"Original Box & Papers"

[flash60601]

A question, here, for those of you who buy and sell.

Just how much DOES the original box, papers, tools, etc add to the sale price of a 99% Smith & Wesson from the early seventies?

I have in mind a 6" 27-2, in particular, perfect bore, hardly any line around the cylinder, etc. gun in primo, box with the factory sticker, correct numbers, and so forth.

Your input is appreciated, thank you.


Flash

 

[raljr1]

Others will surely have opinions, but In my mind, it depends. If you plan to shoot it, I'd guess it wouldn't add more than a $100 or so. If you plan to hold it for the long term as a safe queen, maybe more. There are probably lots of those out there, so that certainly limits the benefit of having the box. My humble opinion.

 

[mh51]

I buy a gun strictly based on the condition and how bad I want it. The box and other stuff doesn't add anything to me.

 

[colt_saa]

If they are there, they do not add anything to the value

However if they are missing, then it is a bargaining point for a lower price

 

[toad67]

IMO, the box, factory papers and tools on the gun can make a great deal of difference depending on what you want to do with it. If you want to buy the gun you mention above to go out and use/shoot with normal wear and tear, then probably not much. However, if you plan on using it as a bbq gun, and an occasional shooting, then yes, the box and paperwork, kit would make a world of difference to me due to the current prices of model 27's..

 

[STCM(SW)]

What toad67 posted.

 

[austintexas]

They mean more to collectors than someone who is looking for a shooter.
SWCA 892

 

[stansdds]

Most people buy a firearm to shoot and will throw away or eventually lose the box, papers, and accessories. Since there are few vintage firearms that are still with their original box, papers, and accessories, collectors will pay a premium for these few firearms.

 

[Muss Muggins]

My opinion is that the gun is worth what the gun is worth, and I'm pretty sure value guides like the Blue Book base their estimated value on the gun, without consideration for anything else. Extras, like the box and papers, may add to the potential sale price.

Around these parts, more often than not, you have to deal with sellers trying to include holsters, cases, magazines and ammo with the deal. Mags and ammo may add a little to the value. Holsters definitely not, and cases depend on the brand. Doskocil, nah, Pelican, we'll talk . . .

 

[Old_Cop]

A gun with its original box and paperwork is worth more to me. The older the piece, the greater value. Now I can't give a dollar figure, it is something that you must judge for yourself.

 

[Babysitr]

Since the gun you mention will likely be an occasional shooter, $100, if its all there and unused. IMHO

 

[Sevens]

I don't think it's a simple matter to assess a dollar or even percentage figure for "original box and papers." The reality however is that if we're talking about guns that are 25+ years old or older, the original box & goodies makes a very large difference in marketability, and each particular person's opinion may be a valid opinion, but it doesn't trump what happens in the real-world marketplace.

That's demonstrated FACT, and some people just don't like it.

The original box & papers don't prove anything, but they offer up the idea that the gun was perhaps purchased new and tucked away, as if placed in a time capsule.

And the further back you go... the more the original box and papers can and typically does matter.

I agree with most who say that if you are shopping for a shooter that you will regularly use, the box doesn't have to mean anything to do, and you can feel free to ignore the addition of it and the uptick in price that it may add.

 

[glenwolde]

My opinion is that the gun is worth what the gun is worth, and I'm pretty sure value guides like the Blue Book base their estimated value on the gun, without consideration for anything else. Extras, like the box and papers, may add to the potential sale price.

Around these parts, more often than not, you have to deal with sellers trying to include holsters, cases, magazines and ammo with the deal. Mags and ammo may add a little to the value. Holsters definitely not, and cases depend on the brand. Doskocil, nah, Pelican, we'll talk . . .

If I have a bunch of magazines for a gun I'm selling, I sell them separately. I don't even mention them to the buyer. It seems like a guy will buy your gun and go pay retail for extra mags, but won't give you $5 for your mags. They seem to expect you to throw them in. I've never gotten any value for mags included in the sale but they sell fast on auction sites.

 

[Chubbo]

Original Boxes

Hi, folks:
Back in the circa late 1940 - 1950, my family and I were moving around a lot. A family could be legally evicted from their rental property, for having children or pets. We were asked to leave some of our rental properties because we had children, and had to comply. We didn't have the civil rights, protection that folks have today, and moved in with my folks, when we were evicted, until we found new residences. In the process my few original boxes that my few firearms came in were lost. For the ones of you that think that original boxes don't mean anything, are wrong. It would mean a lot to me to have those boxes. I made wood cases to replace those lost boxes, but, they are not the same. That's my feelings on the matter.
Chubbo

 

[Walter Rego]

I don't think the $100 figure given by a few is out of line. Things like an unopened tool set or an unused complete set with proper SAT can run up to $50 or more these days on ebay. An original, correctly date coded manual will be another $15 or so.

Then try to find the correctly labeled box for an early 70's 6" Model 27-2. It may take a while and when you do be prepared to spend another $50 or more.
And when it's all said & done you may have the correct "type" items but the box won't match the serial number.

I would say if the gun is within $100-$150 of current market value in your area all by itself, you might want to consider buying it.

 

[Ackley1952]

There are many instances/customers where the box will make a sale that wouldn’t have happened without. Whether shooter or safe queen the box is Always a plus .

 

[Eddietruett]

I think the older and rarer the gun would make more of a difference than it would on a newer gun. Personally I would rather have the correct original cardboard box than the wooden presentation case. There is only 1 correct box for a gun and you can buy a presentation case and put any gun in it.

 

[Dan Carey]

Here in New England, $100- $125 adder for box & paperwork (unless it's a wood presentation box, then it can be a $200- $250 adder).

On Pre 1980 guns.

 

[Speedo2]

SCSW4 offers the difference between "ANIB" and "Exc" at $150 ($900 - $750) for a standard production M27-3, which is pretty consistent with what others have postulated here.

I'll credit Mr.RBurg with the observation that such packages are worth more when separated rather then when kept together. He was referring to the odious practice of selling off grips, boxes, SAT's, etc. separate from the gun when trying to extract maximum profit from such an otherwise complete package. Collectors don't like that type of behavior. Most of us are of a somewhat frugal nature. -S2

 

[Green Frog]

I don't think it's a simple matter to assess a dollar or even percentage figure for "original box and papers." The reality however is that if we're talking about guns that are 25+ years old or older, the original box & goodies makes a very large difference in marketability, and each particular person's opinion may be a valid opinion, but it doesn't trump what happens in the real-world marketplace.

That's demonstrated FACT, and some people just don't like it.

The original box & papers don't prove anything, but they offer up the idea that the gun was perhaps purchased new and tucked away, as if placed in a time capsule.

And the further back you go... the more the original box and papers can and typically does matter.

I agree with most who say that if you are shopping for a shooter that you will regularly use, the box doesn't have to mean anything to do, and you can feel free to ignore the addition of it and the uptick in price that it may add.

As I was reading the various posts in this thread and formulating a response in my mind, I came to this post by one of my favorite numbers, and it turns out that my brother at arms #7 said almost word for word what I was thinking. All I need to do is nod my head and say "preach it brother!"

Froggie