By Ed Carroll
It is no small feat to achieve such acceptance as a standard reference work that a book can be called “the Bible of . . .” without there being the sting of rank hyperbole. But this certainly applies to Mr. Webster’s dictionary and, in the world of buying, selling and collecting firearms, S.P. Fjestad’s Blue Book of Gun Values.
Hard to believe, but in April the 40th edition of the Blue Book was released. It is a thumping 2,512-page tome that offers thoroughly updated information on nearly 1,700 manufacturers with almost 30,000 gun-model descriptions and more than 180,000 values. It includes all the new makes and models released in 2019, an expanded 45 pages of serial-number information that allows users to pinpoint year of manufacture of many makes and models, and 80 pages of color photos of Fjestad’s Photo Percentage Grading System, updated to accurately grade pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns based on percentages of original condition using iconic representatives of each type.
In addition to the old-school softcover book (which this year has a “retro” plain-blue cover), the Blue Book is available digitally on a flash drive or through an online subscription, with information updated monthly and thousands of high-resolution color photos.
