blue book vs hiller book?

[hwtyger]

Does hiller have any addiotional value when you already have the blue book?

[Garvin]

Does hiller have any addiotional value when you already have the blue book?

Yes, definitely. Although Hiller is out of date in some respects and has errors and omissions (often because he didn't have access to guns and information that has since come to light), his books give a wealth of detail that the Blue Book doesn't come close to. The Blue Book is more of a current price guide and attempts, quite successfully, to be comprehensive in a way that Hiller didn't. There are numerous small errors in the Beeman book and quite a few suggestions as to pricing that seem to have more to do with guns he and his co-authors are personally familiar with from his own (world-beating) collection than the realities of production. But some of the introductory articles on manufacturers in Beeman are outstanding. Both books have much to recommend them in their own right and no airgun collector should be without Hiller's contributions.

[Sam Vimes]

Yes, Hiller's book is Eurocentric in a way that you'd never expect an American publication to be. Far too much stuff in the Blue Book that I find of little interest. I also find that the price guides are pretty much pointless as they naturally revolve around the US market. In addition, the prices are all but obsolete by the time the book gets updated, printed and distributed.