1 comments about Blue Book of Gun Values: 29th Edition (Blue Book of Gun Values).

1. Just received my 29th Edition and went through it with emphasis on the section's of most importance to me. As a long term subscriber to the Blue Book of Gun Values, I continue to find this book the single most important reference anyone could turn to on gun values. I guess that is why I continue to see it on tables of dealers at every gun show I go to. I do not know of a gun shop that does not have a copy handy at all times. Likewise, I do not know a collector that does not have his or her nose in this book several times a month. If you buy and sell, or, collect firearms, this book is the most valuable tool you will ever have on pricing.

5 comments about 2008 Standard Catalog of Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide (Standard Catalog of Firearms).

1. I have the 2000 and 2002 editions of this guide and was very impressed, but the the 2008 is a disappointment. The picture quality is very poor and the newspaper type paper and print are very displeasing.



2. You need this for a good price list that is current with todays market on Firearms. 2007 book has about the same prices but a few dollars difference, both books are very good in pricing your weapons.



3. SCF is a very useful reference book. One thing really going for is the great pix of thousands of different weapons (not all photo's are correct though). However the values are outdated and have not been changed for at least 2 years and I think even more. The industry standard is The Blue Book of Gun Values by S.P. Fjestad; but Blue Book does not have photo's. If you are interested in firearms I recommend that you get Standard Catalog of Firearms once every 5 years and Fjestad's Blue Book every year. The 2 work well together.
   
   Zed Child



4. About every 2 year i get a new one of these books. i am and avid gun collector and this helps to find the value of the fire arms for buying or selling. it is one of the best books out.



5. It is very easy explained of how to determine if you are going to purchase a firearm old and new because it is an investment.

5 comments about Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson).

1. This is a great book to get familiar with all the different models of S&W revolvers. I needed a book that would help me identify different revolvers and this book is the one. I believe this book will help anyone looking to broaden their knowledge of S&W firearms. What I like about this book is the color photos and detailed descriptions of each model. This book should be in every gun enthusiast's library.



2. As a firearms dealer there is a need for referenca materials that I can use & depend on, both for my business & as a service to my customers. This is the BEST S&W book I have come across.



3. Best, most useful reference text I've seen on the subject. A very valuable reference for the collector. Very well done. Couldn't be more pleased.



4. Book is very well put together, good pics, detail, etc. Wish there was more serial#.



5. This book has invaluable information for all gun enthusiasts, not only S & W collectors. Very well written and illustrated. A "must have" book.

No comments about Abc's Of Reloading: The Definitive Guide For Novice To Expert (ABC's of Reloading).

5 comments about The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery.

1. I have read nearly all Massad Ayoob's books and many of his articles. When I got into guns recently, in particular handguns, I ran across his writings. They changed my life. Not only is he an authority on self defense with and without handguns, his analyses of guns and manufacturers of guns are superb. Anyone looking to learn about modern handgunnery ought to turn to Mas Ayoob's writings. His style is concise yet exploratory; his coverage is complete; his demonstrations and illustrations and/or photos are informative; and his message is clear: handgunnery is a serious subject, one that can take many hours of anyone's time, and it should be analyzed carefully along the way. And, finally, Gun Digest is an authority as well, so this combination of publisher and author is one with which you cannot go wrong.



2. This book will allow you to look at what is available in the current field of combat handguns. The book covers pistols, revolvers, larger frame.service size handguns, compacts, subcompacts, and little "mouse" guns. Also covered is the most popular self defense calibers and suggestions on the best loads for your favorite caliber. Also covered, as a primer really, how to carry your weapon and some product suggestions. There is also a section introing the reader to drawing your weapon and shooting your weapon. Some shooting sports is also covered.
   
   Mr Ayoob has done a great job of putting together a complete book on the top choices in handgun seceltion, caliber choice, and load offerings from his own persoanl experiance and from other well know professionals in the shooting/defense field. There is $400 to $100 handguns in here, something for everyone's budget. The book is ment to be a primer for the novice, but experiance shooters can learn also.
   
   Alot of the chapters are sometimes a "refresher" from Mr Ayoob's other books on shooting and self defense. I've read all of his books and I haven't found a bad one yet. The beginner is well advised to search out his other books as well.



3. Mr. Ayoob, as always does an excellent job whenever it comes to gun topics. If you have a gun in the house I would urge you to read his books. Even my wife who knows almost nothing about guns found the book interesting.



4. A disappointment...Ayoob is an awesome author, but if you've already purchased the fifth edition this is almost identical. I own all six and have loved this series as my favorite in the subject. I was so dissapointed when I found out Ayoob just added a couple pages and resold the book as a new edition. Editions 1-5 were always relevant and had a lot to say, but 6 was just a reprint of 5 with a couple new pages. not sure why he didn't write a whole new book like the others always were, however his authority on the subject is without question near the top five in the country.



