I have seen numerous Colt boxes for sale at gun shows and on the internet. Does anyone have an opinion as to the increase in value of a gun if one has a box? Does it matter if the box lacks the appropriate serial number but is otherwise correct?
value of Colt box
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I don't keep up with the prices, but there is a small fortune being made with boxes, end labels, and the paperwork. People are even buying the paper the handgun is wrapped in and the shipping sleeve that some boxes (Rugers) comes in. Quite a few people buy these items to raise the price of the handgun they are selling. I've watched them on other forums buy a revolver then ask around for a box, paperwork, and tools to then place them on the auction sites at inflated prices. Personally I really don't care about the box unless it's the handgun's original box. If it doesn't have the factory markings on the end label and match the revolver then I don't rate it to have any kind of premium, but I guess others do or don't know any better.
Hi Captain,
You know, that is an interesting question as it all depends on the perspective of the person doing the collecting! I personally think that boxes enhance a collection... especially for the older model Colts... and my favorite thing is when I find someone who doesn't care about a box and I can pick it up cheap.
Does the box add to the value?... only if the buyer cares. I have some very old boxes in my collection, one is a picture box for the Model 1889 DA revolver... very few are known ... Would it enhance the value of a DA Model 1889... I would think so as there are enough collectors that want boxes to make it a very desirable addition to a collection. Mis matched boxes on modern guns probably don't add much value, but if you have very few boxes available to the collector community then any box will bring a premium... Just my opinion... Bob Best
You know, that is an interesting question as it all depends on the perspective of the person doing the collecting! I personally think that boxes enhance a collection... especially for the older model Colts... and my favorite thing is when I find someone who doesn't care about a box and I can pick it up cheap.
Does the box add to the value?... only if the buyer cares. I have some very old boxes in my collection, one is a picture box for the Model 1889 DA revolver... very few are known ... Would it enhance the value of a DA Model 1889... I would think so as there are enough collectors that want boxes to make it a very desirable addition to a collection. Mis matched boxes on modern guns probably don't add much value, but if you have very few boxes available to the collector community then any box will bring a premium... Just my opinion... Bob BestAn original box adds a lot for me, while a correct but non-original box adds almost as much these days. With today's market, the sum is far less than the value of the parts. The way the market is today, separating an original package and selling each piece separately will generate a larger total than selling the complete package as a whole.
As far as the added value of a box to a gun, it depends on the gun and box. An Offical Police box for a beat up OP will add less than a Single Action Army First Generation box will add to a mint SAA. That is an extreme example and is so extreme that it is not even a good example, but the point should be obvious.
As far as the added value of a box to a gun, it depends on the gun and box. An Offical Police box for a beat up OP will add less than a Single Action Army First Generation box will add to a mint SAA. That is an extreme example and is so extreme that it is not even a good example, but the point should be obvious.
captain, as I have been selling boxes for far longer than it's been "fashionable", the answer is "yes" it makes the gun/set more valuable, look at the current 'Blue Book' even states the added values as such. Yes, they should be the 'original' but as long as they are of the same 'vintage' all the better.
Makes the gun more "marketable" also, people figure if you bothered to "save and take care of the box", you probably took care of the gun too.
Makes the gun more "marketable" also, people figure if you bothered to "save and take care of the box", you probably took care of the gun too.
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Makes the gun more "marketable" also, people figure if you bothered to "save and take care of the box", you probably took care of the gun too.
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There is where I see the problem. Yes it is more marketable, but if the box isn't original then the statement above means nothing. References in the Blue Book and other publications are about original boxes. A correct vintage box could be bought anytime during the life of the gun. Even just before the gun is put up for sale. I personally won't pay a premium if the box didn't orignally come with the gun from the factory. A mismatched set is not worth a premium.
Makes the gun more "marketable" also, people figure if you bothered to "save and take care of the box", you probably took care of the gun too.
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There is where I see the problem. Yes it is more marketable, but if the box isn't original then the statement above means nothing. References in the Blue Book and other publications are about original boxes. A correct vintage box could be bought anytime during the life of the gun. Even just before the gun is put up for sale. I personally won't pay a premium if the box didn't orignally come with the gun from the factory. A mismatched set is not worth a premium.
i must agree with dant& the judge a gun and period box even if mismatched will always bring a premium over just the gun.a complete outfit of gun / correct box/paperwork/brush will bring hefty premium.it makes complete sense if you consider the survival rate of box/paperwork, most were tossed.
