Gun Traders Guide Book

[jimmyj]

Hi:
Accompanied my Wife to yard sales and at one the lady had some older long guns that had belonged to her Father (past). A gentleman was present with a "Gun Traders Guide" book attempting to convince her that her firearm prices were "Too High".
Question : how accurate are the prices in this "Book" ?

 

[jrm53]

If his book is like mine they are way to cheap, both of mine are several years old, one from 1974 and the other one almost as old. Jeff

 

[rog8732]

I update my books every year or so. I wish I COULD buy some of the Smiths and Colts at those prices.

 

[pawngal]

I update my books every year or so. I wish I COULD buy some of the Smiths and Colts at those prices.

So do I!

Gun Trader is real hit & miss on prices. I don't update that book anymore.

 

[bigride]

In my non-expert opinion, a book can rarely accurately reflect market value for firearms. In the technolgy age, information generally moves faster than book publishers.

Just pretend this is witty.

 

[M3Stuart]

My 2 cents - My LGS explains it thusly: For non-ordinary items (we're NOT talking about a generic Glock 19 for example) the prices you see on the internet are higher because the audience is the whole country. When you're in a store, gun show or local board, then the audience is just who happens by so the prices are going to be lower. (well, or they're going to be sitting on their inventory forever). For generic items (e.g. the generic Glock 19) the LGS price is going to be a little higher because the only people that are going to buy from him are the ones who are NOT, for whatever reason, going to buy one on the internet.

There is NO WAY a book, any book, can reflect the vagaries of the local market.

 

[35Rem]

That particular book is terrible

 

[H Richard]

They call them a "Guide" because that's all they are. Maybe 20% either side of what the item might be worth. The "Blue Book" is nearly as bad, but at least it is updated every year.