5. I was very disappointed when I received my 6th edition of Combat Handgunnery. I own the 5th edition, also by Ayoob, and loved it. I incorrectly assumed that the 6th edition would be updated, but as far as I can tell, it is simply a reprinting of the 5th edition. The chapters and text appear to be identical. I could not tell this from the descriptions or reviews that I read on Amazon. It is a great book, but don't buy it if you expect it to be different from the 5th edition.

5 comments about Gun Digest 2008 (Gun Digest).

1. My last Shooter's Guide was a 2004.....the 2008 is much better, especially the ballistics section. Very interesting & informative articles.



2. This is a very fine product and it was sent in timely manner. I think anyone who enjoys guns will find it useful. Bob



3. This book is not as comprehensive as it could be. Also many manufacturers are under represented and some not at all while others have no photos. This makes it somewhat inconsistent. Having said that it is also just about the only thing available that gives you an overview of what's available in the industry. The "other" book, Shooters Bible, is more detailed in its listings but even less comprehensive. You really need both. I buy one every other year.



4. Every year for the past thirty odd years I have ran out in the early fall and purchased the annual Gun Digest as soon as it hits the bookstores. I did so again this year with the Gun Digest 2008. Unfortunately there has been a decline in quality to the Gun Digest in the past several years and John Amber the original editor and publisher of the Gun Digest would be very sadden to see GD 2008. Under John Amber, the GD every year was always an encyclopedia of technical, historical and pertinent related information for the collector, the sportsman, the historian and the gun enthusiast.
   Now Gun Digest 2008 is basically a coffee table book. The photography is uniformly excellent but half the book is a catalog and the remaining half is a update on what the fireamrns industry has produced the past year i.e. Reports From The Field (Rifles, Shotguns, Autoloaders, Sixguns and others,Single Shots, Black Powder). Apart from a few nostaglia pieces ( Me and the CMP, 50 years in Boy Scout Shooting) that is the GD 2008 in a nutshell. The sole article that caught my attention was on the restoration of a Model 1886. I personally wish there had been more on restorations and custom rifles and handguns.
   It just amazes me that with the explosion of firearms related forums and websites on the Internet (and I must admit that such information is not always credible)the Gun Digest cannot return to its' previous high standard. The ideas and material are out there.
   Would I buy GD 2008 again? Sure but I will hope that GD 2009 is better.



5. There is no book like Gun Digest. It has the up-to-date info thatt other books lack. I enjoy the artcles as I think they best speak to me as a firearms enthusiast. You don't get to 62 editions without being the best!

4 comments about Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide (Standard Catalog of Military Firearms).

1. This is a great reference. One of the most complete and useful volumes I have ever seen. A must for any firearms collector.



2. I am not an expert, but I do have a collection of: German, Russian, Swiss, Turkish and American military firearms and the popular dedicated reference books for each. What I see missing most from Standard Catalogue of Military Firearms is accuate market values. Prices listed for commodity Milsurp firearms are 2x - 3x market value, even if compared to the past two years. Missing also is the value by country of origin or arsenal and not much attention paid to the glut of inexpensive imports sold through various Milsurp outlets. As an example what is refered to generically as a 1903/38 Turkish Mauser, could actually be conversions made from 1890, 1893, 1903, 1905 carbine, G 98 and the Czech 98/22 Mausers in both small, large ring and hybrid action/barrel.
   
   The Model 1895 Nagant revolver is, again, listed at twice to three times the accepted market value and without discerning the price difference amongst Milsurp models based upon production date, arsenal and configuration. These late production refurbished revolvers were not only made at the Soviet arsenal Tula, they were also made at Izhevsk and marked accordingly. The cartridge for the gun is listed as only the 7.62mm, a label that applies to several cartridges; it is the 7.62x38mmR.
   
   The book is a good source for general identification, which is more than a small accomplishment, it just isn't a very good price guide for buying and selling firearms. It's easier to go to an auction site and spot check as an opportunity arises and reference books dedicated to a more narrow category of firearms will provide a lot more informatio.



3. This book is very interesting and helpful especially when buying old military rifles to collect.



4. Krause Publications, along with Phillip Peterson have outdone themselves in preparing and publishing this 4th edition of what has quickly become a required book in the firearm collector community. As in the previous editions, there is ample discussion and numerous photographs of the listed firearms, and the variations of and much historical context on most of the major models covered. An added bonus in this new edition is the pictorial rich addition of a guide to military bayonets!
   
   As with all collector guides, prices are really dependent on what someone is willing to pay for an item, and the over all economy at the time. The fall in property values and a general slowing of purchase power occurred during the production phase of the book and many models are a little over priced in the late 2007 market (especially the price of transferable machineguns). But this is rather refreshing as the prices are usually undervalued by the publication date of most collector guides.
   
