Determining "current" market value??

[Mickstix]

Hey folks! I was wondering how a "newbie" to handguns goes about determining what the "current" market value of a particular gun is?? I've tried looking over the aution sites, but most auctions arent ending soon enough to see what the final price was.. Is there some way to search up past autions or something, to find out what the firearms went for? Or is there a posted publication similar to a "nada" blue book, for firearms? Thanks for any help or info!!

 

[Fat Boy]

I'm sure someone with more information that I have will be along shortly; but I have been known to frequent Barnes & Noble, using the reference books they have on the shelves to try and find general price information. The good news is they have Starbucks coffee, so I can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

 

[TIMC]

This is what I use.
https://store.bluebookinc.com/home/default.aspx

 

[orionengnr]

Since you are posting on the revolver forum, I will assume you are talking revolvers.

If you are talking S&W revolvers, check:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/

If you are talking Ruger/Taurus revolvers, I imagine there are similar forums. Since I own neither of them, I cannot direct you towards the sites, but I'm sure someone will chime in here.

As far as completed auctions go, you can check gunbroker and do a search for "completed auctions" and sort by "most bids", "highest price", etc. This allows you to cut through the the crap that is priced 50% above MSRP and will never sell.

 

[jrhines]

You might gt on Gunbroker.com ...

and see what similar models/conditions are selling for.

 

[deercop]

Yes, you can search auctions (at least Gunbroker) for auctions that have ended in a specified time. Best bet then is to click on the "number of bids" category to sort by that, as the ones with zero bids are irrelevant, as are the ones that didn't meet reserve. I'm pretty sure you have to be a registered user on Gunbroker to do that too.

 

[Bill2e]

Blue Book of gun values

 

[Mickstix]

Blue Book of gun values

DOH! I thought you were being a smart ace for a minute there.. Should of googled blue book of guns I guess.. Thanks for all the info!! I'll also see about searching for ended auctions.. And yes, S&W revolvers is what my curiousity was after.. (This week)

 

[RPCVYemen]

The auction site prices seem pretty high to me - so I guess it depends on where you live. I have a local gunshop that is often much cheaper than anything I find on any of the auction sites or any of the internet shop.

Occasionally, I find an internet shop with a price close to my local shop - but then I don't have to pay FFL or shipping fees at my local shop (but I do have to pay sales tax).

I live in Raleigh, NC - it may be that living in a (relatively) gun friendly Southern State helps. Or maybe it's just a very good shop - the owner's son (maybe he's now a co-owner) just won the USPSA Nationals (which is unrelated to handgun prices, but cool).

I guess that the internet (auction and other) might be good if you don't have a good local shop. Whether those prices are high or low may depend on where you live.

Mike

 

[Mickstix]

Yea, Im not really concerned with the "rock bottom" price.. Im just tryin to get a feel for what the current "fair" or "average" prices are on certain firearms that Im interested in, just so I dont get taken to the cleaners.. But hey, if you can get me a 6 shot, 2.5 or 3 inch, stainless steel, .357magnum, S&W (w/ hammer) wheelgun for < 350.00$ let me know! Oh, and it can't have the word "Lady" engraved anywhere on it..

 

[thesecond]

.... but the lady's got the smoother, and faster, trigger.

If you spend enough time surveying a watchlist over a period of weeks or months, you can get a fair feel of the market-prices. However, the buyer/seller ratio isn't like the trade in fungible, readily-available commodities. Particularly so with pre-lock/no-lock Smith and Wesson revolvers. I'll be the first to admit to having paid more than $100 more than 'fmv' because I wanted what I wanted, and I didn't want to wait.

Sometimes, you'll just have to pay for what you value, and then, value what you paid for.

Good luck in your search!

 

[Mickstix]

Well, no luck on Gunbroker.com finding "completed auctions"??? The search came up empty.. Any idea how to find them?? In one of the FAQ's it mentioned I can browse the old auctions I've had on my "watch" list, but no mention of "Completed Auctions" as a catagory?? HELP!! It'll take forever to amass a "watch list", then wait for them all to expire..

EDIT: Nevermind, I found it.. In the "specialty search" section there was "completed auctions" in the drop down menu for search "criteria".. Strange enough, in the normal search "completed auctions" arent listed? Just stuff like "Current, Ending in the next 24 hours, going going gone, etc..) Seems that's where it is supposed to be listed? Go figure.. At least I found it..

 

[NGIB]

Good luck on finding a stainless S&W .357 snub for < $350 as I doubt they exist. The prices on these things have been climbing a lot lately and $400-$500 is more likely depending on condition & grips. I found the one on the bottom for $425 and I was very lucky...

 

[Mickstix]

Yea, the 4 inchers seem to be "fairly" reasonable, but anything with 3" or less is pretty steep.. I'll keep an eye out but I may end up having to settle for a 4" or perhaps even a .38

 

[Pure Kustom]

I use gun brokers. It will tell you what people are willing to pay. Real world value.

 

[Mickstix]

This is what Im looking for.. A well used M66 snubby, that I can shoot, take apart, polish, play with, etc..
$305.00 M66-4 2"

 

[k-frame]

You might also try your local library to browse the reference books. Free is good.

 

[harmonic]

You can get a reasonable idea by going to gunsamerica.com and using their search engine to find the particular gun you want. Most of those guns are being sold by dealers and will be on the high side, but you'll get a ballpark figure.

GA isn't like gunbroker.com in that it isn't an auction site. It's just straight sales.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

$300 for a short barrel 66 is a Shhhmokin' hot deal.
As stated above, you'll be lucky to find them under $500 for a minty clean one.
Early pinned, unfired boxed with papers shortie 66's have been in the $600 + range.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Mickstix]

NGIB, you mentioned your snubbie in the bottom pic, but what's the one on top?? Is it one of the coveted 3" models?? (Looks shorter than a 4")

GUNKWAZY, you said it.. That was a shhmokin' deal!! Thankfully Im not too concerned about the box, papers, and if it's unshot or not.. Just lookin for a "good" SS, .357 shhnubbie..

 

[NGIB]

It's a 686+ 7 shot 3" barrel. Yeah, it's a later model with a lock but that doesn't bother me a bit. It's a great compromise between snub and 4" and a real nice shooter. Has Meprolight nightsights on it as well...

 

[Mickstix]

Looks like a very nice shooter! I hadnt even noticed the lock.. But I wouldnt let that discourage me either..

Well, all my yappin about wanting to find a deal, and sure enough I missed a nice 66-2 2.5" today on auction.. Watched it for 2 days.. I had planned to bid, but wanted to wait till near end of auction.. Sure enough I forgot about it till about 30 mins after..) Went for $420 w/box..