Are gun value books obsolete?

[chief38]

Pretty much obsolete except maybe for real old antique or very rare guns - at least it's sort of a guide-line. The prices for more common guns are climbing so fast and so high, that by the time a book is published much of the pricing info is already out dated. Many use the auction sites and LGS to determine pricing - and since firearms do tend to vary a little by area, that is not a bad thing.

I have found many bargains in LGS's especially on Revolvers. As far as SOME of the LGS's are concerned, the Revolver is obsolete and they just want to get them out the door so they have more room for the plastic guns. Works for me!

 

[AJ]

Good for reference and a general guideline. I use Gunbroker for pricing.

 

[CajunBass]

I consider them slightly better than guessing, but not much.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

The old maxim of "the value of a thing is what it will bring" is still holding up after centuries of use. As value exists only in the mind of the beholder a value book is nebulous at best.

 

[Farmer17]

Sometimes the internet experts give crazy advice also. I wonder if some of the guys are old and they remember gun pricing they thought was a few months ago and it was actually 15 years ago. For an example, I like side by side shotguns and there is always a guy who says "no need to pay $850 for that new SXS gun, just go out and buy a used mint condition AYA or SKB for the same money. Yeah right!

 

[Warren Sear]

Not only obsolete, but completely worthless.