The Blue Book.
 

Just how accurate is this guide with regard to Parkers? Seems that, from what I have seen, it doesn't appear to track the reality I am seeing on the various auction sites.

The market is a funny thing... we expect one thing and it does the other.
The Blue Book can’t see the future nor is it a fortune teller. The data printed in it was put there by mere humans.





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Anyone who uses the Blue Book for a price reference to buy Parkers, should not be buying Parkers. The Blue Book is full of great reference material for many guns, but prices in the Blue Book should not be one of those references.

The blue book is high. Especially on lower Grade Parkers. Just look at the values for VH guns for example. I challenge you to find those guns selling anywhere near those prices.

And the values were intended to reflect fluid steel guns for the most part.

The Blue book for Parkers is better for insurance values more than anything.

One thing I will say about the blue book of gun values, is that if you read the disclaimer/introduction the pricing will make more sense.

The values given reflect ALL ORIGINAL GUNS and are based more on % of ORIGINAL case colors than overall condition. As soon as a gun has had any restoration or modification, the values shown in the Blue book can be tossed out of the window. I know the folks who do the Parker section talk each year and compare notes on actual sales that they know have occurred which becomes the basis for the pricing. Pricing is based on recent auction results and private sales that are known to the contributing editors.

Another thing to remember about the blue book.It takes them a year to gather information and get it to press.Therefore,the day it comes out it is already a year behind.It was good in the pre internet days.Now it is strictly a reference book and should not be used for pricing on any out of production guns.