The other night, I bought a 28 no dash that I believe is in excellent condition. Nice walnut diamond magnas. Only mark on it is a light turn line on the cylinder. It dates to around 1959. No box, paper, or tools. I should be able to pick it up this weekend.

For a little more money, I coulda bought a 28-2 with box, papers, and tools. I already have a couple of those and I didn't have a 28 no dash, so I went for it. It will go well with my pre-28.

There sure seems to be a premium today on guns with boxes, tools, and papers. I like having those, but the older guns have more of the cool factor, IMO.

What is your preference? The obvious choice is old gun with box, tools, and papers.

I would have bought them both. :-)

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Boxes are fine if you're a collector.. of boxes. I get the complete package idea, but don't get all upset if its not there.
I'm a collector of guns, that's where my emphasis lies.

It's nice to find one with the box and papers but they don't make the sale for me. Actually I find them a bit of a pain to store and I have some. I did buy my guns to shoot and enjoy and the box plays no part in that. If I was buying as an investment I might feel different and demand boxes. I've traded some guns off recently and was asked about boxes I didn't have so maybe I would have been smarter to buy guns with them. No matter as most of my guns aren't going anywhere soon.
I do ask for the box when buying in case it's out back in the shop and forgotten. But I've never refused a gun if it didn't have one. I once though had a holster thrown in on the deal when I balked a moment on the gun purchase.

Im a consummate collector-meaning I would like the "full meal deal" but would accept just the entree. :-))

As you can tell, I aint had lunch yet.

I think that in a choice like that it would depend which one "spoke" to me. And of course there is the old adage, buy both!

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Stay safe people!

As far as I'm concerned, it's the gun and not the box that I
care about.

I too care more about the gun. The main reason I'm attracted to complete sets and boxes, is that:
1. It suggests (I know it doesn't prove) that the previous owner took care of it...caring enough to save the accessories.
2. It increases overall value if I ever decide to sell the item.

Kinda like wimmen-with clothes or not-just one more thing to open up before you get to play with what's inside.

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Forum consigliere

I have owned a grand total of 3 S&W Revolvers in my lifetime and all 3 were used and did not have the box or accessories. If its a used gun and it does not have these items it does not bother me at all.

Now if it was a new S&W revolver and did not have the accessories I would be VERY unhappy.

Yep, all things being equal, I'll go for the most screws.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I like having all the extras, but certainly not a deal breaker. For me, its all about the gun and the price.

I needs me a no dash and a -3........and I want to prove that there was more than 1 -1 made as well.

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Even older, even crankier....

Caje, you jes' won't do!

Naw!! You dint really say that, didja?

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Georgia On My Mind

My preference? I'd have done exactly what you done. For me, a nice ol' gun trumps a newer one with cardboard and paper.

I can't shoot a box. I get no pleasure out of looking at, owning, or playing with a box (don't go there).

If I buy a gun and it comes with the box, great. Adds value to the resale someday. But the box just goes into storage in the garage. I have one box I've owned over forty years now. The gun that came in it has given me great pleasure over those decades. The box, not so much. Some day when I'm gone maybe somebody will be tickled to death over that box, and the others that are stored with it. But them boxes ain't never given me any enjoyment. I just keep them for their value. About as much fun as owning stocks.

After reading your second paragraph, I had a different kind of "box" on my brain. I then went on to read the next paragraph and thought you were saying that you had been married for 40 years. Kinda reads different when you read it in that context.

I also like the old guns better. The 28 no dash is a 4 screw gun and there is something sexy about the old walnut diamond magnas. It looks a lot like my pre-28.

I didn't come with a box but did get papers, the tool well, this is a family forum.

I am a -2 model since I have Roman numerals II behind my name but, my wife says that I am not a collectable edition and for that matter, may no longer be desirable. So here I set, on the shelf more of a "safe serf" but, certainly not a "safe queen", not that there is anything wrong with that!

The only S&W I ever bought with a box, came in plastic and had a lock, I got rid of it quick. I have a number of rifles I bought new, they came in boxes. After I had them a while I burnt the boxes, because they aren't leaving until I'm gone. So to me a unused older gun with a box was/is a dud. That's just me. Ivan

condition means more to me than anything. the box is ok, but i don't buy collector pieces, i buy shootable guns. i have a couple boxes but it doesn't mean much to me when buying and i certainly won't pay much more for the box.

To me, getting the box w/ the gun is like buying some military bravery award-cased and with award document

Just bought a model 53 and it came with the box and all the papers. Good place to keep the extra cylinder the inserts to shoot 22 out of it,the cleaning kit.

Quality comes with age. I'll take an older one over a new one any day of the year. I have a few basic 1911's i've bought over newer fantsy 1911's. Because the age IMO is a better quality. They dont make them like they use to.

Old gun, but in good condition

I am not a collector of anything. Don't need no stinking box, have never been able to hit anything with one anyway.

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Just a shooter

A nice numbers matching older gun w/o a box wins every time.

Plain 'n' simple!

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Does 2014 classify as a zombi thread?

What!? I'm just asking.

I would take the best gun regardless of the dox status. I am a c
Shooter not a collector.

Old thread, but good subject. I'll add my 2 cents.
I like getting the box and goodies, but I also am primarily after then gun. The box is just a nice extra. Then again, as mentioned earlier, I find that people who keep boxes also seem to take good care of the gun as well.

Lemme tell ya about boxes. Many of the guns I own were bought new back in the 70s & 80s. I've also bought some used guns that had the box. I kept all these boxes in the bottom of a metal cabinet in my garage for years. I was thinking it would add to the value if I ever sell them. Of course I rarely sold any of them and still have most. Anyway, I had about 20-25 boxes stored out there.
I guess it was about 10 years ago, we had one of those 100 year floods. extremely rare here. but there was 2 feet of water in my garage. Did ya catch the part where I said the boxes were in the bottom of the cabinet?

The boxes and tools are just an extra bonus to me.
I like the gun and that’s what I’m buying!

You just need more time in the range throwing empty boxes.

Sure it does, but then if the OP had started a new thread someone would have chastised him for not searching the old threads.

In my Country there is a saying:

"Preso por ter cao. Preso por nao ter"

"In jail for having a dog. In jail for not having one."

I don't care about the stupid box.