Gun Boxes

[lightman]

I am just curious about who saves the boxes that your new guns come in? We are looking at a move in the near future and in the process of cleaning out the attic I ran across several gun boxes. I know that a lot of buyers like having the box.

So, who saves them and who don't? Whats your thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance for any replys.

 

[Jeff62]

I have a tendency to pack rat but boxes, for me, are targets. There are a number of bullseyes with the various stampings and graphics.
I take the firearm out of the box first.

 

[Elkins45]

The only way I wouldn’t save a box would be if I were 100% sure I was never going to sell or trade it in the future. AFAIK the only gun box I ever threw away was the blue paper box my first handgun (S&W 19) came in. Even though I still have that gun and will never sell it I now regret throwing the box away. It would make the gun have more value when my heirs undoubtedly sell it in the future.

 

[.308 Norma]

I take the firearm out of the box first.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I save the boxes too.

 

[The Night Rider]

I don't have a lot of gun boxes but the ones that I do are the good hard-sided plastic cases.

I'm pretty sure the case for my M&P 9 meets the TSA requirements for a hard-sided case with two locks or at least a place to put two locks. So I intend to keep them

 

[Hugger-4641]

I was always told you throw away $50 with the box, so I keep them. I've got the box for every new gun I've bought plus some that I bought used. I've got the box for my model 94AE from 1983. I have a couple hiding spots behind the knee walls in my attic and underneath the stair landing in the basement, which is behind a closet, so they're out of mind until I need them.

 

[Bazoo]

I sell the boxes on eBay. I have the plastic box my Ruger came in. But generally I don’t keep anything else.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have never tossed out a box. I put them between the floor joists in my basement. A thumbtack on each side with a string in the middle will hold them up.

 

[Rule3]

I save the box but also HATE them!. Take up more damn room than the gun!

The old vintage SW boxes are like Gold. Some folks pay big money for them,

For sale with original box and papers, Gotta have those papers as well!

 

[AlexanderA]

As a collector, I make sure to save the boxes of the guns that I buy new. By the same token, most of the guns that I acquire aren't new. So the problem really isn't that significant.

 

[Bazoo]

Most of my guns I buy used, so generally no box.

 

[bannockburn]

I hang on to most of the boxes that I bought new. If it's a used gun and doesn't have a box then it's no big deal as I put all of my handguns into pistol rugs anyways,

 

[CapnMac]

After a couple of moves, the only boxes I have are the Colt ones.

 

[Old Dog]

Don't let my spouse see this thread. She already thinks my empty boxes take up all her valuable shelf space in at least three closets... Yes, I am a compulsive pack rat when it comes to saving my boxes. Should probably get rid of most of 'em, since I have vowed to never again sell any of my firearms. But yeah, lotta guys buying used guns prefer to purchase with the original boxes (& manuals, tools, papers, etc).
Just one closet and just the last few handgun purchases (2021-22):



=====================================
Deputy Dom Calata, Pierce County Sheriff's Dept., EOW 16 March 2022
Police Officer Dan Rocha, Everett Police Dept., EOW 25 March 2022
RIP, my brothers.

 

[CraigC]

I used to buy into this, for years. Then after the horse trading I've done over the last 10yrs or so, I came to realize that no one was paying me more for a gun with a box. Especially when trading at gun shops. So I went through my rather extensive box collection and purged most of them. I have a hard time believing the newer plastic or cardboard Ruger boxes will ever be worth what the cardboard boxes from the `50's and `60's are worth, so all the plastic ones went to the dump. I don't keep the new cardboard boxes at all. I kept all the older cardboard Ruger, S&W, Colt, etc., boxes. Ditched most of the plastic and nearly all the long gun boxes. Life is much better this way.

 

[Captcurt]

Yeah, I have a few. I still have the box and papers for my 40 cal. Browning Hi-Power Practical that I bought in 94.

 

[Seedy Character]

Ruger plastic cases. Don't have any others.

As an FFL, MOST of those I sold to didn't take the box their gun in.

 

[Mars5l]

I keep em and I'm more inclined to buy used gun if it has the box and papers

 

[.308 Norma]

Just like I have a “bucket of holsters” (an old Christmas popcorn tin), I have a “corner of cardboard rifle and shotgun boxes” in the basement. Although, the hard plastic handgun boxes, and even a few cardboard handgun boxes are stored on the shelf in the top of an upstairs closet.

Hint: there’s room for another shelf in the top of a lot of closets, and it’s very easy to install. An additional shelf in the top of a clothes closet is hard to access without a step stool (unless you’re a lot taller than I am), but it’s an excellent place to store empty handgun boxes. Besides, as I’ve mentioned many times, my Mrs. has as many guns as I do, so she doesn’t gripe at me about the “shelf of handgun boxes” in the top of an upstairs clothes closet.

 

[hso]

Save

 

[theotherwaldo]

I mostly buy milsurps and antiques.
Darn few boxes.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I save the box but also HATE them!. Take up more damn room than the gun!

The old vintage SW boxes are like Gold. Some folks pay big money for them,

For sale with original box and papers, Gotta have those papers as well!

This.

 

[NorthBorder]

I save my hard cases that handguns sometimes come in, but the boxes end up being recycled. Long gun boxes get recycled. I do have a gold S&W box for a M27(no dash). Last I checked (several years ago) it was worth $100.

 

[22250Rem]

Most of the guns I got new still have the boxes here. Got into the habit decades ago from hearing collectors speak of original boxes, owners manuals, sales slips, etc. Now I'm wondering if it was all worth it ? Heck; I still have the box that Interarms used in 1993 or so to ship a # 4 Mk 1 Lee-Enfield to a local FFL who sold it to me in Jan. 1994, and I brought it home in the same box. Guess I will keep that around in case the next owner might be interested someday when either I sell the gun or it gets sold as part of my estate. .. .. ..