Price of All used Revolvers to Go UP with new Blue Book coming out???

[Master Blaster]

Hi All I hope you had a nice Holiday.

Many folks here like to buy used revolvers especially Smith and Wesson and Colts, because used guns tend to be a better value, and because some folks hold the view that the older revolvers were better fitted and better made than the new Stainless Steel and MIM wonders being put out today.

Local gunshops around here seem to all use the Blue book as a guide if not the sole source for pricing used revolvers..

I read that a new revised Blue Book is on the shelves now, I havent gotten a hold of a copy yet, but I am afraid that its release will cause the price of all of the used revolvers I like to see and buy to go up dramatically in the near future. Last year I bought a perfect condition Smith and Wesson M&P .38 spl, for $290, Brand spankin new, unfired not a scratch on it, made in 1946.
The shop owner had priced it based on the Blue Book which was a few years old at that point.

Do any of you have a copy, and have the prices gone up????? What does the 2007 edition list for a 1946 M&P 6" fixed sights in 99% condition???

Thanks

 

[crazyhorse]

Have not seen the Blue Book, but according to many FFL's around me, YES, all firearms will take a hike.

 

[VA27]

While some dealers may use the blue book, others have found that some guns just will not sell at the prices recommended there. Dealers nowadays check the internet auction sites and price their wares at what people are actually PAYING for the gun in question. They also do this when deciding what to pay/allow in trade for guns that customers bring in.

It's been my experience that the prices in the book and the prices that guns will sell for resemble each other as much as a fruit fly resembles a fruit cocktail! Of course YMMV in your particular area. A gun that sells like hotcakes for high prices in one area of the country often can't be given away in another area. Go figure.

 

[brett30030]

Most of the BBGV values are not year related, unless they are very short model runs, etc. Just like any object, some increase in value as they age, and some go down; it all depends upon what people are willing to pay. The BBGV can be purchased on amazon, it is not something that only dealers have access to. You can probably buy a used copy of the 2006 book cheap.

 

[CU74]

I think the rising prices are less a function of the new Blue Book than of the percieved political agendas of the current congressional weasels. Note the various posts about "Have you bought more since the election?", "Now that the Dems are in power, is it the time to buy?", etc.

 

[Dienekes]

Never look at them. Price always "depends", lastly but most critically on how badly the prospective buyer wants the thing. In that context we are our own worst enemies because a few decent guns will last any of us a lifetime--so other than our own itch--and the greed of some, where's the pressure?

If the economy goes south to any extent a lot of this hardware is going to get dumped for half or less.

Then they'll have to print up a Blue Book supplement.

 

[Baphomet]

Prices will ALWAYS reflect what the market will bear.

 

[WESTTX357]

Nothing new with prices going up they do so first of every year on old and new. I called today and was told new blue book would not ship until March.
And blue book prices are not set in stone they are just a suggestion.

 

[XavierBreath]

Gun prices are affected by many factors. Overall, desirable used guns older than 10 or so years, that are still in excellent condition reach a point where they stop decreasing in price due to depreciation, and slowly increase in price. Even with no other factors, inflation will continue to increase gun prices.

The graying of the baby boomer generation has created many more collectors than were buying previously. These folks have disposable income and want the guns of their youth that were costly to them back "when". Result? Prices go up.

The internet has increased the pool of available buyers, but also the competition for selklers, with mint examples commanding higher prices. There used to be small price differences between a ANIB and excellent guns. Now the gap is widened considerably.

The recent political turnovers has some people worried and buying, others are holding off. CCW legislation has increased prices in the carry gun market, as well as the selection.

Colt stopped producing revolvers. As a result, Colt revolver prices skyrocketed and will level out again in a year or so. They are all over the board right now. Everybody is speculating in that area if they own Colt revolvers and have an eye on the market.

I suspect Smith & Wesson revolver prices will likely increase a bit as a result of the 3rd edition of supica's SCS&W being published in December 2006. I, for one, definitely compared the prices between the 2nd and third editions, and considered the increases in my own collection. Collectors of S&W are influenced by the SCS&W, but the increases in what guns will sell at as a result eventually affect the marketplace, and as a result, the Blue Book.

In the end, out of production guns in excellent condition or better will continue to climb due to dwindling supply. Less than excellent out of production guns increase in price less because the supply increases as the excellent guns are used and receive more wear.

Bottom line, buy the best condition quality guns you can,at the lowest price you can, enjoy them, but take care of them. In ten years you will do fine.