   For the firearm collector interested in military style weapons, this book is an enduring and valuable reference that should be on your bookshelf, or better yet, by your side at the next estate or firearm auction you attend.

5 comments about Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values.

1. I have ll the previous books, I have been waiting for this to come out. A must have for anyone who collects antique gun's.



2. As always, Flayderman presents the best in his guides. Well written and explanations are very accurate. A must for gun collectors and dealers.



3. I have bought 5 prior editions of this book. It is the best antique firearms valuation tool out there and full of interesting information.



4. The ninth edition of the best and most complete guide of identification and evaluation of antique American firearms. Flayderman is the authoritative source for this sort of information. This edition is an improvement on the excellent earlier editions, with more information (and new sections, including an objective discussion of American "dueling pistols", and much tighter editing and proofreading.



5. If you are interested in information on pre-1920's American firearms, Flaydermans is hands-down the better choice in my opinion. Although Fjestad's Blue Book of Gun values is incredibly comprehensive, it favors 20th century firearms. About 50% the 18th and 19th century firearms I was interested in I could not find Fjestad's book. I found all of them in Fladerman's Guide. Another strength of Fladerman's book are the illustrated entires, hugely helpful in locating specific guns and a feature non-existent in Fjestdad's book. The photograph's also are a valuable tool in learning about firearms I never knew existed. Fjestad's grading system is undoubtedly more comprehensive. But I doubt it is useful to anyone not already an experienced dealer in the field. A minor irritant in Fjestad's book was it's clear link to the NRA and contained too many pages of unnecessary advertising/propaganda - something I would not have opted to pay for, even as a former NRA member. Given my area of interest, Flayderman's is the clear winner - and also a lot more interesting and fun to use.

5 comments about Shooter's Bible - 99th Edition.

1. I obtained this gun book for a Christmas present and it was a big hit. My husband used the book to help price guns for himself and before I knew it, several of his friends were calling and asking for information that was in the book for their own use.



2. This edition is useless. It does not contain gun values as previous editions, particularly on used guns. Many guns are not included in this issue.



3. I purchased this for my dad for Christmas. I have gotten one for him every Christmas for the last 8 years. He is an avid gun collector and enjoys reading this book yearly to see how gun values change. He and I both think this is a great book for anyone who likes guns.



4. Stoeger Books is the premier publisher of reference books on rifles and pistols. First published in 1924, and now in it's newly revised and expanded 99th edition, Stoeger Books "Shooter's Bible" continues to be the preferred and comprehensive firearms reference guide covering new products, specifications, and prices on thousands of firearms and related equipment. In addition to informed and informative feature articles, this edition of "Shooter's Bible' covers handguns, rifles, shotguns, black powder, sights and scopes, ammunition, ballistics, and reloading. Superbly organized and profusely illustrated throughout, "Shooter's Bible" continues to be an essential, core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library firearms reference collections. Also very highly recommended from Stoeger Books for firearms reference collections is the new 30th edition of their "Gun Trader's Guide" (9780883173442, $24.95).



5. As the title says this is the book for any shooter, if its not in here it probably does not exist!

5 comments about The Official Overstreet Identification and Price Guide to Indian Arrowheads 10th Edition (Official Overstreet Indian Arrowhead Identification and Price Guide).

1. A new update from the 7th, 8th, and 9th Editions about Native North American Points which I have in my library. By having the most recent edition (the 10th) you can compare how items have increased in value.
   A host of new material, including new points, geographic area renaming, etc.
   A must for the beginning and advanced collector.



2. Year after year these books are published with the same poor quality binding and paper. Even more disappointing is the same pictures and descriptions are reprinted in each volume. It appears that a variant point or two are added to "justify" a new printing. Don't waste your money. It's 98 percent old and 2 percent "new".



3. 10th edition is like the last 9 editions. But it does have an array of every type variant, albeit many, many variants that really are subjective at best. But as many collectors know. the book has ridiculous price estimates. And as a long time collector/dealer my biggest beef about many of the editions, and I can personally 100% say/witnessed that many of the points are not authentic and only make it into the book to increase their "provenance" and individual value. But that said, the book is on type variations for you and not whether the specimens are actually authentic or not. So its really a catch 22. Many people have made it a popular arrowhead book, unfortunately are the same people that think they have a dozen authentic Clovis points(a rare Paleo, high valued arrowhead) they bought at their local flea market.



4. Outstanding book for those (like me) who do not authenticate points but want to learn about the various types. Includes informative articles on the archaeology of certain points. Lots of beautiful color panels of points arranged by age, in addition to the B&W photos in the identification pages.



5. Overstreet 10th Edition is one of the best I have ever seen. With so many artifact buffs in the family, it was a perfect choice to give.