Found old blue box S&W ammo - value?

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Foresthill

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Hi folks, first time poster.

I recently found some old S&W blue box ammo in 357 and 38 special (see attached photos). Not sure if this stuff is of value or has any rarity, but wanted to learn more. I searched around this forum (and others) and saw some insight from folks, although much of it was dated and/or unclear.

Anyone have familiarity with these items?
 

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Some collector value, but not a lot. At this time, it's worth just as much as shooter ammo because .38 and .357 are nowhere to be found. I have a few boxes I bought to accompany my S&W pistols for display purposes.
 
The boxes are kind of worse for wear. Not a lot of collector interest in them. Offer them for sale here and if no takers consider it shootable.
 
I don't get you guy's that state that the boxs have a little "Wear"...........
so the price gores down.


If you don't have that ammo, it is still worth a lot more $$
when you don't have a single box of it.

In most cases, the box the ammo came in is more valuble than the ammo.

Hang in there.
 
I do collect boxes and stuff. Yes, the ammo is probably worth more for shooting than collecting. Collectors tend to want pristine boxes.
 

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A fellow police police officer bought a 4" M29 back in the '70s. He decided that since he was shooting an S&W, he would feed it S&W ammo. He had several light loads and a squib.

I'm not saying you will have the same experience, but just be aware.
 
Some of the earliest S&W ammo. Look at the logo on the back for address...Smith & Wesson- Fiocchi. If original ammo the headstamp will be SW-F
 
Nevada Ed said:
I don't get you guy's that state that the boxs have a little "Wear"...........
so the price gores down.


If you don't have that ammo, it is still worth a lot more $$
when you don't have a single box of it.

In most cases, the box the ammo came in is more valuble than the ammo.

Hang in there.
Click to expand...

I am a vintage ammo collector. In pristine condition, this box has some collectability. With the marker "X"'s and frayed corners, not as desirable. Before the pandemic, pristine boxes would have been $30-$40, maybe $50 if someone "had" to have it and you were willing to wait for that buyer. You can probably get that now as shooter ammo but no higher as collectors because of condition.
Shoot it or sell it. It's worth the same either way.
 
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Nice boxes , I have only one with ammo ln my small collection. Probably end of the 1970s
 

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Unless I was really hard up for ammo to shoot, I'd keep it as is. It's not that it's going to be worth a ton of money in your lifetime, it's more about the fact that it's a cool piece of S&W memorabilia. It's kind of neat to have a box of S&W ammo to go with a gun from that era. Once it's gone, it's gone.

As far as information about the ammo, it was made by Alcan for S&W in Ohio. There is a lot of threads about S&W ammo and if you do a search, you will find the whole history of it.
 
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I have seen it only rarely around here (Central VA) but picked up a full box (box in nice condition) a few years ago at an OGCA. It went pretty cheaply I guess because nobody wanted 32 S&W ("Short"). As ArchAngelCD mentions, it would be good for a photo backdrop or perhaps a man cave display.

Froggie
 
The ONLY time vintage boxes of ammo are worth anything is when you are buying them - LOL!! When you go to sell them no one wants to pay!

I've got a ton of vintage ammo that I use to display in a glass case but about 5 years ago I decided since they weren't worth more than regular ammo I'd just shoot them. I will say, hunting Pheasant with 70 - 80 year old paper shot shells thrills me more than just having them sit there. If a box is super clean I will save it after it's empty.

I have about 8 Factory boxes of early 1960's Remington 38 spl. wad cutters left out of the 80 boxes I had 10 years ago. I reload the empties and I did save a few of the boxes for nostalgia. I also have plenty of vintage ammo in all calibers and I am shooting the vintage ammo out of vintage guns - actually quite satisfying! ;)
 
chief38 said:
The ONLY time vintage boxes of ammo are worth anything is when you are buying them - LOL!! When you go to sell them no one wants to pay!
Click to expand...

I disagree with this comment. Vintage ammo is like firearms. It's about age, condition, caliber/gauge, rarity, and graphics. Boxes of Henry .44 rimfire from the 1860's sell for thousands of dollars. If you have a martially marked Henry rifle and you want a period correct box of ammo, where are you going to get it. Shotshell collectors are all about graphics, gauge/rarity and condition and pay hundreds and thousands of dollars for the right box. Green boxes of 1960's Remington ammo are everywhere and don't bring much more than current production. The S&W boxes in question are somewhat collectable but the condition really rules them out for most collectors.
 
chief38 said:
The ONLY time vintage boxes of ammo are worth anything is when you are buying them - LOL!! When you go to sell them no one wants to pay!

I've got a ton of vintage ammo that I use to display in a glass case but about 5 years ago I decided since they weren't worth more than regular ammo I'd just shoot them. I will say, hunting Pheasant with 70 - 80 year old paper shot shells thrills me more than just having them sit there. If a box is super clean I will save it after it's empty.

I have about 8 Factory boxes of early 1960's Remington 38 spl. wad cutters left out of the 80 boxes I had 10 years ago. I reload the empties and I did save a few of the boxes for nostalgia. I also have plenty of vintage ammo in all calibers and I am shooting the vintage ammo out of vintage guns - actually quite satisfying! ;)
Click to expand...

The OP's ammo is from the early/mid 70s. I remember those prices also! Both .38 and .357 are loaded with slow-burning powder and are most effective in long revolver bbls. After firing in a 4" gun, I would tap a lot of unburned powder granules from the fired cases. The bullets are semi-jacketed HPs with a tiny cavity, unlike WW .357s or .38 LHPs of that era. I would not be surprised if both loads would not burn fully in a carbine bbl.

As to possible collector's value, I would "collect" them to have them on hand for the next 'ammo crunch' which I hope never comes around...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. Attn chief38: Great post! I would do the same.
 
sjbrdn said:
I disagree with this comment. Vintage ammo is like firearms. It's about age, condition, caliber/gauge, rarity, and graphics. Boxes of Henry .44 rimfire from the 1860's sell for thousands of dollars. If you have a martially marked Henry rifle and you want a period correct box of ammo, where are you going to get it. Shotshell collectors are all about graphics, gauge/rarity and condition and pay hundreds and thousands of dollars for the right box. Green boxes of 1960's Remington ammo are everywhere and don't bring much more than current production. The S&W boxes in question are somewhat collectable but the condition really rules them out for most collectors.
Click to expand...

Well, all I can say is if they would like to buy some vintage boxes of ammo at high collectors prices - PM me! :D :D
 
Kaaskop49, I agree with your comment about another “ammo crunch” but I fear if we live long enough (like another 5-10 years) we’d better be ready and expect another one. I notice they seem to be getting closer together, too. :(

Froggie
 
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