Hi all. First, I have to say that this post was inspired by the post that came up earlier about the frustrating new search feature on Brownell's website. For me, it instantly reminded me of my frustration with the Blue Book of Gun Values website.

I'm sure many here will recall how their site was set up for years. If you were looking for a particular model, you simply went to the manufacturer list, selected the right one, then you'd see a list of types of firearms, then perhaps further lists, all narrowing the selection down until you got to the correct list of the company's guns, which would be listed in alpha-numeric order. An example might be something like Acme Firearms/Rifles/Lever-action/Centerfire, then Models 1, then 2, etc. Simple.

Now, you select the manufacturer and are then confronted with pages of guns, some with pictures that may or may not be correct, in random order. If by chance you do find the gun you're looking for, descriptions are cursory, at best. There is a search function as well, but it is about as useful as Brownell's.

I've played around with it, trying to figure out some way to display the listings like they used to be, but no luck. I've never used the Blue Book as a primary source for appraising gun values, but it has always been a handy one-stop reference tool for gun info. Not anymore.

Any thoughts?

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Ain't This Fun Though?

I have always used the hard copy which I would buy every other year. The latest I have now is the 42nd edition. On the inside of the first page is "Publisher's Notes" which I would encourage everyone to read if you are going to use the book. Since the old man died, other folks have taken over the editing and control the internet version. It looks like the 44th edition will be the last hard cope printed. BBGV contain a ton of information which has been gathered over many decades, but the pricing estimates are but a starting point. Read "Publisher's Notes". Between BBGV and a book case full of reference books by the experts, and forums like this one, I've got it covered.

To me the BBGV is similar to the SCSW...tons of good information collected over decades, but the values quickly become outdated.

I agree that the print copy has been a great reference, with the benefit of being easily navigable. The benefit of the online resource has been availability from any location with internet connection, and the presumed continuous updating of pricing. Until recently, it was a fairly convenient research tool as well, but firearm info has been reduced to the point it's almost useless, and locating the specific gun your looking for is a study in frustration.

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Ain't This Fun Though?

Fjestad is dead, several years, Blue Book is kaput. Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

blue book makes a good door stop........Obsolete before it gets on the shelves.

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S&W Accumulator

+1. It was a decent reference at one time and S.P. was a wonderfully nice man, but he’s been gone and now in the age of GB and regular premier auctions, accessible via the internet, the BB is akin to a phone book.

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Some Might Say.

I remember going to gun shows years ago (before the internet) and the blue book was used extensively………if a person was buying your gun. But, if you were buying one of theirs, it was outdated!
Larry

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom