doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Do you still use the Blue Book ?

I stopped using the Blue Book a few years ago as a value reference on vintage ( pre 1950) collectible doubles. I just found that the values and subtleties of the sought after doubles just could not be kept up with nor realistically represented in such a broad stroke as the yearly Blue Book. Please do not take this as a criticism of the Blue Book. It is very very well done body of work but I was curious if I am in the minority of those who feel it does not represent this area of guns with any usable accuracy anymore?

I have also wondered if a group of Parker, L.C. Smith, Ithaca,Lefever,Fox,and English and european experts would have any better luck trying to produce a collectible doubles guide ?
I suspect not as it remains so subjective.

Cheers,
Brad

Pages are soft and numerous and, although the reduced-size catalog format is perhaps not so convenient as roll, they could be used. I think it's still the primer for those of us who have little experience identifying, buying and trading. The Big Dogs know it isn't the breaking story or they wouldn't be shouting "What News from the Auction House?" The BB has impressed on me the notion that very few guns ever drop below 85% condition, or put another way, lots of dealers and private sellers are scanning that column for an optimistic valuation. Finding that my safe contains so many "85%s" is not a great source of satisifaction but certainly an indication of what the market will bull.

jack

This board is the blue book, for my money.

The Blue Book is a great reference for models, options, variations, production dates, etc., but is dangerous to use for valuations.

I agree with Jack, every seller lists his older gun at at least 80-85%, but when you take a gun for a trade they will tell you that it is 60-70%. How do you agrue with them that their gun in not the percentage they state.
I believe the Blue Book is a good reference for condition for your benefit. The prices seem to be for the buyer, the sellers seem to use prices of what they want.
King Brown had the best answer, this board.

I agree with the premise that it provides reference points on many guns. Once you enter the realm of esoteric guns, the market takes over and anyone shopping in a specialized market needs to monitor current trends. Example: Post DDR Merkel 8. Bluebook $1150 for 100%. Try $1800-$2000 especially in 16 or 20 when they can be found. The auctions, even the auction sites give a pretty good idea of what things are worth and what people want and if you don't pay attantion mistakes can be made. The Blue Book is a help on features of guns or manufacturers I'm not familiar with. Example: Some Bernardelli's are sideplated boxlocks that mimic sidelocks very well and can be misrepresented as sidelocks. The book helps identify points like this pretty well. A generic overview, but it is my rule of thumb.

NO. The $1150 price for Mod. 8 NE seems quite generous to me. In EU these things in very good spape go for about 300e. Perhaps not, stupid basic grade BSS BLE 20s are often listed at 2k, or more now. Screw that, I would buy a Citori and pocket the difference. Perhaps you native-born boys have lost your something 'grey' for 'yellow'? Is it genetically enhanced food? Time to switch over to organic and or kosher.

I've been collecting firearms for over 40 years and I just ordered the newest BB from this site. I find it a quick reference for firearms I'm not that familiar with but I also take the prices with a grain of salt.I have also found inaccuracies over the years that I have reported to the publisher that were corrected in subsequent issues.
Jim

I use it and just ordered the newest issue from Dave. But it's just another tool. Many people never read the instructions and make all sorts of wrong assumptions. The instructions make any tool more useful. It's far better than any of the generic gun traders guides that sit on the shelves for several years before you buy them. Obviously you can't force anyone to pay you the BB price or accept it for their gun but it is a decent reference. Nothing else comes close, both in the information it provides.

Our "Auction Report" is very interesting but does anyone print and carry it around with them to gunshows, etc.? You can't force anyone to sell you a particular gun at a favorable price because it says one did in the auction report, either.

I have found that the Blue Book has worked both ways for me. When a dealer is not knowledgeable on doubles, I have found on occasion that he prices low based on his reading of the prices in the book.