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

I'm unfamiliar with what's happening in your forest, but do a little hunting in the U.S. for what I said and you'll see. The DDR models that are flooding in here are much cheaper and are 12's and sometime's 16's. I've yet to see a 20.

Mark at Born Again Bird Guns has a couple of NIB Merkel 8s and they are indeed at 2k but have only appreciated $300 over final year suggested retail in the decade plus they've been out of production. I agree that the market for the Japanese Browning "double club" in it's pedestrian configurations has outpaced my interest in it. I wasn't present when the foundations stones of Parkermania were laid but have watched and even participated in the Fox Frenzy as it pumped iron and bulked up. Incredible. As for subtlety, one guy's rare variation is frequently a suspect deviation from type for the rest of us. They all need the buzz to create demand and the "out the door" stuff seems to do just as well as guns with rare features and little-known provenance. This was brought home to me by seeing a Becker-bored Fox "packaged" with a pedestrian CE and the resultant selling price for both. I'm still kicking myself. A rising tide etc.--usually rather higher for the tubs than for the dreamboats. So we're back to King Brown's comment. We're all looking but for what exactly. Specialized knowledge is the way to something special and that's not the BB.

jack

Come on ol' hopper, I think you've a story to tell us 'bout love found and lost - I'm on tooth and nail with this!
Its tiresome to hear of all the great finds, make me feel better this rainy day.

I have a copy that's over 10 years old and have never found a reason to update. It's a good resource for differentiating variations of models of guns and how their prices relate to each other but as for specific current pricing I search online to see what they've actually been selling for. I'm not that interested in anything that's new in the last 10 years hence no need to update.

I find the BB to be useful as a "general across the board tool", but it is just one of the many things that goes into my buying or asking price. As a survey level document, it's not bad and has provided a lot of knowledge that I wouldn't otherwise have. Once you start getting specific or esoteric, you'd better know what you're looking at and have some additional "special knowledge". Do your own due-diligence or be prepared for the consequences.

No more gnarly, clutching fingers on the wedding guest, Lowell, but I will say that I have never forgotten the words of the P.G.C. member and "package" purchaser which I paraphrase: ". . . of interest only to me and a few strangers." Lonely at the top; a loneliness which requires intellectual investment as well as bucks.

jack

I see - I see!
Lets me off the hook, as I have neither going of the above.
Perhaps, time will change all that....but then again.
Its good to see how the big boys play - it'll be your wake-up call for big dealin's down the road.

I know the feeling as I also come up short on intellectual and other capital occasionally. I hadn't noticed the identity of initials of PGCA and PGC. In this case, I'm sure he was both. Sellers like to know the provenance of those they're selling to sometimes; want to divest but have the olde gonne in good hands also, what. Proper sale to proper old one of us rather than to just any carpetbagger. I'm certain you understand, LG, like Who's Who and DeBretts? I've only glimpsed the mysteries of the Inner Temple so you'll have to take this with a grain or two of salt. I don't think they have a password or handshake. Probably the shoes or the haircut or they "knew" Pop or Cousin Arthur at school.


jack

There are too many things out there to know about and I think it is a great reference. The BB and Flaydermans for the real old stuff are essential tools if you enjoy the shows and auctions.

It is a great help to me in many ways, but one has to realize that prices will vary throughout different areas. Since my guns are in such good shape, I have been getting higher than the Blue Book values the past few months. But things like dates, history, addresses, etc. are still helpful from this book. Good luck.