So is there an easy online way to get the real value of a gun?

[stevekl]

Is there an easy way to get a current, accurate value of a gun quickly? I know it varies from dealer to dealer, place to place, etc. But there's gotta be a more convenient resource than calling gun stores or looking in blue books.

The MSRP listed on a gun maker's websites are always too high...sometimes as much as $200 more than what I can actually get at a gun store.

Are the prices on websites like gunauctions or auctionarms perhaps good indicators?

In case you're wondering, I am trying to figure out the total value of my collection, like how much everything is worth, and how much the things that I don't shoot anymore are worth, etc.

 

[zamboxl]

check out websites like gunbroker there you'll see what people are willing to pay for them, then ad like $50 maibe a little more for a face to face transaction.

 

[stevekl]

Yeah, I think I meant to say gunbroker, not gunauctions.

The prices there do seem normal so I guess i'll go by that for now.

 

[atlctyslkr]

My brother and I went through this a few weeks ago trying to divide up some guns that belonged to my grandfather. We found a wide swing of prices. We both ended up agreeing that if either of us sells one of the guns the proceeds are split otherwise live with what you've got.

 

[Old Fuff]

I watch a number of auctions, but perhaps differently then most. I'm not interested in what the seller is asking for, but rather if the gun sold at whatever price. It is what a buyer will pay that represents the true value, not what a seller hopes to get.

 

[Rumble]

If you want the "blue book" value, Blue Book publications has an online access thing for the blue book. Now, granted, BB values aren't the final word in gun value. I signed up for a year, I think it was in the $25 range. Been useful.

 

[Werewolf]

For new guns it has been my experience in OKC that the street price is about 75% of MSRP give or take 5% based on the gun and what shop is selling it.

For used - who knows - gunbroker prices are all way too high in my opinion - some of those guys want near MSRP for used weapons and darned if they don't get it (a part of me says more power to 'em while another part wishes they could be strung up by their nether parts and whipped with a cat'o'nine talis soaked in tabasco.)

You might visit the for sale forum here and just ask. Average the answers and use that for a starting point.

 

[MountainPeak]

I'm a long time fan of "Blue". I realize it's and average throughout the country, from surveys, done by so-called experts, gun shows, dealers, auctions, etc.. Is it perfect? Nope, but it is a good starting point. For a long time, I responded, on various boards, to price questions, by looking up, and giving Bluebook prices. I quit. I got tired of people telling me why I was wrong, and some of them sending me rather nasty e-mails. Pay what you want. I STILL use Blue as my starting point, and suggest you do to. The grading section alone is worth the money for many. Look at the pictures, and tell me with a straight face, that gun, you were told was 98%, IS 98%?. Nuff said!