Supica's 3rd edition of SCS&W lists a post-war M&P in excellent condition at $300. This will vary according to barrel length and the region of the country it is sold in.

 

[OLD DOMENION]

Prices in Blue Book to go up

If what I have been told is true is ture then it is just a price adjustment:
"Blue Book prices are 18 months behind".
That would allow you to add 10 to 20% more to your firearm's price.

 

[Confederate]

Another consideration behind rising prices in firearms is simply that we live in an era when disposable merchandise is selling for hundreds of dollars. I just purchased an .mp3 player with 8 gigs of memory for $185. True, such prices are dropping, but they're being replaced by items that cost just as much, if not more. Why should firearms also sell for just a few hundred dollars when they can easily last a lifetime and actually increase in value?

The time will come when all firearms will bump ahead. The value of U.S. dollars is becoming too low. I never thought I'd see the day when revolvers would cost more than $600 without being Pythons. The prices of some Rugers is so ridiculously low that people ought to be snapping them up right and left, especially issues that are no longer being made.

I confess that most of my expensive Smith & Wessons spend much more time in the safe these days. If someone is going to go out with their K-frame .357s and shoot full magnum loads through it and destroy it in just a couple of years, it just doesn't make sense. Better to shoot a Ruger and tuck the Smith away in a secure place. If a pristine Smith 66 were to magically drop into my lap, I don't think I would ever shoot more than .38s in it. They're just getting to be too expensive.

If it weren't for companies like Taurus and Rossi, handgun prices would already probably be way more than they presently are.

 

[Majic]

Many dealers will use the Blue Book to help determine what they may value your firearm they are willing to buy or take in trade, but not in pricing their firearms they have for sale.

 

[Slamfire]

I have always wondered what sort of a database the Blue Book authors used in estimating gun prices. I really doubt that much of it is based on any data. Looks like they start with the dealer price, adjust that for inflation, and then use a curve for condition. I think those books just create an awareness of which firearms are rare, and which are not. Prices are what the market determines.

I remember a fellow who back in his youth, the 30's or 40's, purchased some rare Colt Officer's Model in 38 Spl. The revolver had factory ivory grips and some engraving. Well Joe wanted book value. Book value was high. Something like $600.00 at the time. He advertised in newspapers and did not get one inquiry. I had offered him $250.00, which I thought was fair. At the time I could get a M686 new for that price. He declined. I think he must have been buried with that pistol as he would not take my offer, as he wanted book. Well he could have got book if he was willing to spend $600.00 in travel expenses to enough gunshows to find that one well heeled buyer.

I have been very fortunate to travel a bunch, and prices in states where firearms ownership is discouraged are higher than prices in states where ownership is not a problem. The longer waiting periods, Gun Owner ID cards, etc, do drive prices up. And then there is competition. I live in a town where the best gun dealer in the area claims he is on a mission from God to put as many guns in the hands of citizens as possible. He sells low, and buys on pawn, far lower. Its wonderful.

If the Blue Book used my area to price guns, the prices would have to drop by 25% on average.

 

[Boats]

The secondary market in revolvers is all about scarcity. The poster above is right when he talks about trends in manufacturing being one driver, but relief is on the way in the form of demographics.

FACT: Colt's doesn't produce new revolvers. I pay for that fact every time I purchase a used one. The good news is that Colt's might one day pull its head out and produce more. The other good news is that if they don't make new ones, the old ones are going to retain value even when well used.

FACT: Modern S&Ws are vastly unpopular with a segment of the buying public. This phenomenon drives the market for blue Smiths of all types, all pre-lock Smiths, and discounts the resale market of the nipple locked and MIM loaded ones. Smith is apparently not pulling its head out, so the older ones are going to retain value.

FACT: A lot of the most desireable Colt's and Smiths are in the hands of people who will be dead or in nursing homes sooner than later. A reservoir of pieces from estate sales and feminized descendants too scared to own them should be flloding out over the next two decades.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

FACT: A lot of the most desireable Colt's and Smiths are in the hands of people who will be dead or in nursing homes sooner than later. A reservoir of pieces from estate sales and feminized descendants too scared to own them should be flloding out over the next two decades.

This is my view too. I am amazed at how much above Blue Book people are demanding for their older S&W revolvers, and I tell them exactly this. There is a huge supply of these in great shape just waiting for a generation or two of old guys to die off. Their widows and children will only see dollar signs and pawn them off at whatever the pawn shop says they're worth, so they can have some extra money for ipods and the like.

