Blue Book prices
I thought the prices listed in the blue book of gun values represented fair market value of a firearm according to its age,condition,and availability.This past weekend I attended a gunshow and it seemed as though most of the dealers had thier stuff priced consideratly HIGHER than what the book suggests!I believe in free enterprize,but this in my opinion was ridiculous.Is the information in this book accurate?Someone please enlighten me on this subject.
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That's not an easy question to answer; there are several factors involved here.
First, Mr. Fjestad has a tough job to do. He's trying to track the prices of tens of thousands of guns, & on a nationwide basis. He has to average regional variations, & track sales by many sources. There are also specialized items that he just can't keep up with. Plus, he's dealing with a publishing lead time of 6 months to a year. If you know of a single book that provides as much useful information, I'd like to know what it is.
On the other hand, I have been to many gun shows where 90% of the dealers have their guns priced at 10-50% over what I think is fair retail. Maybe they are hoping for a sucker, maybe they are trying to start a trend upward, I don't know; I DO know that most of them carry the same guns to show after show, year after year. Seems like a strange way to do business.
Personally, I check the Gunbroker completed auctions for many prices; they represent the real world prices of guns.
Neal0 -
Thanks Neal,thats kind of what I thought,it sounds like the same guys you see at your gun shows with the the same old stuff are the same ones that i'm seeing at my shows!
IT'S BETTER TO BE JUDGED BY 12,THAN CARRIED BY 6!0 -
Remember, it's still a guide. Here, Remington's outsell Rugers while 100 miles west of me, it's generally the other way around. It is still what the market will bear. The local dealer uses it sort of different. What he has is priced at full list while your trade, even if nice is the lowest value. 0 -
The Blue Book is, for the most part, better than the other such books, but it is a guide and cannot take into account regional differences. At gunshows I often hear "The blue books lists it at xx." and the dealers reply is, "I wish I could buy one for that." There is a lot of impulse buying at gunshows and dealers take advantage of that. Not dishonest, just marketing. I have bought several rifles and handguns at or even below Blue Book, but on others I have paid some higher after looking for several years. It is a place to start: It tells you that you are not going to buy a model 94 Swede Mauser carbine for that $100 in your pocket. It also tells you not to pay $700 for that Colt Huntsman in 75% condition. After that it is up to you to learn the models you want and to find out the prices they are going for. The auctions are one good source of information as suggested above. Remember too, that the dealers whether at shows or in shops often dicker. If it has been on the shelf a while they may well take less than they are asking. Doesn't cost you anything to offer what you are willing to pay. They may laugh at you, but you may go home with it too.
My heros have always killed cowboys.0 -
In My considered Opinion; BALDERSON's Official Price Guide to Antique and Modern Firearms is more in Line to reality...But one has to use a little common sense also...Think about what NMYERS said and what He Dog is saying and You should come up with a happy medium.....[8D]
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
With considerable respect to the good Capt. I agree that Bladersons is useful and perhaps more real world. BUT, it is not updated annually and does not contain as comprehensive a listing as the blue book. Out of print volumes of the most recent edition (the eighth, 1996, now 7 years old)are out there, but take some looking to find.
My heros have always killed cowboys.0
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