Storing Gun Boxes- or not?

[eddiememphis]

Most guns come in a plastic case full of foam.

When guns are posted for sale, I often see it mentioned that the "original case" is included. This makes sense on a collectable or potentially collectable firearm.

Is a Glock 19 worth more because it has a case?

I can see that if someone (certainly not me) were to own multiple firearms, these cases would begin to take up a lot of space.

Do you guys keep the cases? Do you store the guns in them?

If you keep the guns in a safe or in a display, what do you do with all the plastic boxes?



I realize it's a pretty stupid question since they don't take up an enormous amount of room but I am paring down all the crap I own in anticipation of moving and looking to jettison superfluous items.

However, is it all academic since I don't own any guns. Hear me ATF? ZERO guns in this household.

[Clint45]

Honestly, I tossed out most of mine,

[def90]

My Glock came in a plastic gun case, that's what I use when I go to the range. Is that the box you are asking about or some other cardboard box that the whole thing may have originally shipped in?

[Scanker19]

I don’t think boxes add value per se. if anything unless it’s a nice pelican type case, it would make it more desirable given two identical items save for the box.
Personally I have this weird OCD thing about boxes. I keep all boxes to things. Well high dollar things. Good place to ensure you do not lose the manual, receipt, etc….
However comma, they are big and bulky, so if it’s a cheaper gun or crappy cardboard box (looking at you Henry) I cut the S/N off and destroy the box after about a year. I’m also one of those people that keep all factory items forever. So those boxes make good places to store stocks should you upgrade or what have you.

Hard boxes like Glock boxes I keep. They don’t take up much room, and these cheap fucks down here in NM that want to nickel and dime you over $10, well they don’t get no fucking box, manual, or even the lock. Then they make good boxes for speciality tools, i.e. sight pushers, torque drivers, or spare parts boxes. They stack nice and look fun.

[XJ]

My boxes all floated away when the boat sank [Sarcasm2]

[Doc45]

For the older S&W and Colt revolvers (& older Colt 1911 pistols) the original matching boxes absolutely add value. For modern plastic fantastic or current production items I don’t think the box adds much if anything. I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn last night but just what I’ve observed.

[JohnnyEgo]

I would chuck them in theory, as I don't often sell guns and the boxes just take up space. But that would be against my hoarding nature, so instead I just shove them all in the attic and hope the drywall holds.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

As with cameras, it shows that it probably wasn’t stolen. I think it matters less with guns.

[BPTactical]

Depends on the firearm. When I bought my 6920 waaaay back when they were hard to find and collectible. This one did not have the box, documentation nor factory mag.
That provided me with a serious bargaining chip as far as the price.
A vintage Python with the box and papers will always bring more.
Norinco type 56 with the box and all accessories? Big price booster.

Generic Remington 700? Meh.

[bczandm]

I always save the box unless I am short on room. In most situations it adds value or can help make the sale look “better” to the next buyer.

[Little Dutch]

If there are two identical firearms side-by-side and one has a case, I'd honestly take the one without the case. I still have half a dozen factory rifle boxes and 20-30 factory pistol boxes on a shelf, but I've simply tossed the vast majority of my boxes.

An original factory box add near zero value. It's possible that to the right buyer, at the right place, at the right time, with the right firearm, the box may make the firearm more attractive. But very few people actually care, and fewer still want to store the box. They take up too much space in the safe. A possible exception is the CMP cases. For some reason people are super willing to pay top dollar for an item that comes with proof that last month the seller only paid half of what they are reselling that M1 Garand at...

[h2so4]

I save mine when I can. Of course, the glock box dosnt matter nearly as much as that colt Python or even a new $1,500
Rifle.

[Tor Larson]

Depends on the gun. Boxes are worth quite a bit to hard core collectors. I have seen Winchester cardboard boxes go for $50-$150 so the collector can have an original box. An FN/FAL in original Belgian box- hell yes. An HK 91 in box with inserts-hell yes. I went to an auction a few years back and the “hoarder” had 100 cardboard boxes from early Rugers, Winchesters, S&Ws. Boxes were going faster than the guns. Recently, I have seen that crappy early Glock box going for a premium. Weird, but serious collectors are an odd lot.

[rondog]

I'd say keep 'em if you can, but I'd also think it depends on the firearm. The cardboard box your Rossi or Henry came in, probably not. But I do have a lot of the plastic gun boxes/cases the new ones came in stashed away.

[eddiememphis]

Recently, I have seen that crappy early Glock box going for a premium. Weird, but serious collectors are an odd lot.

Really?

I have one of the old Glock "tupperware" boxes. It's full of miscellaneous junk. Maybe I should sell it and buy a Porsche.

[kidicarus13]

Really?

I have one of the old Glock "tupperware" boxes. It's full of miscellaneous junk. Maybe I should sell it and buy a Porsche.https://www.gunbroker.com/item/956516123

[eddiememphis]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/956516123

$450??? That's insane.

Worth more than the gun.

[Oscar77]

I'm with the other commentors:

A rare or old gun........yes I keep it. It adds value or sale appeal.
Your average gun........ no.

[SouthPaw]

I save every, single, one. Plastic, cardboard, zip up cases, etc. Literally a closest full of them.. lol.

[JoeRoss]

Cardboard or plastic boxes makes it easier to stack more of them in the safe.

A friend of mine used to buy empty factory boxes (as stated above) for outrageous amounts of money. He wanted the box for every gun he had.

[SideShow Bob]

I save every, single, one. Plastic, cardboard, zip up cases, etc. Literally a closest full of them.. lol.


That was what I was like, til the floods of ‘13.
The plastic cases flowed out the busted windows,The cardboard boxes turned to mush after the basement was pumped out and the last I saw of my safe, it was bobbing down the river headed NE toward Nebraska.

[mb504]

Cardboard or plastic boxes makes it easier to stack more of them in the safe.

A friend of mine used to buy empty factory boxes (as stated above) for outrageous amounts of money. He wanted the box for every gun he had.

I'm guessing he wants an original OEM box. If he just wants boxes, he should talk to a local gun store or home FFL. They will have lots of extra boxes.

[wctriumph]

I keep the boxes and most of my pistols are kept in the case or box, in the safe and for transport/ range use. The exception is older guns in cardboard boxes. I store the boxes on a shelf in a closet and keep the guns in a padded soft case. Older ones that didn?t have a box when acquired live in hard cases that were picked up here and there, mostly those cheap black plastic ones with the sliding latches. Same thing with rifles.

[clodhopper]

I keep one pistol box and one rifle box. These get upgraded if the newest purchase is bigger or better than the current stored box. Havent had the need to use them so far, but felt it prudent to have at least one jic.

[rondog]

My problem is ammo boxes. I find a lot of them at the range when I'm gathering brass, and the ones in pristine condition always seem to come home with me. I have too many, WAY too many, and I don't "need" ANY of them! I'm just a friggin' packrat.

If anybody wants a shitload of factory ammo boxes in just about any cal, hit me up. Don't need 'em, don't want 'em, too damn cheap to throw 'em away. But I'll GIVE them away!

[ray1970]

If anybody wants a shitload of factory ammo boxes in just about any cal, hit me up. Don't need 'em, don't want 'em, too damn cheap to throw 'em away. But I'll GIVE them away!

I?ll help you out by taking them off your hands. What I need you to do is put them in your trash can and set it out by the curb on your normal trash day and I?ll send a guy in a large truck to come pick them up.

[fj605]

I'm probably not keeping any cardboard boxes but will keep most plastic cases.