Blue Book of Gun Values

[Riomouse911]

Hey all,

In the mail today was an advertisement for the Blue Book of Gun Values for $59.95.

For ages the BBGV was the true arbiter of firearm valuation for sellers, buyers, insurers, etc.
Obviously, since it is printed it is basically a snapshot in time and can’t give fluid values as situations change.

After the rise of Gun Broker, Guns America, etc., the real-time selling prices of guns can be determined pretty fairly. But again, local issues may make the average higher or lower than auction sale prices.

With all that said, does anyone still buy the BBGV anymore, or do you just use internet searches to determine prices?

Stay safe.

 

[Frulk]

I do. It’s handy for the obscure stuff you won’t necessarily find at gun shows or if you do it’s VERY infrequent.

It’s good for researching if a particular gun was made in a certain configuration.

I don’t need a price check for Mossbergs, lever guns, modern bolts and most revolvers. I’m pretty well up to date on those.

I find I get easily side tracked in the book and can spend an hour going model by model on some stuff reading all the details.

Google-Fu is fine but I still like to hold a book in my hand in front of a cast iron stove, sipping a bourbon or single malt. This from a guy that learned to use an abacus in a Catholic boarding school.

 

[JTHunter]

Rio - what little pricing I do is all online, mostly at GB. Sometimes, not very often, I type in a search for "so & so" for sale and see what pops up.

 

[LeftyRed]

I do and I use it for a baseline. The online auction site is not a good place to value a certain weapon. They have fees added to the price and I don’t see it as a fair representation of true value of the weapon.

 

[IlikeSA]

I go to my local library to look at the gun value books, and the internet to get more up to date pricing. With inflation being what it is today, who knows what a gun will cost in 6 months.

 

[Rubone]

I really like paper and books, read incessantly. I buy books whether I need them or not. Just bought a "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" for reference, the prices mean nothing.
I have over 600 books just motorcycle related, not counting 1000s of vintage magazines, sales brochures, manuals, catalogs, etc, etc,...
I'm not the one to ask about "buying a book".

 

[JDeere]

I use it for a base point for a price. I buy one every 2 or 3 years when they close them out for the year. My LGS is usually the best for pricing though. He takes care of me and I take of him if you understand what I mean...

 

[243winxb]

Bought this 1 and done. It's useful to look up different models.
The prices listed are of little value. Add in inflation, almost makes it out dated after its printed. Remember the years of double digit inflation?

Back in the day, customers could open Shotgun News & see dealers prices. Many people had an FFL. This all lowered the true retail price. I bought used guns at dealer cost less 20%



I never bought a gun at the BBGV listed price, when the person started with "Blue Book price is......" I knew I could not afford it.



Hopefully the new BB doesnt just cut List price in half?

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Current Blue Book of Gun Values at $59.95 is a bit steep for me (but I am not an insurer or frequent seller myself).

I have an out of date gun trader's guide I bought cheap at Ollie's for the info on years of manufacture, importers, variations, etc.

 

[General Geoff]

Current Blue Book of Gun Values at $59.95 is a bit steep for me (but I am not an insurer or frequent seller myself).

Check your local Ollie's Discount Outlet. Mine had a 2022 Blue Book of gun values for $5.99

 

[buck460XVR]

I used to buy them not for the prices, but because they were a great source of info on strange and rare firearms. Not so much anymore. Been fortunate most of my life to live close to, and buy from a LGS that was fair and honest. Also have friends with their FFL. Pretty much knew what the gun I wanted was worth. Most of the guns I have ever bought were new, since I am not a collector. With the WWW, finding info that was once only available in bound books, is fairly easy and extensive. I have one of the "vintage" issues on my coffee table as a conversation piece.

 

[Old Dog]

With all that said, does anyone still buy the BBGV anymore, or do you just use internet searches to determine prices?

Yep. It's a good starting point. I'll typically add 10 - 20% on to the 95% price and feel as though that's a fair price for a used handgun.

After the rise of Gun Broker, Guns America, etc., the real-time selling prices of guns can be determined pretty fairly.

I'm gonna have to disagree just a little here; a lot of the "sold" prices on the auction sites are inflated (nature of the auction process), and often they're just crazy stupid (especially on old S&W and Colt revolvers). I have much better luck at a couple of my LGS and pawn shops which routinely list used handguns for often significantly less than what I see the same models selling for on the internet.

I do have one LGS near me where the owner seems to price every used handgun at the BB 100% price.

but because they were a great source of info on strange and rare firearms.

Still can be. Especially as far as info on variants and numbers produced.

I think the key to being able to assess realistic selling prices for used firearms is getting out regularly to a variety of your LGSs, pawn shops, gun shows (I know, many of you hate them) and perusing the internet (my regional gun boards' "for sale" sub-forums often reflect very fair pricing.

For me, there's no single reference.

 

[ms6852]

I used to buy them but not anymore. They were my reference for whenever I wanted to go to a gunshow for a specific rifle or gun and I would have a dollar amount I was willing to pay. Now the internet provides me with the information I need and as you stated it is more fluid when it comes to prices.

 

[PapaG]

$39.95 at Midway a few days ago. My go to for beginning prices on appraisals. That said, I hit the res shops regularly, watch closed auctions, and keep my finger on the local pulse. I do one or two appraisals a month. Slowing down lately here in the socialist Republic of IL a folks are getting nervous.

 

[welldoya]

Like an old gun dealer once told me when I quoted him the Blue Book price - “That’s just somebody writing a book. He’s not out here dealing guns everyday.”
Think about it. What makes this guy’s opinion the gospel?
I would much rather go by what someone actually paid. Real money changing hands.

 

[pharmer]

Comes out in May usually. Same time the previous edition is $8-10 at the gun show. I usually pick one up every other year, for S&G's. Joe

 

[earlthegoat2]

I find pawn shops and a few gun shops like to use the BBGVs when pricing a gun they may want to take in.

I find the BBGV is usually significantly lower than real world values so this tactic makes sense from their end of things. They can shoot a low ball offer at a customer and have what seems to be a credible source in their hand to back it up. The $60 price pays for itself the first time they buy a gun off of someone.

 

[kje54]

I find pawn shops and a few gun shops like to use the BBGVs when pricing a gun they may want to take in.

I find the BBGV is usually significantly lower than real world values so this tactic makes sense from their end of things. They can shoot a low ball offer at a customer and have what seems to be a credible source in their hand to back it up. The $60 price pays for itself the first time they buy a gun off of someone.

Out here the pawn shops may use the BBGV but add 30% minimum then offer 10 - 20% off. Obviously I never buy from our pawn shops.

 

[Mauser fan]

I do from time to time. Like others have said it gives me a solid base line when haggling over a value for a purchase or a sale and an appraisal. Having something in print on hand is a lot better than guessing especially when using online auction sites such as gun broker for example to determine a value. Values from auction sites aren't what I would consider reliable at all. Because most of the time the price used is from a live auction where the bidding hasn't ended. So you'll get an absurdly low or an astronomically high price. Either of which is unless when haggling. That is just my opinion.

More-over it isn't a wise practice to use outdated texts especially auction house catalogs as reference for selling or buying anything collectable and in truth it is up to the seller to decide what he or she is willing to take for the property being sold and what the buyer is willing to pay. No matter what superlative term is used to determine a value. For example rare or scarce are commonly used terms.

Then there is the personal attachment to certain items that more often than not has no provenance of who owned the item.

Use such items carefully and most people will be successful.