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I have purchased guns with mismatched boxes and I pay no premium for the box. The box is nothing to me if the label has been peeled and the serial destroyed.
Someday, the boxes that can be bought cheap (30's thru the 60's) will some day be worth money. Good luck if your looking for a quick turn for profit.
I believe now is the time to collect non-gun collectables if you choose the right year. How many boxes are thown away? How many guns are destroyed?
I recently purchased a Cobra box labeled as a 5" barrel. It came with my 5" Cobra but the serial doesn't match. The gun has value as does the box. Together, they are meaningless. If sold seperate, they have value.
Someday, the boxes that can be bought cheap (30's thru the 60's) will some day be worth money. Good luck if your looking for a quick turn for profit.
I believe now is the time to collect non-gun collectables if you choose the right year. How many boxes are thown away? How many guns are destroyed?
I recently purchased a Cobra box labeled as a 5" barrel. It came with my 5" Cobra but the serial doesn't match. The gun has value as does the box. Together, they are meaningless. If sold seperate, they have value.
Hi Addicted,
You Said:
"I recently purchased a Cobra box labeled as a 5" barrel. It came with my 5" Cobra but the serial doesn't match. The gun has value as does the box. Together, they are meaningless. If sold seperate, they have value."
My Point exactly: Some people care, while others don't... As a seller you have to find the right one... But I think you are off the mark when you say that "...Together, they are meaningless." Together, they both still have the same total value as as if they were sold seperately, and there is someone at that show or auction that will pay that price if they care enough about the items. As a seller, I would be more inclined to sell a mis matched box (or just the gun without the box) to someone than I would be to sell a matching numbered box without the matching numbered gun...
That's what makes the "hunt" more interesting...(and what this thread is really about)... is that we are all looking for the "good deal" and we are really looking for that person who has what we want but doesn't care about it and will let it go for what we consider to be "a steal"! My humble opinion! Bob Best
You Said:
"I recently purchased a Cobra box labeled as a 5" barrel. It came with my 5" Cobra but the serial doesn't match. The gun has value as does the box. Together, they are meaningless. If sold seperate, they have value."
My Point exactly: Some people care, while others don't... As a seller you have to find the right one... But I think you are off the mark when you say that "...Together, they are meaningless." Together, they both still have the same total value as as if they were sold seperately, and there is someone at that show or auction that will pay that price if they care enough about the items. As a seller, I would be more inclined to sell a mis matched box (or just the gun without the box) to someone than I would be to sell a matching numbered box without the matching numbered gun...
That's what makes the "hunt" more interesting...(and what this thread is really about)... is that we are all looking for the "good deal" and we are really looking for that person who has what we want but doesn't care about it and will let it go for what we consider to be "a steal"! My humble opinion!
Bob Best
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3 Posts
Check this out, its at 200.00 with 2 days to go. I wish is had a few hundred of these.
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=39840911
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=39840911
It is interesting to me the way boxes have appreciated. Only a short while ago, a late 1960s box like that pictured, especially with the altered end label, would not have brought more than $70 to $80 or so. The paper does add some value. Judging from the large number of bidders, obviously many value the box higher than those commenting on this auction.
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1,310 Posts
I also think it's a little crazy to pay $400 for a python box (even if it matches your gun). There is so much interest in boxes that I believe that the trend will be for a pricing differential on most colts where you have the actual original box, or a correct box for the gun and time period. The two would have different pricing considerations and value. It is also getting fairly obvious from the online pricing that you can probably do better financially selling a box separate from the gun or to make a deal based on the gun and a deal based on the box as an add-on. I really hate this development as it is just one more thing to jack the price of a gun up. I'm not selling any of my boxes unless I don't have the gun anymore.
The thing is, there were several different bidders taking it into that $400 range! I wonder if all of the bidders were legitimate? It is at $29 now. And I was going to contact the second highest bidder and offer my same model box without the flaws for the second higest bid! There goes my retirement!
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I really hate this development as it is just one more thing to jack the price of a gun up.
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A box for the .357 model on Ebay went for $53 just last week. I should have snagged it. But I agree with 22-rimfire. Don't like the way the market trend is moving for boxes.
I really hate this development as it is just one more thing to jack the price of a gun up.
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A box for the .357 model on Ebay went for $53 just last week. I should have snagged it. But I agree with 22-rimfire. Don't like the way the market trend is moving for boxes.
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