 

[XavierBreath]

Sad tosay TRH, you are probably correct.

I have always wondered what sort of a database the Blue Book authors used in estimating gun prices.

At many gun shows I attend, when you buy a gun, you are given a slip of paper with the model, serial and price of the gun you purchased recorded. These slips are turned in at the door as you leave. Ever suspicious, I once asked what this was for. I was told it was data used for the upcoming Blue Books. I do not know the truth in this or not, but I found it interesting.

 

[22-rimfire]

Blue Book Plug

A gun is only worth what someone will pay for it. The Blue Book of Gun Values (BBGV) is a remarkable publication. If you have ever used any of the other firearm valuation publications, you see just how excellent this one is. It is not perfect and it is arguable that the pricing is always a year old when it hits the shelves in March-April of each year. It is the best reference we have.

Gun prices are going up based on the market. The new BBGV (28th edition) will likely reflect the upward movement of firearm prices or values. For years, prices were flat after you got through the high inflation period of the 1970's to early 1980's. So, now we have a more finely tuned firearms market with pricing on some things risng faster than others (i.e. Colts and older pre-lock Smiths, and others) and probably the only way to estimate a value is to use a combination of gunshow and internet pricing for guns with everything backed up the the BBGV as the "backbone". The BBGV shall remain so as long as Fjestad's staff keeps up to date. Fjestad and Blue Book Publications have provided a tremendous service for firearms dealers and collectors.

Fjestad might consider an internet version of the BBGV that is revised quarterly or biannually for a portion of the more volatile portions of the book. This would have market value and is a product which could be sold through a membeship or updated downloads. You listening Steven? Interesting project, eh? And you are the only one who could pull it off.

I'm more interested in Colts and Smiths. I used to buy the BBGV's every other year. With the market volatility, you almost need to buy it annually now to keep up to date and then watch the auctions sites.

Sales drive the market. Yes, there will be a lot of collector grade guns that will come into the market as collectors pass away and their estates are sold by disinterested family members. These guns have always trickled into the market and will continue to do so. Don't expect any big changes to values due to liquidation of collections and estates.

Prices are going up. Why? There is a demand for fine firearms.

 

[20yearvet]

At many gun shows I attend, when you buy a gun, you are given a slip of paper with the model, serial and price of the gun you purchased recorded. These slips are turned in at the door as you leave. Ever suspicious, I once asked what this was for. I was told it was data used for the upcoming Blue Books. I do not know the truth in this or not, but I found it interesting.

If this is true and is one of the ways the publishers of "Blue Books" get some of their data, it makes sense. The market determines what something is "worth", not a "Blue Book" or "Buyers Guide". This gunshow data would actually be a pretty good indication of the true market value of representative firearm models. I'm guessing that publishers gather data from several sources such as want-ad listing prices, MSRP info from manufacturers, etc and then apply some sort of statistical average to come up with the ranges of low-to-high or poor-to-excellent that they publish.

I used to be a consumer lender and I would constantly have people call me who were either buying a car or trying to sell a car and ask what the "Blue Book" said the car was worth. My reply was always "It's worth whatever somebody is willing to pay for it" and I would then give them the ranges from the 3 or 4 different "Blue Books" that we used. The best indication of what something is "worth" is what they are actually selling for in the marketplace and gunshow sales are probably indicative of that to a certain point.

 

[saltydog452]

'Blue Book' anything is kinda misleading.

I overpaid for a Commander..according to the Blue Book. But the purchase price included a refund within 30 days if the dang thing didn't work. That means that I got to shoot it.... a lot. (Collectors Firearms..Houston, Tx.) What is that worth???

I bought another Commander (at 200.00 less over the 'net') that required the services of Chuck Rogers (Rogers Precision) to install a steel feed ramp in the aluminum frame.

One was over the listed 'Blue Book' value, one was less. Which had the best value?

Rec'd Fjestad's latest edition as a gift a few days ago. It lists Norinco 1911A1 at 100% condition at 275.00.

If they'll load up a 57 ft trailer full of '100%' Norks @ 275.00, I'll take out a loan on the home, her Jeep, my truck, and adoption options on my children, and buy 'em all.

Your, and my, mileage will vary.

salty.

 

[saltydog452]

I stand corrected...( Ouch Baby, don't hit so hard)

You can have the kids, but my Bride and I get to continue spoil the Grand-Kids.

salty.