Many requests are received for values of guns. The primary reference used is the Blue Book of Gun Values, which we used to sell.
But do you want to purchase one? The "Blue Book of Gun Values" is published yearly even though many of the values do not change if at all. Guns are not like automobiles where the values change every year. If you have one about every 3rd year, you are most likely close enough to the Blue Book Value. (The Book does not take into account the differences in the values that vary depending on what part of the country you are in.) Another thought as to obtaining this information is to subscribe to the online version of the Blue Book that is updated quarterly. There are advantages and disadvantages to this also. If you do most or all of you business from one loaction, then having online access is easier to use than carrying the book around and thumbing through pages to find your information. If you are attending gunshows where your computer is not available or if you don't have online access, then there is a definite advantage to having a copy of the book.
Another source of gun values is the GUNLIST magazine. This publication is published 26 times a year with many ads for both selling and buying. While the Blue Book may be one source of information, the GUNLIST shows what things are actually being sold for.
But what does the value number mean? Selling firearms is much like selling a house or other piece
of real estate. You have to have a buyer who is willing to pay the asking price for the item in
the existing condition, regardless of what the item is appraised at. Houses are many times appraised
at a higher value than they sell for, even though the appraisal is done by a professional. The
economy may enter into the availablilty of a buyer as well as whether the item being sold is a
fad("in item to have"). Values from the Blue Book or Gunlist are only representative of what an item
may be worth. Collectables may be even more difficult to move since there are fewer buyers who
can afford or be interested in those types of firearms.
This is a must have publication if you are going to deal in firearms. I will try to order the book for you if desired, but am recommending that you go to the Blue Book website www.bluebookinc.com and order directly from them. If you wish to have me order, send me an email and I can check on availability and provide a price quote.
Many people who are not into the firearms business as a profession do not want to spend the roughly $40 or more to get a price quote on one or a few firearms.
One way to get a guns value is to go to a local gun dealer or gunsmith. If they can't help you, then ask for a referral to someone who can. Be sure to ask what the charge is for an appraisal before having the value established.
During the past 7 years, I have been doing research for people and providing value estimates free of charge. Since this takes time, I am asking that anyone who wants a gun value should be willing to pay a small fee for my research and time. I don't provide what I would call a professional estimate since I cannot see the gun nor do I know the region of the country you are located in nor do I know the market in that area. I will provide a range of values as provided by condition listed in the Blue Book and data from Gunlist if available.
If you don't want to contribute, then please do not ask for a free quote. The Blue Books I have cost to own as does the subscription to the GUNLIST magazine. If you want a quote, email me and provide the gun manufacturer(required), model(required), caliber, anything unique about the gun, and gun condition along with what you think it is worth to have the information. I will get back if I can help you.
Again, if you are looking for a free lunch, DON'T ASK!!!!
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to help keep the site on the air and the blogs being updated. A tip or a contribution
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