GCF...
You're exactly right about the boxes and accessories. Storage of the presentation cases was always a problem and they usually ended up being either disposed of or beaten to a pulp in some hot attic...
Boxes and accessories, in good condition, are currently selling for almost as much as the original guns! The competition for original boxes is becoming heated, too, for all the N frame guns.
If you have a chance at that 629 P&R 4 inch in the shape you describe, with like accessories and docs, I believe you'd never regret paying $15 to $1700 for it.. Many of the blue and nickle N frame P&R guns in other calibers are already approaching or exceeding those figures....
Just sayin'
Thanks for the perspective. Without a doubt, I'll take a hard look at it - IF in fact, it actually materializes...
Investment speculation on known "collector" commodities, can be a tricky business though. The TRICK being, to know IF a given market still has growth potential, or if it is indeed overvalued.
An awful lot of people invested a heck of a lot of money in what was essentially over valued "investment" real estate (prior to the "market correction", of 2007 - 2008), only to see their investment portfolios take a 35% - 50% hit. Many of those folks - even the ones that managed to hang on to their property, are still underwater. Most values have come back - to a certain extent, but few have reached their "pre-crash" levels. Generally speaking, the folks who are in the best shape today (almost 7 years later), are those who bought in BEFORE the price increase craziness began.
I think that in most cases at least, the guys currently making money on "collectable" firearm investments, bought in 5 - 10 years ago, or more.
Additionally, one must be able to recognize the potential (cause & effect) for market "corrections". I can tell you as an example, that IF I were to drop $1500 locally, on a collector grade S&W, & then for what ever reason - lost the ability to list firearms on line, it would be very difficult to recoup my investment, let alone turn a profit. At least in the years I've got left anyway...
I remember walking around a local gun show in 2001, when I came upon a seller w/ a table full of Pre-Ban AR-15's - all priced in the $5500 - $6500 range. Cool guns for sure. Would have been easy enough to ante up, & carry one home.
A scant 3 years later the Clinton "Assault Weapon Ban" expired, & all the major manufacturers began selling new rifles, w/ all the old "pre-ban" features - for under $1000. Couldn't help wondering at that time, how I'd have felt if I'd have bought into the pre-ban craziness - 3 years earlier.
Another potential "market correction" factor (IMHO at least), is internet driven trendiness. 3" K, L, & N frame prices will fluctuate to some degree, based on whether or not there is a current "hot" discussion thread (w/ lots of pics of course) going on the Smith-Wesson Forum.
The third consideration that comes to mind, is whether or not a guy has enough investment capital, to pay inflated prices for unfired collector grade guns, & then leave them unfired for 5 -10 years while their value appreciates. Assuming of course, that the collectable revolver valuation bubble continues to expand at the rate it has - over the last few years.
I've heard it said that there are 3 kinds of gun owners: 1. Collectors, 2. Hunters, & 3. Shooters, & that very few of us can be classified as all three. Gotta' tell you, as a Shooter w/ limited amount of discretionary gun buying capital available, I'd have a difficult time leaving a cherry 4", Model 629, alone in the safe. I DO like to shoot 'em...
