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It is The Blue Book of Used Gun Values
The web site is http://www.bluebookinc.com
It is a very valuable reference, but it is important to understand that the values they give are (1) full retail and (2) highly subjective (3) regoinal
To be blunt virtually no gun made within the last 25- maybe even 50- years has appreciated to the point where you can trade it profitably.
Dealers have to make a profit so they will only pay 50-75% of what the book shows for any gun. Most people who look at it see only the highest value and may not allow for wear or damage. Values are usually based upon condition expressed as a percentage of a brand new gun. Condition is listed as 100% for new and then decreases pretty fast as the degree of finish lost goes up. Price usually also takes into account whether anyone else wants to buy it. You'll see lots of ads that say "rare" based on a reltaively low number made, but if nobody wanted it the first time they probably don't now either.
Usually the most productive thing is to sell the gun yourself for cash but you have to watch out for local, state and federal laws governing the sale of firearms. It is true that the sites like Auction Arms or Gunbroker may realize prices that are close to-or even about- normal retail but if the sale is interstate you will have to get a dealer to handle the transfer and, understandably, pay a fee for that service.
When you add everything up it usually is clear that the dealer wasn't trying to "hose" you but simply treating as a business something which most of us do on a more emotional level.
I don't know people who trade every week but if someone does they are probably losing money every time. Sadly gun buying is not always a totally rational thing.
In a way it is no different than buying a car where the moment you drive it off the lot it depreciated 25%.
The best way to handle this is to only buy things that you know you like and are willing to keep a long time. In other words ask yourself how bad you rally want it and are you willing to take a bath if you're wrong?
The other thing to do is to buy used guns and let someone else bear that initial depreciation.
Hope this helps...
The web site is http://www.bluebookinc.com
It is a very valuable reference, but it is important to understand that the values they give are (1) full retail and (2) highly subjective (3) regoinal
To be blunt virtually no gun made within the last 25- maybe even 50- years has appreciated to the point where you can trade it profitably.
Dealers have to make a profit so they will only pay 50-75% of what the book shows for any gun. Most people who look at it see only the highest value and may not allow for wear or damage. Values are usually based upon condition expressed as a percentage of a brand new gun. Condition is listed as 100% for new and then decreases pretty fast as the degree of finish lost goes up. Price usually also takes into account whether anyone else wants to buy it. You'll see lots of ads that say "rare" based on a reltaively low number made, but if nobody wanted it the first time they probably don't now either.
Usually the most productive thing is to sell the gun yourself for cash but you have to watch out for local, state and federal laws governing the sale of firearms. It is true that the sites like Auction Arms or Gunbroker may realize prices that are close to-or even about- normal retail but if the sale is interstate you will have to get a dealer to handle the transfer and, understandably, pay a fee for that service.
When you add everything up it usually is clear that the dealer wasn't trying to "hose" you but simply treating as a business something which most of us do on a more emotional level.
I don't know people who trade every week but if someone does they are probably losing money every time. Sadly gun buying is not always a totally rational thing.
In a way it is no different than buying a car where the moment you drive it off the lot it depreciated 25%.
The best way to handle this is to only buy things that you know you like and are willing to keep a long time. In other words ask yourself how bad you rally want it and are you willing to take a bath if you're wrong?
The other thing to do is to buy used guns and let someone else bear that initial depreciation.
Hope this helps...
