Book values
I don't want to get anyone upset but why are the Blue Book Values running lower than market values when there has been a strong market for handguns the las 2-3 years? How do the powers that be not adjust the book values when the market is so strong?
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WOW where do you live[?] .I am going to bring my guns to your area to sell. The market is down to the lowest level that I have seen in the last 10 years . at least that is how i feel in the stares of Georgia, S & N Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and Kentucky . I think is is a puyer market on NICE Quality guns. 0 -
No offense meant, but you sound like some of the sellers at our local shows. It's almost like their in some kind of a time warp, i.e. still back in 2006, when there wasn't 10% unemployment and millions of homes underwater. 0 -
The Blue Book, is not, and should not be taken as decisive evidence of value. There are many serious errors in that publication, in several factors. Yes, I do realize that several businesses use it as the bible to screw over their hard working customer's. They strive to put together a "NEW" edition every year, wether the info is correct or not. it does not take into account regional value either, like a Remington 760 or 7600 pump rifle in 270 or 30-06 will have a higher value to PA. resident's who cannot use a semi-auto to hunt deer with.
If you want to asses true values, take a look at the auction side for the particular item of interest, and look at the auctions that have ended and SOLD within the last 30-60 days.
Just don't take it as the law...just a guide.
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doorco......the Blue Book is just one reference tool to use in gun values. It gives you a range and thats about it. It knows very little about current market values, which are and have been, in the can for several years for most guns. I would trust GB for true current market values rather than the BB or any other reference guide. 0 -
I agree with Gary and Tim...just a general refference guide and in no way concurrent or contemporary to real world, current pricing. I use the BB, my various Ned Schwing Encyclopedia of guns books, Ball, Olsen, and many of the other books I have to determine model and make (and trust me...most of these books, regardless of reputation of the author are in some places just DEAD wrong!)and then go to GB, Martin, Amoskeag, Rock Island, Reddings (one of my many hats is appraising gun collections for insurance and estates)and some of the other auction houses/sites and get an idea of what they are SELLING for. Just because Fjestadt prints a price, doesn't mean you will realise that sum, or for that matter be RESTRICTED to a sum of money because of his estimation being lower!
Also, the market for handguns the last few years has been good, but that is for current production guns people are buying befor CommieBama manages to bone us all Constitutionally speaking! Collectible handguns are a buyers market currently; trust me on that.0 -
RufeSnow , I attended the Central Vermont gun show in Barre last weekend . You are absolutely right about the FANTASY pricing . The prices were unreal ! There was only one gun there that interested me , when I made the guy an offer he got snotty and said the price marked on it was firm ! They've taken all the fun out of going to shows , that was probably my last one ! The true value of a gun is what a willing buyer will pay a willing seller ! PERIOD 0 -
Let me add a bit for consideration: I am a contributing editor to the "Blue Book", for H&R firearms. Every year, Fjestad sends a letter in Aug/Sept for the contrib. Eds. to begin getting their stuff ready for the next edition - January is the cut-off for submissions. The BB is then updated and reformatted and published to be on the shelves in late April early May of the following year.
From my stand point - I've been watching H&R prices (both as a buyer and seller) for over a decade. I spend a lot of time each year viewing selling prices at gun auctions, gun shops, gun shows and ON-LINE auctions on several sites, including this one. That means looking at thousands of prices for a couple hundred models and variations. Not everything that is listed in the book shows up for sale, each year - so some general, logical formula is used to determine whether the pricing goes up, down or stays the same. I'm pretty sure the other editors do the same. When I report new prices or changes to be made, I do my BEST to provide a NATIONAL average selling price. The BB is meant to be a guide, not a fast and set in stone absolute. It would be impossible to publish a book which would take into consideration regional and local pricing, impossible. Look at the list of contributing editors printed towards the front of the BB - you will see many recognizable names, most of whom are recognized as national as well as international authorities on their topics. From my review of "other" pricing guides and collector guides - most of which are factually as well as substantially incorrect or inaccurate - I'd say the BB is the best overall, inclusive guide and with over 2300 pages in each Edition, the most inclusive single volume source. It's easy to criticize - much more difficult to participate, especially with regard to the time needed and spent to attempt to keep this resource up to date.