 

[wayneinFL]

Yep. It's a good starting point. I'll typically add 10 - 20% on to the 95% price and feel as though that's a fair price for a used handgun.
I'm gonna have to disagree just a little here; a lot of the "sold" prices on the auction sites are inflated (nature of the auction process), and often they're just crazy stupid (especially on old S&W and Colt revolvers). I have much better luck at a couple of my LGS and pawn shops which routinely list used handguns for often significantly less than what I see the same models selling for on the internet.

I do have one LGS near me where the owner seems to price every used handgun at the BB 100% price.
Still can be. Especially as far as info on variants and numbers produced.

I think the key to being able to assess realistic selling prices for used firearms is getting out regularly to a variety of your LGSs, pawn shops, gun shows (I know, many of you hate them) and perusing the internet (my regional gun boards' "for sale" sub-forums often reflect very fair pricing.

For me, there's no single reference.

Yeah, sometimes an auction is a competition to see who is the biggest sucker.

 

[Styx]

Prices of guns aren't like cars and other things. Prices can fluctuate by the month or even day based on supply and demand, what's going on politically, ammo availability, what formally discontinued models are being released, or based on the current flavor of the month trend the firearm community is going for...

You can see what others are selling their firearms for on ArmsList, firearm forum classified sections, and on Gunbroker. With Gunbroker and forums, you can see sales history of what guns actually sold for. I don't see the point in buying a book. If it was a subscription to an app or online live up to date information, then it would make sense, but a static book which it's information could be moot within a few months to a year is utterly pointless IMHO.

Online resources are best, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with going by auction site results. You just shouldn't base things on one auction but rather look at several different completed auctions coupled with what the same gun is currently being sold or has been sold for on ArmsList and forums... don't waste money on a book when you can get better up to date information for free.

 

[Jim Watson]

I think the best use of book prices is near peer trades
"I'll give you two $50 cats for your $100 dog."

 

[Old Dog]

Like an old gun dealer once told me when I quoted him the Blue Book price - “That’s just somebody writing a book. He’s not out here dealing guns everyday.”
Think about it. What makes this guy’s opinion the gospel?

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.

Prices of guns aren't like cars and other things. Prices can fluctuate by the month or even day based on supply and demand, what's going on politically, ammo availability, what formally discontinued models are being released, or based on the current flavor of the month trend the firearm community is going for...

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.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Gunbroker...use advanced search,completed items.Shows auctions prices that guns actually sold for not the asking price.

 

[Styx]

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.

You're taking it literally as to mean everything else. "Other things" doesn't mean everything. You kind of made my point for me. If the prices on the items you mentioned fluctuate regularly, why in God's name would you buy a static book aka a snapshot in time on what those prices should be?

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.

I'd say that state and federal legislation scares, mass shootings, low supply from manufactures, discontinuations, release of new generations, ATF rule changes, import bans, etc have respectively become a routine thing which all can have an affect on the price of firearms and ammo.

Some firearms prices maybe stable like Glocks or the like, but the prices of many other firearms (not all) fluctuate regularly depending on several factors. Even if you look at most online retailers' prices, they even change from one day/week/month to the next. I can't even begin to tell you how often I put a gun in my online cart, procrastinated on buying, and when I came back a day later the price went up. The price firearms can be found for NIB will affect the used pricing to some extent.

Then you also have to take into account whether you're selling online or locally. The going price of firearms in CA, NYC, DC, etc aren't going to be the same as in Texas or Utah. Does the book that into account? Online prices on used or new guns tend to be cheaper than off line prices as well in my experience.

The availablity of the Colt Python wasn't equal to demand. The MSRP was $1499 or something like that, but the market at that time was well over MSRP. Now you can get them under MSRP. CZ often manufacturers some of their pistols in batches (HK does this too with some imported models), and they regularly abruptly discontinued certain model numbers. There has been times when Colt took on a big military contract for ARs, so they temporarily stopped or decreased production to civilians. Prices for Colt parts and rifles shot up.... You get the picture... This all affects demand and prices. Depending on when you purchased the price book, the suggested pricing may or may not be way off.