using blue book
i have an online subscription to the blue book of gun values and was wondering how reliable it is some of their numbers are extremely far from what the guns actually sell for.
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All the values in the various price guides, including the Blue Book are nothing more then educated guess's. For actual real world prices, use the actual purchase prices on the on-line auctions. 0 -
+1000 Also, be sure to look only at Completed Auctions to see what the market would bear, and not asking or reserve prices. [:D]
Other than records of actual sales, all other price lists are simply guesses.0 -
I've found that the annual Blue Book of Gun Values (BBGV) is a fairly accurate guidebook providing you use it in conjunction with what guns are trading for on the market. For example, a few years ago a standard post war Winchester Model 62/62A listed for, as I recall, $650.00 in 100% condition, and then in the next publication the price listed for the same rifle jumped to $1500.00. A price which represents a substantial increase should one follow the market based on the BBGV alone to establish a base price or price range, so to speak. However, had one been following the market at gun shows, auction houses, and online auctions such as Gunbroker for this same rifle, while at the same time staying abreast of BBGV prices, then they would know that a "trend" was building to where comparable rifles were selling near $1500.00 give or take, say a couple of hundred. Consequently, the prices listed in the BBGV are adjusted to current market prices based on current trading data and other economic standards in a manner that is relatively stable for the time being and the immediate future. I have also witnessed where values for a particular firearm in the BBGV was adjusted downward, significantly so.
Given the example above, one can see how important the BBGV could be to a prospective buyer had they just bought the latest edition of the BBGV and walked into a shop or gun show and found a like new Winchester Model 62/62A for sale at say $650.00 to $800.00!0 -
I'm a contributing editor for H&R firearms to the "Blue Book...", here's how that system works - every year in Sept/Oct. the call goes out for changes or updates, they have to be in the publisher's hands by Jan. 1, to make the changes for the next edition which comes "out" in late April. If you look at the list of "contributing editors" on the acknowledgement page, you'll see the names of some of the top collectors and "experts" covering a large segment of the firearms history and collecting field. I don't know what others do, but I monitor the GunBroker auctions several times a week, as well as other sites and gun shows and I purchase H&Rs fairly regularly and sell those I don't need - so I make every attempt to keep up to date. The "valuations" listed are usually an AVERAGE retail price. In the cases where there are few or no sales seen for particular models, the valuation will remain the same. If sales indicate a drop in valuations (rarely happens) that will be noted, if there are increases - that will be noted. When the market value for a particular item/model/variation 'jump' occurs - and the sales are one or a few - you will see a 'jump' in the listing, such as kimi notes. Of all the guides that I peruse, own or have owned, it seems to me that the "Blue Book..." is the most accurate - with respect to AVERAGE/NATIONAL RETAIL values. Regional variations must be averaged in - there can't be individual sections for Mid-Atlantic, North-East, etc. the book is already 2380 pages long (32nd Ed) - it would have to be multi volumes and cost one hell of a lot more than it currently does to cover EVERY fluctuation and anomaly in the market. 0 -
I also have a BB subscription. I use it for name brand cross refferencing, and some dating on the Remington stuff. There is a lot of stuff lacking in it, including some not listed variations from different manufacturers. A lot of store front dealeers use it to set profit margins on trades, much like a car dealer does with the Kelly Blue book. They will show what graded condition is, and offer you 50-70% on the dollar for it, so they can turn it for a 150-200% profit margin. Granted they have overhead too, to account for.
Use it for entertainment purposes, and for getting started with some research, then turn elswhere to gather your real factual information...like here on Gunbroker ATE forum.
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I prefer the Standard Catalog of Firearms, for better historical information. Neither is will get you better than a large ballpark estimate of price range. 0
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