If I get a box and papers with a gun, I keep them as I often get asked for them when selling the gun later. Makes the sale happen too, sometimes.
But if I dont get the box and papers, its no big deal.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
For personal collection, how much do you value box and manual?
And target when applicable, if you had no intentions of ever selling, would you say 200$?

I know it depends on the gun, so let's say current production. Not a collectible.

The gun will be sold at some point, by me or my heirs, and the original box and papers will add value (I think at least 10-15%) So I keep them.

I'm looking at a P229 SSE, and looks like I can get without the box for about 150 less. I drive that have it all original but I think for that price I can find an old box later and just be happy with it.

Zero.

Just more crap for me to store.

I toss it all pretty soon after deciding to keep something.

I keep all boxes and papers with a gun purchase. Circe 1998 I bought a Colt Python with its box and sold it on Gunbroker in 2008. I am sure the box added to what I eventually got for it, but I can't tell you how much. Nothing I have currently is, or is likely to be, a collector's item, but it can't hurt to keep the boxes.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
And target when applicable, if you had no intentions of ever selling, would you say 200$?

I know it depends on the gun, so let's say current production. Not a collectible.

How about $0.00.
While I do keep boxes of guns bought new, and no doubt my heirs will appreciate it, I attach no value to them for my own part.

I don't know that I value them but I do keep them.
Every firearm I own has a box, manual, lock, chamber flag in some cases and target if included.
I doubt I'll sell anything but if I did, the buyer might appreciate those items.

Hard plastic, padded boxes are handy to ship the gun in. They are already reinforced and padded, so all you need is a box to put the box in.

I like to have the box and papers on firearms in my collection. I value them typically between $20 and $200 depending on the firearm. I have some that don’t have boxes for a number of reasons and on modern guns it really just doesn’t matter much today.

Here’s a perfect example of a box dilemma that doesn’t make sense. At one point I had 5 S&W 686 CS-1 revolvers (4 3 inch, and 1 4 inch8). The Custom Service turn in guns would not have boxes and the over runs would. I sold one of my 3 inch guns to a retired Customs Service agent that carried that specific model as a newly minted agent. I currently have a box for one 3 inch and the 4 inch and that supposedly makes them more valuable, but does it really? It’s impossible to really tell if a model was issued or sold commercially. Many people speculate based on stamping, but my research indicates it is not accurate. I bet if I sold them at auction the boxed ones would fetch more money, I did not pay a premium for either.

It used to be, some listings in The Blue Book of Gun Values said to add x amount or such if original box etc were included.

I too like to have the factory box and any other items that came with gun... if possible. I have no plan to sell or trade any of my handguns but I still like to have the factory box. This to point that a few I've acquired I had to later actually buy a box to go with them.

As a side note and what I realized was a joke on me: about a year or so ago I thought the Sig pistols I had bought over the last year or two were a secret I was keeping from my wife. Then one day I realized that the factory boxes they came in I had stored over the cabinets in our combined storage area in our house.... where we keep spare food in cabinets and a freezer. Here is the sig pistol factory boxes....

The red tape means there are spare extra magazines inside.

It all depends if the item is going to be shot a lot, or modified. IF so, I prefer not to incorporate any weight into the box, papers, targets (if it has it) and tools.

If the item is going to be shot little or a collection piece then Yes I do put weight on all those ancillary items.

For instance.
P228 I plan to carry (and I am pulling numbers out my ass) I would pay up to 650 wooden duckets.

A P228 that I want to pick ANIB, and shoot rarely, I would pay up to 1100 to 1400 wooden duckets. From my final price dependant on condition of the firearm, I would subtract up to 35% in total for any of those ancillary items that are missing.

I keep all my boxes as it helps for resale and I like to keep everything that comes from the factory anyway. As far as value, most I’d say are about 20-30 bucks worth maybe, but I do have the camo case that came with my HK Mark 23 from 1997 that alone has been valued at $300+ so I’m glad I keep the cases!

I prefer to have all the "stuff" that originally came with a gun, but I won't pay extra for those items when buying a gun. If it doesn't have them, well so be it; I'm buying the gun, not ancillary items!

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
For personal collection, how much do you value box and manual?

And target when applicable, if you had no intentions of ever selling, would you say 200$?

I know it depends on the gun, so let's say current production. Not a collectible.

In that case, not a whole lot, maybe 20 dollars top. But, I'm not sure why it matters, since you're not going to ever sell it.

i can't recall how many times i said i'd "never sell/trade" a firearm when i sold them!!

Does not add much value to me. I keep all boxes and manuals but rarely look at them. If it did not help with a sale, I may not even keep them.

If I do not plan to sell then it does not mean much to me. I look at some of the most expensive and impressive guns I've purchased and none came with a box.

Even current production garden variety guns I keep the box and papers.
I tend to change guns as often as socks, so when it comes time to sell,I think the buyer perceives a current owner with all original box and papers likely took very good care of the gun, or did not shoot it much.
While I can’t say it adds value at sale time, I think it may convince a buyer to purchase who might otherwise be on the fence

The factory cases are not huge, and are a good place to store original parts in. Why people get rid of them is beyond me, but not a deal breaker if I want to buy a gun without one. Not worth what people sell them for!