The worst thing about collecting high quality firearms....
 

It isn't the price of the guns themselves, as you are preparred for that. It is the price of the really good quality books written about them that drives me nuts.

Parker Story- $200 blemished set--Bought it and enjoyed it, great book.
Browning Superposed- $300-$500

and I just bought me a 1966 era Remington 700 30-06 BDL. The nice Remington 700 book runs $300-$500.

I have only purchased the PS, not the other two yet, but I find it shocking to me that a really good book on a really good gun cost so much. I have looked at both the Remington Book, Superposed book, a really nice book on Purdey, and various other books, and they all seem to be great quality books that I would enjoy reading, I just wish they didn't hurt so much to buy. Heck in the case of the Remington, it may cost me more then what I paid for the gun.

Books are great. But they can be expensive if buying new. I always look for good buys on used ones.

I agree, the problem is the lower end prices I listed are used.

Invest now - like the guns, they will only increase in value as time goes by.

and that is a fact, they will be more expensive IF you can even find a copy as time goes by

Check out the Colt books if you think the Parker books are expensive. The trade edition is $375 or so and the leather/limited edition is in the thousands.

The Parker Story is worth every penny. For the others, just stake out Ebay and a good buy will come along

I'd be willing to bet most authors who wrote those books would tell you they worked for about 10 cents an hour in producing them.

.....or less.

Hmm...that is one of my favorite parts. That these great guns have these great books is one of the best parts of collecting. It may be that I love books almost as much as I love guns.

Yes the price seems high on these books but to me the money you will save by being informed on any future purchases and avoiding mistakes is worth it.

Books are great, with the information to help guide the would be collector as well as the seasoned collector, but as with many things these books have errors in them and only through diligent study can you some times separate the " wheat from the chafe", books are a wonderful addition to go along with collecting and gleaning information. Hats off to the authors of these great reads, they probably did work for 10 cents on the hour or less which only shows their devotion to the subject, Gary

Lete be clear. I love the quality of the 1 of this books I have and appreciate the ones I have been fortunate enough to peruse. I love the books and appreciate the effort made on them. I just wish they weren't quite so expensive :)


I have several Colt books, including one on all colt manufacturing and one dedicated to the SAA, but I haven't stumbled across the fancy version you are refereeing to.

I have tried to get books I thought were definitive on makers as they were available. I missed the Superposed book and finally found a copy for less than my last cancer surgery. I have only sold one or two and then it was to individuals I felt could use the information more than I. I have told my kids that when I die to be sure they know what every book and gun part is worth before they assume "It's just Dad's junk".
That FN49 part may be worth a lot more than you think.

Mills,

Is this the colt book you are referring to?

http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Colt-...dp_ob_image_bk

The 3rd edition is $110. The 1st editions in leather are $800-$900 on amazon.

This is what I wish they would do with the superposed book and others, rerelease them in newer editions. If they are going for what they are going, there is obviously an interest in the books. Newer editioins would allow the originals to mostly hold their value while making them more affordable for others and maybe making the authors some money.

No, the ones I am talking about are advertised in Sporting Classics. They do look very well done. I am not a Colt collector though

this would be the first edition, which from my searching must be the book you are referencing. Did a search for colt book sporting classics and couldn't find anything.

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Colt-Fire...t+firearm+book

There is a trick to the "gun book" situation. If you are interested, even a little, in a certain type of gun, buy every book that comes on the market, when it comes on the market. I now own about $800 worth of Schwing's Model 42 and Superposed books, one each. I bought them the day they became available for about forty bucks apiece. Of course, not every book that comes on the market will appreciate like these two, but it pays to be early in buying the books you like, regardless of the appreciation.

I know the price of books can seem pretty high at times BUT an education is expensive.
With books, you have the research material and can make educated choices about what to buy and collect. The COST of buying and collecting without research can be considerably higher both pricewise and to your mental health.
Mr. Murphy's idea of buying a book when it first comes out if you even have a slight interest in it is solid. At least you have the book and can read it and learn. If you lose interest later you can always sell the book (usually for what you paid for it or more.)
Just take for example, The Parker Story for $300-. That seems like a lot of money, and it is, but by reading it and researching a particular firearm you are informed and in better shape to know what to pay. You know what were factory options, etc.. You will be in a better position to negotiate a better price or realize a rarer piece going for a modest price and actually save more than the initial $300.

Jack Kuzepski

At $195, the Parker Story is a bargain. I paid more for mine and still got a good deal

Understand... just picked-up McIntosh's "A.H. Fox, the finest gun in the world" used for $100. Dust cover torn in several place, binding a little loose, but I'm not willing to pay the asking price for a new and unused copy, $450.

The Parker Story is the best deal in a gun book by far, Gary

Thanks Gary, re the Parker book. I heard the same from other sources too.

And at least four of the authors of The Parker Story still continue to contribute to the Parker knowledge base and appreciate discussing things Parker at PGCA events they attend.

A major factor in the cost of gun-related books is the economy of scale. A major publishing house's representative told me that, at best, the books are aimed at a very limited market . . . in contrast to, say, a current bestseller (AND SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE!!). It's the same way with hand-made knives or anything else; there are way more Bucks out there than Randalls. Another thing, while Brister's Shotgunning is being peddled as a 2nd edition, in reality it's just a reprint.

Books
 

I attended a gun show in SoCal this past weekend and there was a gentleman who had many collectable firearms books for sale to include the Clawson 1911 Service pistol book. His price tag was $900, about $300 or more over eBay retail. My "blemished" TPS for $200 was a great value IMHO.

Well patience does pay off, I just stumbled across a used copy of Lacy's Remington 700 book for $150.

A lot more then I prefer to pay for a book, but a lot less then I have ever seen online. Plus, this one appears to be autographed.

TPS
 

Just got my copy of The Parker Story today. Was trolling one night and thought I'd hit amazon for some books and lo and behold I got the cased limited edition of TPS for a song! I am stunned by how big the volumes are. I had no idea how much was packed into these books. No wonder they're so expensive. I've got to build a new bookshelf just to hold this beast. I'm so happy, you might not see me on the forum for a few days till the new wears off. More exciting than my first Playboy!:whistle:

Now, the next thing you need to do is to religiously read both volumes cover to cover. I did and it took a few months of my free time to fully digest it all.

Dean,
Your reading skills are no doubt better than mine! I'll give myself a year at least.:banghead: