Blue Book of Gun Values

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BarryLee

New member
I was considering purchasing a copy of the “Blue Book of Gun Values” and was just curious what those who have used the book thought of it.

I realize it is just an aid, but do you find the information fairly accurate?

I am particularly interested as it relates to used guns. Do you find the information on used guns helpful?
 
Go to any gun show and every dealer has one behind his table, as does every pawn shop, LGS, etc. They ALL use it for getting pricing ideas, trade-in values, etc.

Whether it is accurate enough for every model listed is suspect, but for the vast majority of common items it has become "THE Book"
 
Accuracy?,,,

I realize it is just an aid, but do you find the information fairly accurate?
Click to expand...

Not really,,,
Gun prices are too subjective.

Try to sell a gun and dealers will tell you the Blue Book value is way too high,,,
Try to buy a gun and the same dealers will stick to the Blue Book value as a minimum to start with.

Book values only give a starting point from where to start a negotiation.

I like to know what the Blue Book says my guns are worth,,,
But as an absolute price guide the market drives the prices of the guns.

Aarond

.
 
I have been looking at miscellaneous used guns in the LGSs and noticed some seemingly similar guns having extremely different prices. I realize lots of things impact the price and that they can vary greatly. So, what I was looking for is kind of a median price. I know the store may give me less and sell it for more, but I just would like a reasonably accurate starting point.
 
If you are selling to a gun store or pawn shop, they will typically offer 50-65% of what they can sell it for - and a lot of that will also depend on it that particular type will move in that location. A spot that is big on black plastic may not want your old S$W pistol from the 50's unless it is rare, as they won't be able to sell it. now if it is part of a trade-in where you are buying something, they definitely have more leeway
 
I have one and I find it to be a good reference in regard to what you should expect the market to be around.

When selling to dealers you can expect to get offers ranging from just below blue book value to less than 50% blue book value. I prefer not to sell any guns to dealers because of that.

When you're selling private party what the blue book states as a value for your gun is usually a decent starting point. I'll take that and tack on anywhere from $100 to $200 as a starting price. Typically you're nearing retail price at that but you want to be below the price dealers are asking for so you get the sale before the dealers get it.

When it comes to buying guns the blue book has no place when dealing with guns. Retail prices at most dealers will be considerably above blue book values. However using blue book values as a guide to purchasing private sales is valuable and useful. If you can get a gun within 10-25% above blue book value personally I think you got a good deal. On the other hand if you find someone who has a gun that he wants to sell at twice what bluebook value says it should be and you should probably not buy it.

This however is all relative to your gun market and what it is you're trying to buy/sell. If you've got a gun that's particularly desirable where you're trying to sell it you might be able to get a price of 100% more than blue book value. Or you may end up having to pay that premium to get that gun if you're looking to buy. On the other side if the gun you're trying to sell is not in high demand you may end up getting ONLY blue book value or perhaps even less than blue book value (although I try not to sell for less than blue book). The same goes for purchasing of a firearm - if the market is not friendly to the particular type of firearm or there's a flood of them at the moment you could get the gun for blue book or even less.

As a rule I use the blue book as a guide of where I can expect the median of prices to be. Do I stick to it all the time? Nope. Sometimes if I REALLY want a gun I'll pay way more than what my normal rules say I should pay but hey when you just HAVE to have it then you'll pay more for it.

I'd say get the book. Its a great reference tool although it DOES get outdated quickly. I find myself having to purchase a new edition every year. Some gun values stay relatively steady but some fluctuate a lot.
 
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