things?" Gasoline prices fluctuate daily. So do prices of produce, dairy products, coffee, and just about anything that has to be manufactured requiring the use of petroleum.

I'd submit, that in normal times (e.g., not when a state legislature is voting on new restrictive legislation on firearms), gun prices, as well as ammo prices, are fairly stable, compared to most consumer goods.

The blue book is outdated. Why would you rely on one man’s writings when you can go on the internet and see what a gun actually sold for?
Not opinion, not conjecture. Someone actually handed over money for that gun.
That book might’ve been the gospel 30 years ago but there are much better resources now.
For that book to be useful today it requires that everyone plays along and they aren’t.
There was a similar thread on a local gun forum last year. Some old guy wanted to buy a gun for sale at the “book price” and argued with the seller. The gun sold at the asking price and the blue book guy was left standing there holding his book.
I’m not young but I’ve evolved with the times.

 

[PapaG]

A fact many overlook is you have to be realistic on condition rating. Customers call and tell you they have s "just like new, been the closet for years" gun. I won't quote a value until I can see it. That "like new" gun might be an 80%er, or refinished, or worse. I had an 1886 40-82 come in that had been flat out wrecked with the polisher, sander, and cold blue. A two thousand dollar gun turned into a few hundred dollars worth of parts.

 

[Scooter22]

Not since the internet sites came out. You can look up sold prices which is the real value. Anyone can ask any price but selling it is a different story.

 

[Old Dog]

Why would you rely on one man’s writings when you can go on the internet and see what a gun actually sold for?

So what factors into this one guy's writings, do you think? By the way, he's got a team of people doing his research. Ya think they also might be checking out the internet auction sites? Or maybe they're just plain stupid.

If you read my previous posts, I explained why I still use the Blue Book, and why I think it's still a valuable resource. I understand a lot of folks can't be bothered to read through every single post in a thread, but sometimes, context is useful. Resources such as the BBGV have never been "gospel," but if all you're looking at is results of auction sites, especially if you don't frequent your local gunshops and the gun shows, and you're buying guns, you're overpaying.

Good luck. Good lord, how did we ever manage to live without the internet and Google?

 

[I6turbo]

I don't buy the book, but just out of curiosity I'd like to see the latest CZ 452 Rimfire rifle section. I keep up closely with that particular group of guns and I think I could compare what the the Blue Book prices to what's actually the case these days.

 

[welldoya]

So what factors into this one guy's writings, do you think? By the way, he's got a team of people doing his research. Ya think they also might be checking out the internet auction sites? Or maybe they're just plain stupid.

If you read my previous posts, I explained why I still use the Blue Book, and why I think it's still a valuable resource. I understand a lot of folks can't be bothered to read through every single post in a thread, but sometimes, context is useful. Resources such as the BBGV have never been "gospel," but if all you're looking at is results of auction sites, especially if you don't frequent your local gunshops and the gun shows, and you're buying guns, you're overpaying.

Good luck. Good lord, how did we ever manage to live without the internet and Google?

Whatever floats your boat.