Blue Book for Guns

[WALKERs210]

I have over the years used the Blue Book for guns and found it was well worth the price. Last week I ordered it on CD for my computer and it is great. I would liken this to the TV commercial that it's so easy a Redneck can use it. Overall cost shipped was $40.00 but it has already helped making decision on a few guns I was concerdering. Just thought others might be interested.

 

[22-rimfire]

I also agree the Blue Book of Gun Values by Fjestad is a great reference when trying to figure a price or value of a firearm. It is only a guide, but for me it provides a very good starting point on determining values. Clearly, you may be able to get more current information visiting the auction sites for closed firearm auctions, but that takes a fair amount of effort. So it depends where you are in the gun buying or selling and what the approximate value the gun has.

I have noticed the CD version being available, but prefer the printed version because it is handy. If they updated the CD a couple times a year, I might be more interested in it.

 

[Just One Shot]

I have the book in the trunk of my car. You never know when you might run into someone looking to move a gun but they have the price on the high side. Sometimes they will be easier to barter with if you have the prices readily available.

 

[DCR]

It's good for a reference as to the authors' opinions as to prices, and sometimes a little historical knowledge, but that's about it. The price or "value" of a gun is what the willing buyer and the willing seller arrive at. Dealers I know give a Bronx raspberry to someone who tries to argue a gun is "worth" only what the blue book says, and we ignore people who try to dicker based on what they read in the Blue Book. Those sorts of folks know nothing of local or regional market supply and demand, and if they think they can get the same gun at all, much less get it cheaper, we let them try - none have been successful. Of course, we only deal in pre-GCA firearms, so the scarcity of supply skews things, unlike the case for more modern weapons.

 

[John Wayne]

It's not a gold standard, but it is better than nothing. It's full of spelling errors and the background info it gives often has more entertainment value than anything.

Interestingly enough, very few of the guns I've sold went for anything near blue book price. Some lower, some higher, some right on (by chance).

I think his judgement about finish is sound as far as classical/historical investments go, but as far as utilitarian pieces it's way off. In many cases it makes no distinction as to caliber or barrel length regarding value, and these can be two of the determining factors in what a gun is worth.

 

[paradox998]

I used to subscribe, but now I feel I can get more timely info from the auction sites. Most of them allow you to search completed auctions and see what people have paid recently.

 

[pikid89]

i prefer blue book publications on line subscription

 

[Hagen442]

I use the Blue Book only
I do some Horse Trading on occasion and use the Book to point me in the right direction.

 

[Keb]

I have the CD version of the book, it is a PDF, all stored with the color grading photos on my smartphone.