Jim Hauff0 -
quote:Originally posted by 32 Magnum
Let me add a bit for consideration: I am a contributing editor to the "Blue Book", for H&R firearms. Every year, Fjestad sends a letter in Aug/Sept for the contrib. Eds. to begin getting their stuff ready for the next edition - January is the cut-off for submissions. The BB is then updated and reformatted and published to be on the shelves in late April early May of the following year.
From my stand point - I've been watching H&R prices (both as a buyer and seller) for over a decade. I spend a lot of time each year viewing selling prices at gun auctions, gun shops, gun shows and ON-LINE auctions on several sites, including this one. That means looking at thousands of prices for a couple hundred models and variations. Not everything that is listed in the book shows up for sale, each year - so some general, logical formula is used to determine whether the pricing goes up, down or stays the same. I'm pretty sure the other editors do the same. When I report new prices or changes to be made, I do my BEST to provide a NATIONAL average selling price. The BB is meant to be a guide, not a fast and set in stone absolute. It would be impossible to publish a book which would take into consideration regional and local pricing, impossible. Look at the list of contributing editors printed towards the front of the BB - you will see many recognizable names, most of whom are recognized as national as well as international authorities on their topics. From my review of "other" pricing guides and collector guides - most of which are factually as well as substantially incorrect or inaccurate - I'd say the BB is the best overall, inclusive guide and with over 2300 pages in each Edition, the most inclusive single volume source. It's easy to criticize - much more difficult to participate, especially with regard to the time needed and spent to attempt to keep this resource up to date.
Jim Hauff
I appreciate your post, and the great deal of effort that goes into the contributing editorial type work that you perform. I do wish that more editors were more diligent in their contributions to these type publications.
The success of the BBGV and the Standard Catalog of Firearms speak volumes of their worth to gun lovers of all ages. I have studied the leading gun guide type books in some detail over the last fifteen years regarding certain makes and models for both enjoyment and knowledge. Consequently, I have been able to make some very good buys, many of which have doubled or tripled in price.
Keep up the great work!
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John Stimpson, it's good to see you folks in the subject editor business weigh in on this issue, and I'd certainly like to see more knowledgeable people such as yourself and Jim use the ATE and GD forums more often. It's good for all concerned parties as I see it.
I use the BBGV more than I do the Standard Catalog of firearms, and I also believe it to be a more popular guide than the noted catalog. However, I still find it very useful, especially when used in conjunction, for example, with other type auction businesses such as GunBroker or James D. Julia.
I am a big fan of these publications for obvious reasons, but I also believe that a lot of the information in the BBGV could be more current than it is, and I feel sure that you and Jim would agree with me on this point.
I believe that some people are content to let the BBGV be their sole guide to gun values, and I think a lot of dealers fall into this category. I also believe that other people find GunBroker to be their only source of such values. And, then there are those of us who prefer to use a variety of sources to this same end.
Thanks for your post.
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Right on MBK.0 -
Like Jim, I am a contributing editor to the Blue Book of Gun Values. I head a team of 8 HSCA members who provide data for the High Standard Fiala, Schall and Hartford Arms sections. The team is located across the country and the values do indeed differ but in my opinion,not as much as before the online auctions like Gun Broker.
I used to edit the same sections of the Standard Catalog of Firearms but when Ned Schwing retired as editor. The new editor was not updating the information and prices for the sections I contributed to on an annual basis and I did not want to be associated with data I knew was dated. so I stopped. The photos of the High Standard pistols in the Standard catalog are from my collection.
Jim is correct that it is indeed a lot of work to annually update the information and prices.
I agree with Jim that the other guides in general do not have the same quality of information as the Blue Book of Gun Values.0 -
I did a 150 gun sample of rifles, pistols,and shotguns from a 5 year period of Bluebooks.
I found that prices of popular guns changed, but those for obscure guns were left un-edited for the whole time.
Sure appreciate hearing from those two guys that contribute!0 -
quote:Originally posted by MBK
I did a 150 gun sample of rifles, pistols,and shotguns from a 5 year period of Bluebooks.
I found that prices of popular guns changed, but those for obscure guns were left un-edited for the whole time.
Sure appreciate hearing from those two guys that contribute!
Change in values is based on demand. Some obscure firearms, as you have described them, have so little collector interest and so few noted sales, that it's virtually impossible to note a change in their values. Value isn't based on rarity but on demand, i.e. two or more collectors competing to acquire them.0
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