saving gun boxes

[Axis II]

I have several boxes my guns have come in and its been a few years. do you guys usually keep them or pitch them?

Part of me says keep them incase I need to send them back to the factory but they are taking up a bit of space.

Should I keep the stickers on the box should I decide to pitch them?

 

[243winxb]

Keep Them

40 years from now, the box may be worth a few extra $$$ when selling the guns in orginal condition.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If they have the potential to be valued by collectors, keeping the box will mean $ in your pocket. If it is a mass produced gun that isn't very expensive, it probably won't matter as far as that goes.

I always keep them. Yes they take up space, but I don't throw them out.

 

[DeoreDX]

Pistol: Keep box
Long gun: Throw box away.

 

[BSA1]

Funny you should mention it as yesterday I completed hanging pegboard on a wall in the gun vault and hung some long guns that were laying on shelves while still in the factory box. I saved the empty boxes and stacked them on a high out-of-reach shelf

With my handguns I not only save them but I store my handguns that I am not using in them as factory cardboard boxes stack easily and provide enough indoor protection from dirt and moisture.

I also have several empty S&W blue cardboard boxes stored away from guns I sold or traded off. As 243winxb says they may be worth a few bucks someday and it gives me a box if I acquire a S&W revolver without a box.

 

[AR-15Nutt]

i have read some time ago where a box was selling for more than what the NIB rifle came in it.

 

[Axis II]

I don't have anything of real value. Just a couple Mossberg's and savages.

My handguns came with hard cases stamped with factory name so I did keep those.

Looks like I'm holding onto them. Never thought I could get more money if I had a box. I seen a few used at shops that say with Box but never thought about it.

 

[blarby]

As a frequent buyer of firearms on a professional level, I can tell you that having all of the original packaging certainly does add value.

In modern guns, it may be 5%, which could be between 25 and $100

In older models that 5% could be hundreds or more, easily.

From an owners standpoint, boxes are a hassle. Most of them are opened in ways that scrap their protective value as transit containers, and are usually missing foam inserts that make them true shipping containers.

If you are worried about value, keep the intact original carton, all paperwork and documentation, the factory branded lock, and all accompanied components.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Keep, including labels. The value of those increases as fast as the gun.

 

[savage24]

Save them!
I purchased a blue plastic Colt factory box for a Python several years ago on eBay. I felt kinda silly paying $30 for and empty box, but I could probably sell it for $50 today.

 

[joem1945]

I like the had cases that come with pistols and rifles. The plastic latches break off and some uses and I don't like that. Manufactures should ship firearms in better cases.

 

[X-Rap]

I believe that the guns I've sold over the years that had the original boxes presented better and while they may not have added much value they did make for a quicker sale.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[jakk280rem]

I keep the hard plastic boxes pistols come in. Cardboard boxes get the end flap torn off and stored. I like having the original factory numbers handy. It makes cross referencing and matching exact models much easier.

 

[Sniper66]

I keep all boxes. I erected a shelf in my garage for the long boxes. It is near the ceiling and does not take up needed space. I sold a pistol this week and the buyer said, "Oh great, you have the original box!". I also keep scope boxes, which is handy when selling them or returning for repair....I've done both.

 

[Dr. Sandman]

I feel like I should throw them away, but I keep most of them. Guns bought for investment purposes are a different story and the box should always be kept. I don't think that I have ever bought a used gun that had a box with it. The gun collecting, shooting, reloading hobby in general does not really lend itself to clutter control!

 

[jmr40]

It depends on the gun. If it is a rare gun that is still unfired in the box with all papers it can mean a lot of money, several hundred dollars more money. It doesn't matter if it is a long gun or handgun. On most common guns that have actually been used a lot it MIGHT make $5 difference if at all. I've never seen anyone offer more than $20 extra for the box and that was very rare. On the other hand I've seen some boxes alone go for $50.

The problem is that it is hard to know exactly which guns will attract collectors down the road.

 

[v35]

keep it

I'd keep the box, but that's just me.

FWIW when browsing for used guns I prefer those that include the original box, even if it's old and tattered. Original manuals and other documentation helps too. Right or wrong, my impression is that it implies the owner cared for the gun.

I keep boxes for any significant item, not just guns. But that's just me.

 

[GBExpat]

I always keep any decent rifle boxes for reuse as shipping containers ... but I have the room to accommodate them.

Shipping boxes for pistols are easy to source, but I have always kept my OEM boxes that housed my commercial pistols. Many of them store the original grip panels and any extras that came with the pistols.

 

[Old Fuff]

I watched an auction where a cardboard box for a Colt Python went for $300.00.

In another instance a so called "black box" for a 2nd generation Colt SAA brought over $100.00 ...

Yes I do save boxes. At current rates my collection of them is worth a bit over $600.

Before you toss, check...

 

[FL-NC]

Not if they aren't plastic.

 

[Wildfire]

Keep.

My Colt King Cobra box was valued at $150.00 +.
I kept all the original papers in that box and it was worth more yet.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I had to many. I hate those plastic cases No place to store them . I tossed the lot. Pistols in soft case in my safe now . Iam 70 and I don't care about what going to do dollar wise down road. My daughters will have when I gone . I have marked ones to keep for them selves Rest they can trade or sell their choice I won't know any way. . Only thing I really ever collected was wife's . Had to many of them and their trade value was zero . More expense getting rid of than getting.

Factory needs to go back to cardboard box . Then lower the price some on pistol. Card board boxes worked good for a long time and would still work to day .

 

[roval]

I threw away a cardboard pistol box. I did keep everything from it but I think I should've kept it since it was a les baer.my next baer I did keep the box but it is taking up space.

 

[chicharrones]

I have several boxes my guns have come in and its been a few years. do you guys usually keep them or pitch them?

When I was younger, I pitched them soon after the gun proved itself. I never thought to keep a hunk of printed on cardboard.

Now, I have more attic space and keep the boxes, whether cardboard or plastic.

I recently sold a gun of which I still had the box, which had full coverage printing on the outside. It sure seemed more desirable with the box and manuals to both myself and the buyer.

 

[22-rimfire]

I keep them. I take care of the handgun boxes, but less careful with the long gun boxes. It wouldn't bother me too much to trash the long gun boxes, but I have the room, so why not keep them?

For a while, I was buying Colt revolver boxes on fleabay when the price was right. In recent years, there are so many copies that I don't bother anymore.