Used Gun Research

[jbradley]

What is the best way to research a used handgun to see what what it is, what to look for and how much it is worth.
Curious about book form, online form and somthing for the iphone.

Thanks!

 

[Ryanxia]

I bought the 2011 Standard Firearms Catalog from Amazon. I think that was the title, giant book that has lots and lots of guns. If something isn't in there I do some google searches and/or post under the Firearms Research section here on The High Road.
Always good to make friends at your local gunshop/range as well

You can also check out sites like gunbroker to see how much they are going for (sometimes works).

 

[dprice3844444]

bluebookinc.com

 

[Telekinesis]

Is it a common gun or something more specialized? If its relatively common, I would look at COMPLETED auctions on gunbroker (not just what people are asking as starting bids) and I would also look at several different forum For Sale sections. That should give you a pretty good handle on price versus condition.

As far as general research, I usually just google the gun type and look for basic info and reviews. Sometimes YouTube can be good if you're unfamiliar with how to field strip the gun.

 

[Jeremiah10:23]

Can someone tell us how to find the completed auction section of GB?

 

[Telekinesis]

Can someone tell us how to find the completed auction section of GB?

You have to have an account with them, and then you can do a search and limit the results to only completed auctions.

 

[k-frame]

Check your local library for the books mentioned above. Sometimes they are kept in the Reference section and as such are not allowed to be checked out. And free is good, even if the book may be a year or two out of date.

 

[303tom]

Google.............

 

[Vaarok]

Gunbroker and google. If you're buying a hardcover book with numbers it's a couple years out of date and probably biased in favor of gunshop and pawnshop owners, or distorted by collectability score for high-end collectors.

Value is a relative term. A friend of mine textmessaged me tonight that a plain Romanian PSL sold for $1,200 plus tax at an auction he was attending. And the buyer was thrilled to have "won."