Double Action 38 New Box Home

[DocB]

Came in this morning. A box for my Double Action 38 Top Break dating in the 1895-1910 range. Focusing right now on pre 1930 boxes to house all my little old Smiths that have been laying around forever. Turned out to be a very nice box. A little repair was needed but not much. This one cost me $102 because somebody else wanted it too. If you are ever bidding on a box you really want, let me know. I won't bid against you. Smith made these boxes to really tight fit the guns. They apparently didn't want to waste any paper or fabric.

 

[gmborkovic]

Doc, you are coming up with some real gems. Beating the bush really does pay off. Best

 

[DocB]

Living in the deep South, everything rots and rusts around here. Not a good place to find old paper. I've noticed that all of the boxes I'm getting are coming from the Northeast and Midwest. People don't realize that the World War II Paper Drives got nearly everything. It wasn't just the "keep the gun throw away the box" syndrome. I would estimate that only 1 box of 1000 survived WWII. I'm probably high with that estimate.

 

[JSR III]

Back in the day boxes were used for birthday and Christmas presents and guns were stored or carried in holsters. Add to that the fact that cardboard or paper does not hold up well over time and it is easy to see why boxes are hard to come by unless someone decided to keep the gun and its box together.

Unfortunately, the total price for a boxed gun is probably less than that of a gun and box purchased separately and will most likely cause some sellers to break up original sets to maximize their profit.

With boxes selling for $100 to $1,500 in some cases, I fear that this will be more the norm than the exception.

 

[glowe]

. . . With boxes selling for $100 to $1,500 in some cases, I fear that this will be more the norm than the exception.

. . . especially when people pay whatever it takes to buy something without being concerned about the price paid. We may be seeing a bubble which will burst, but who knows what will happen in the future. I have been following gun boxes for a few years and still see lots for sale, so not agreeing that there are only a few left. Might be a justification to pay high prices, but ebay alone has dozens of vintage boxes a week with no sign of the market drying up.

Glad that DocB will be so kind and let us buy a box once and awhile . . . if we ask him permission first . . .

 

[THEMULE]

Unfortunately, the total price for a boxed gun is probably less than that of a gun and box purchased separately and will most likely cause some sellers to break up original sets to maximize their profit.

With boxes selling for $100 to $1,500 in some cases, I fear that this will be more the norm than the exception.

Mr Redfield,
I agree with you. I've see it here on this forum. In the Guns for sale section, a 4" N frame "whatever" for sale then in the accessories section the presentation case with tools and paper work, all from the same seller.
It's sad.
I have to thank you from stopping me from doing something stupid about a year and a half/2 years ago......
I had inherited a K22 Masterpiece. Joined the forum to learn about it. Became obsessed/fell in love (whatever you wanna call it) and started putting the package together. Box, SAT, cleaning kit & Helpful Hints.

I started a thread asking how to remove the serial # off the bottom of a gold box. I got all kinds of suggestions and advice.
You asked me "why would you want to do that? All you are doing is forever removing the chance that that box could be reunited with its original gun"...... or something of the sort.

Well, I never did remove that serial #. And I'm glad I didn't. I love the thought of buying a gun and finding the #'d box later. Pretty damn cool.

Very nice DOC! Save some for us little guys

Thanks Mr Refield.
Bob

 

[DocB]

Pretty much the same thing, only the box is older. Try finding a December 1941 issue of MMC or a Hangman Number 5. All made out of paper. All recycled for the war. I know how many of these two comics are left. . .bet the box is rarer!