Ted Williams, Mossberg, Revelation, Marlin

Question
I am hoping you can help. My step-dad passed away, and we don't know the best way to evaluate the value of the guns he has.  Can you tell me where a good place to begin would be?  Thank you for your help in advance.

Answer
Hi Lori.

To get an accurate value for your firearms I highly recommend that you refer to the Blue Book of Gun Values by S. P. Fjestad.  This book contains detailed history and pricing information for virtually every major firearm on the market including older models and obsolete brands.  It is well worth the price (especially if you own more than one firearm) and it is generally used as the sole source for appraisals by gunsmiths, collectors, and dealers.  This book is updated every year to ensure that the values are always current so beware of older printed copies which are often sold at a discount but usually contain outdated information.

You can access the book instantly online at https://store.bluebookinc.com/Home/default.aspx or purchase it from any major book store such as Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc.  The price for either option is usually around $35 but I highly recommend the online subscription because you can get the information immediately plus check the site for updates at any time during the year.  If you don抰 want to pay the full price for an online subscription or printed book then you also have the option to download a single section of the book for a specific manufacturer.  The individual sections usually cost $5 or $10 but some of the sections are free.  Here is the link to purchase a section by manufacturer:  https://store.bluebookinc.com/InstantAccess/Manufacturer.aspx?product=5

You should also know there are many variables that significantly affect the value of any firearm and most of these details are impossible to discern without inspecting the gun in person.  The book mentioned above will educate you on all the details to look for and it includes many photos of real guns so you can learn how to distinguish between the finer points that can make a big difference in the value.  Once you have graded your guns according to the standard rating system then you simply look them up in the tables that are provided to see the current market value.  Any estimates that you get without a physical inspection are likely to be way off the mark in either direction so you need to do the research yourself or have an experienced professional appraise it in person to be sure you are getting an accurate estimate.

If you are certain of the exact manufacturer and model of your firearms and you have graded the condition accurately then you might be able to determine a fair street value by searching your local gun stores or the most popular auction sites to see what similar models are selling for.  Most auctions sites also allow you to search the closed auctions as well so you can see what similar items actually sold for.

http://www.auctionarms.com/
http://www.gunbroker.com/
http://www.gunsamerica.com/

There are also some gun dealers, pawn shops, and other retailers which post their inventory on the web but the sites above offer a pretty good chance of finding a similar gun since they are used by thousands of dealers across the US.

If you don't want to buy the blue book or check the value online then I suggest that you take the guns to a local gunsmith or gun shop which deals with similar guns, or to a local gun club or range where they shoot similar guns.  Chances are high that someone there will know enough to give you some good advice and many of them will gladly do this for free, although keep in mind that their opinions may be biased if they are interested in buying or trading for your guns.

Good luck with your research.

Bob