Best Firearm Collecting Books of 2025

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For avid collectors of firearms, there are a plethora of books available that delve into the history and intricacies of guns. These books cover a wide range of topics, from the evolution of firearms to specific models and manufacturers. They offer detailed descriptions and photographs of rare and antique guns, as well as tips for identifying and valuing them. Some books also provide guidance on how to maintain and care for firearms. Whether you are a seasoned collector or just starting out, these books are an invaluable resource for expanding your knowledge and appreciation of firearms.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Firearm Collecting Books
43rd Edition Blue Book of Gun Values
The 43rd Edition Blue Book of Gun Values is a must-have for firearm collectors and enthusiasts. With over 2,500 pages of information, including specifications, history, and up-to-date values for modern firearms, this book is the most comprehensive collection of firearms information and pricing available. It includes all new makes and models for 2022, a dedicated section on AR-15 manufacturers, and an updated color Photo Percentage Grading System. The Serialization Index makes finding serial number information even easier. This book provides accurate firearms values and information that no other publication can match.
44th Edition Blue Book of Gun Values
The 44th Edition Blue Book of Gun Values is a must-have for firearm enthusiasts and collectors. This comprehensive guide includes information on the latest 2023 models and updates on thousands of older firearms, along with company history, firearm specifications, and serialization tables. The book is edited by Zachary R. Fjestad and Lisa Beuning, ensuring that it provides accurate and reliable data for anyone looking to evaluate the value of a firearm. Overall, the 44th Edition Blue Book of Gun Values is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the world of firearms.
The Trapper's Bible: The Most Complete Guide to Trapping and Hunting Tips Ever
The Trapper's Bible is a comprehensive guide that covers everything a trapper and hunter needs to know. It includes tips and tactics from some of the finest trappers in the United States, hundreds of photos and illustrations, and extensive information on animal behavior and nature. Readers will learn how to recognize animal tracks, use a variety of traps and snares, mix their own animal scents, and even skin, stretch, cure, and tan hides. This book is an essential reference guide for anyone interested in the trapping profession, and it offers hard-to-find information that is both fascinating and informative.
The Official Overstreet Indian Arrowheads Identification and Price Guide (Official Overstreet Indian Arrowhead Identification and Price Guide)
The Official Overstreet Indian Arrowheads Identification and Price Guide is an extensive reference book that provides readers with an in-depth understanding of arrowhead types, manufacturing, grading, materials, and values. With over 12,000 images of points from 10 different geographical regions, this book is considered the Bible of arrowhead collecting. It also includes special sections on how to grade, identify, and catalog your points. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in arrowhead collecting and is unmatched in the marketplace.
Gun Digest 2023, 77th Edition: The World's Greatest Gun Book!
The Gun Digest 2023, 77th Edition is the ultimate book for firearm enthusiasts. With nearly 600 pages covering everything from rifles to airguns, this book is a comprehensive collection of all things firearms. It includes in-depth features from top gun writers, reports on new firearms, a gun catalog and buyers' guide, updated ballistics tables, and advice on selecting ammunition and optics. Written by some of the most knowledgeable gun writers in the industry, this book is a must-have for any gun lover. Overall, the Gun Digest still reigns as "The World's Greatest Gun Book!"
Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson
The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Edition is a comprehensive and detailed guide for fans and collectors of Smith & Wesson firearms. With 528 pages of annotated identification, pricing, and collector information, this book is a must-have for enthusiasts. The book includes hundreds of full-color photos, 14 new revolver models, and dozens of new variations of the M&P pistol. It also features new S&W rifles and shotguns, including many new M&P 15 rifles. The authors, Jim Supica and Richard Nahas, have done a fantastic job of organizing the listings to help identify firearms quickly and accurately. Overall, this book is a great resource for anyone interested in Smith & Wesson firearms.
Gun Trader's Guide - Forty-Fourth Edition: A Comprehensive, Fully Illustrated Guide to Modern Collectible Firearms with Market Values
The Gun Trader's Guide - Forty-Fourth Edition is a comprehensive reference book for collectors, curators, dealers, shooters, and gun enthusiasts. It lists extensive details of collectible firearms from popular manufacturers such as Colt, Beretta, Winchester, and more. The guide is updated annually and remains the standard reference for making informed decisions on used firearms purchases. Written by Robert A. Sadowski, a seasoned firearms writer, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in firearm collecting.
Firearms: An Illustrated History
The illustrated guide to guns, Firearms: An Illustrated History, is a fascinating visual account of firearms that charts the evolution of guns from over seven centuries. This beautifully photographed catalog captures pivotal moments in gun development, showcases iconic firearms, and highlights important moments in gun history. Written by an international team of firearms experts, this book is an essential purchase for everyone interested in guns and weaponry. The book is a coffee-table book guaranteed to provide several evenings' worth of entertaining reading to any gun or history enthusiast in search of a general overview of firearms development.
The Complete Guide to Gunsmithing: Gun Care and Repair
The Complete Guide to Gunsmithing: Gun Care and Repair is a comprehensive and essential reference for gun enthusiasts and gunsmiths. Written by firearms expert Charles Edward Chapel, the book covers topics from proper tools to gunsmithing jobs in over forty chapters of clear prose. The book also provides a fascinating look at firearms in the first half of the twentieth century, with a thoughtful introductory note by Dr. Jim Casada and eighty-five illustrations. The book is published by SKYHORSE and is a must-have for those interested in firearm collecting and gun repair.
2023 Standard Catalog of Firearms, 33rd Edition: The Illustrated Collector's Price and Reference Guide
The 2023 Standard Catalog of Firearms, 33rd Edition is the most comprehensive guide to gun values available, featuring over 7,800 photos and descriptions, updated values in six condition grades, and more than 1,200 makers and 18,000 models of firearms. The book also includes a bonus 16-page full-color section showcasing pocket protectors of the past and antique firearm pricing for pre-1899 guns using the NRA's rating system. This is a must-have guide for serious gun collectors, casual traders, hunters, and recreational shooters. Jim Supica, the Director of the NRA National Firearms Museum, has authored or co-authored numerous firearms books and articles and is a firearms expert in television appearances.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is gun collecting profitable?
Investing in Collectible Guns And in my opinion you'd probably lose money if you were investing for the short term. While prices have deflated since last year, they're still high compared to just three years ago. But if you're looking to invest in guns for the long term, then collectible is the way to go.
2. What does it mean when a firearm is on consignment?
What that means is that you take your firearm to a consignment store and make an agreement that they will sell it on your behalf since they have access to more people interested in purchasing firearms than you do. You go home but retain ownership of the gun.
3. Can I look up my gun by serial number?
A gun dealer can run a serial number search, but may charge a small fee for doing so. The documentation that came with the gun will also have this information. In many cases, this will come from the owner's manual.
During our firearm collecting book research, we found 1,000+ firearm collecting book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 22,770 customer reviews through our big data system to write the firearm collecting books list. We found that most customers choose firearm collecting books with an average price of $17.58.

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.