.25 cal. Browning automatic

Question
Bob:  I have a .25 cal. Browning, pearl handle, revolver that I acquired over 40 years ago. I still have the box and pouch it came in.   Can you tell me the approximate value?  

I have considered selling it and purchasing a larger gun that would offer greater protection for a female who is inexperienced with weapons.  Am I right?  It seems to me that I would have to have an expert aim and be close enough to do any real damage to an assailant with the .25.  I would probably do more damage if I just threw the gun at them and, being a typical female, I probably wouldn't have it accessible - more likely t would be in the bottom of a cluttered purse.  Unfortunately, you don't usually have warning in a situation like this. Can you recommend a gun I might buy for this purpose?

I will appreciate any information you can give me.


Answer
Hi Barbara.

Unfortunately I can't answer questions about current or future gun values.  This was explained in my profile and displayed on the screen when you selected an expert and submitted your question.

To get an accurate value for your firearm I highly recommend that you refer to the Blue Book of Gun Values by S. P. Fjestad.  This book contains detailed history and pricing information for virtually every major firearm on the market including older models and obsolete brands.  It is well worth the price (especially if you own more than one firearm) and it is generally used as the sole source for appraisals by gunsmiths, collectors, and dealers.  This book is updated every year to ensure that the values are always current so beware of older printed copies which are often sold at a discount but usually contain outdated information.

You can access the book instantly online at https://store.bluebookinc.com/Home/default.aspx or purchase it from any major book store such as Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc.  The price for either option is usually around $35 but I highly recommend the online subscription because you can get the information immediately plus check the site for updates at any time during the year.  If you don抰 want to pay the full price for an online subscription or printed book then you also have the option to download a single section of the book for a specific manufacturer.  The individual sections usually cost $5 or $10 but some of the sections are free.  Here is the link to purchase a section by manufacturer:
https://store.bluebookinc.com/Downloads/Manufacturer.aspx?product=8

And here is the link to the Browning pistol section:
https://store.bluebookinc.com/Downloads/SalesPageSplitCategory.aspx?product=8&id=195

You should also know there are many variables that significantly affect the value of any firearm and most of these details are impossible to discern without inspecting the gun in person.  The book mentioned above will educate you on all the details to look for and it includes many photos of real guns so you can learn how to distinguish between the finer points that can make a big difference in the value.  Once you have graded your gun according to the standard rating system then you simply look it up in the tables that are provided to see the current market value.  Any estimates that you get without a physical inspection are likely to be way off the mark in either direction so you need to do the research yourself or have an experienced professional appraise it in person to be sure you are getting an accurate estimate.

If you are certain of the exact manufacturer and model of your firearm and you have graded the condition accurately then you might be able to determine a fair street value by searching your local gun stores or the most popular auction sites to see what similar models are selling for.  Most auctions sites also allow you to search the closed auctions as well so you can see what similar items actually sold for.

http://www.auctionarms.com/
http://www.gunbroker.com/
http://www.gunsamerica.com/

There are also some gun dealers, pawn shops, and other retailers which post their inventory on the web but the sites above offer a pretty good chance of finding a similar gun since they are used by thousands of dealers across the US.

If you don't want to buy the blue book or check the value online then I suggest that you take the gun to a local gunsmith or gun shop which deals with similar guns, or to a local gun club or range where they shoot similar guns.  Chances are high that someone there will know enough to give you some good advice and many of them will gladly do this for free, although keep in mind that their opinions may be biased if they are interested in buying or trading for your gun.  If you live near Tennessee then I might be able to meet you sometime (I occasionally travel for business) to inspect it and give you a ballpark figure but you can probably find what you need from the info above.

For purposes of self defense I sometimes recommend a hiqh quality double action revolver such as a Taurus .38 or .357 with a 2" or 4" barrel.  There are too many variables for me to make a specific recommendation for you so I recommend that you take a local firearms class to learn about the factors and make the best decision for your personal situation.  Here is a link to a class locator:

http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/find.asp

Good luck with your research.

Bob