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American Firearms and Their Makers: A Research Guide

Price Guides and Collecting

U.S. Paymaster and Guards on Deadwood Road to Ft. Meade
John C.H. Grabill, photographer. The U.S. Paymaster and Guards on the Deadwood Road to Ft. Meade. 1888. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Although motivated by a variety of interests and objectives, all antique gun collectors benefit by educating themselves about the major factors influencing the price of a weapon: its make and model, condition, history and provenance, rarity, and artistic appeal. The books cited in this section provide extensive guidance pertinent to estimating value as well as information about past prices of collectible firearms.

The following materials link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to online resources are included when available.