BLUE BOOK VALUES

[jdowd]

The blue book lists the value of guns by condition. It does not list the value of guns NIB with all tools nor does it list value of guns issued with display cases, in the original shipping carton. I am liquidating a large collection and need answer to these questions, and others, and would like to know how to fairly price 100% guns with no box, 100% guns NIB with all factory paper work and tools, and 100% guns with all factory paper work, tools, wooden display case, and factory shipping carton.

Also, many of my NIB guns have grips that are not numbered to the gun, such as the Model 520, NYS Police issue. Reason?

Many thanks.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Blue Book is just one of many sources. In your situation I'd start with the 100%, and then look at completed auctions on the various sales websites. As for the guns with the wrong stocks, all I can suggest is that they're not NIB . . .

 

[hardcase60]

The Smith & Wesson Standard Catalog 4th Edition is a good reference for adding percentage premiums to unique S&W guns. At a place in time, that I can't recall, S&W stopped numbering stocks/grips to guns. The production date of the Model 520 may have come after that. hardcase60

 

[TheHobbyist]

As Muss said, if it ain't original, it ain't 100%. That said, an online auction site is likely your best and most expedient route. That is my recommendation....

In terms of not knowing a value...well I got one for ya. I inherited my great-great grandfathers shot gun that was a gift to him from the people of his village when he moved here from Germany to homestead in America. It is heavily engraved, every screw is even engraved, and the action is unlike any I have seen, cept' for a few. This shotgun is an heirloom that I will pass down, but my father took it to the antiques roadshow one time in the late 90s if I recall and they said $100.00. The gun functions and fires and is a masterpiece....truly art over function. I can guarantee it is not for sale and at $100.00 offer I would have to refrain from a few words to just say 'no thanks'.

 

[sodacan]

The blue book is only good for relative values. Real pricing is market driven. You can extrapolate the value by using the pricing on sold items on the various auction sites.

 

[Bajadoc]

The only true value is what someone will pay. The closest you can get to that is by looking at recent sold auction sales. The "Blue Book" and the Smith and Wesson book are absoultly worthless with regards to gun values. A good place to offer guns for sale is an enthusiasts form, as they tend to over value stuff they like. A little research is well worth it if you are "liquidating a large collection." Just a suggestion, don't use the term "liquidating" when describing what you want to sell, it devalues the product and shows a certian desperation. Good luck.

 

[usm1rifle]

The key to value is the SOLD online auction listings, not the closed ones. People relist overpriced guns many times when they do not sell.

After you are comfortable with a price, list the guns here in the for sale section and avoid auction commissions.

 

[jcelect]

Grips!

The Magna grips were numbered to the gun! The targets are not normally numbered to the gun. You wrote of guns in presentation cases! These should have come with target grips as all the cases were made for target grips, except cases for commemorative guns as these sometimes came with Magna grips.
jcelect

 

[jdowd]

All of my NYS Model 520 revolvers have numbered grips but the numbers do not match the number on the guns. These guns are NIB as I unpacked the shipping crate when it came in from S&W. This is also true of several other models-NIB in the box from factory with different numbered grips. There has to be a reasonable explanation.

 

[Muss Muggins]

All of my NYS Model 520 revolvers have numbered grips but the numbers do not match the number on the guns. These guns are NIB as I unpacked the shipping crate when it came in from S&W. This is also true of several other models-NIB in the box from factory with different numbered grips. There has to be a reasonable explanation.

Yup. They're not NIB . . .

 

[sodacan]

Yup. They're not NIB . . .

If you found a NYSP model 520 with matching number stocks, it would be VERY unusual.

 

[DWalt]

The greatest usefulness of the various gun price guides is more in comparative pricing than absolute pricing. I have never understood where the published values come from, and I have always assumed that in most cases someone was just sitting around making up numbers. The actual realized prices from the on-line auction sites are more reliable than any of the "Blue Book" prices as they at least have some basis in fact, not just some anonymous person's guess.

 

[CH4]

If you're a buyer, use Blue Book values; if you're a seller, reference the prices from the auction sites.

 

[Muss Muggins]

If you found a NYSP model 520 with matching number stocks, it would be VERY unusual.

And thus NIB. This gets to the heart of what "NIB" actually means . . .

 

[hittman77]

For my area the "Blue Book" is totally unreliable and unrealistic. Sometimes prices there are way high, sometimes way low. A **** shoot at best.

As soft as the gun market is today, I'd have to think long and hard about just how bad I needed to sell guns.

Completed auctions are more realistic for values.