Increased value of an un-fired gun?

Yes, new in box and unfired are terms frequently used in gun sales. Whatever develops is between you and the buyer. To me it means nothing, I make an offer and if the seller accepts it's a deal done and we both come away happy. I don't look for new in box and unfired, matters not to me. Others may view this differently and a negotiated price will always come down to you and the buyer.

Ron

I think an unfired gun isn’t worth any more than a lightly fired gun. And actually less really. If it’s unfired you can’t say it works. If it’s lightly fired, a few boxes, you can say it works without malfunction. But I buy guns to use and not to collect for monetary gain.

When I received as a present a Nickle Plated Colt SAA .45 I was warned not only not to shoot it but not even to turn the cylinder as that would "lessen the value" of it. WHAT? I loaded it up with factory ammunition went outside and shot it.

In terms of a collector’s item, it adds value. Not so much in recent production.

I gladly pay a premium for a BN-NIB, especially if it an older or vintage gun. Within reason that is.

With common current production guns there is no difference in value. If it is an older collectible gun that was uncommon even when new, then unfired with factory tags on it will add considerably to value.

To a collector looking for that particular gun in an unfired, NIB condition, yes, it will command a better price.
I can only imagine what an unfired, NIB, early production model 1893 Marlin chambered in .38-55 would sell for at auction.

New and unfired. It would have to be at least 75-100 years old to really enhance the price.

wgp said:

In the past year I've bought some new guns that for one reason or another (mostly lack of ammo) have never yet been fired. I'm wondering what people would say is the likely effect of "new in box, unfired" status on a handgun's value. .

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With older guns it can add value. Just like selling that gun with the original box and papers. Having it unfired can be synonymous to preservation. So there's an appeal there.

I agree with all of the above.

I have bought 2 unfired, a 1968 and a 1969 Ruger Blackhawk.
Paid no more for them than any other BH.
They were purchased because of chambering.
Both have been fired, a lot, now.

Rare, collector arm; unfired adds worth.
Means nothing to me, I am a shooter, not collector.

"Unfired" mostly increases the likelihood of selling a newer gun. To that extent, it protects value, but does not increase it. I have noticed in the past few years that once favored collectible guns have stagnated, if not dropped, in value. There seems to be fewer collectors in the market. Younger shooters these days prefer ARs and 9s, etc. Most the gun mags sell new guns with no interest in "vintage" guns. I've recently helped people sell some guns and "new in box" almost always sells quicker than used, even with very low round count.

Poper said:

… I can only imagine what an unfired, NIB, early production model 1893 Marlin chambered in .38-55 would sell for at auction.

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The paradox is, all firearms are new production at some point.

I’d be more interested in a vintage gun that was in perfect condition, with a little bit of documented load data including targets with nice tight groups, than the same gun unfired. The show of accuracy potential sells more, to me atleast.

"whats's this?"
It's the fired case that some states require to be collected at the point of sale.
"fired from this gun? I thought it was new?"
It is new, they will function check the pistol at the factory and firing it is part of that.
"but I wanted a new, unfired Glock"
You'll never find one, Glock tests fires every gun before it leaves.
"Can I call Glock and swap it for an unfired one"

dogtown tom said:

"whats's this?"
It's the fired case that some states require to be collected at the point of sale.
"fired from this gun? I thought it was new?"
It is new, they will function check the pistol at the factory and firing it is part of that.
"but I wanted a new, unfired Glock"
You'll never find one, Glock tests fires every gun before it leaves.
"Can I call Glock and swap it for an unfired one"

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I had a brand new SW Shield that I was trying to sell and one guy didn't want it because it was "used" as it having been purchased by me makes it any more used than a display unit at a gun shop that multiple people have handled before you... I sold it to a different guy and used the cash to buy a 410 AR upper instead.

wgp said:

what people would say is the likely effect of

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Often, your best measure is how much would you, yourself pay for that condition?

Would it make a difference if it were one of your own, personal, "grail" guns, versus just something interesting?

Were you reading a listing for it, how much more would you pay.

This is probably the real measure of the thing.

I have seen jaw dropping prices for unfired Colt Pythons and Colt SAA revolvers. And then there are those prices for unfired Colt presentation Civil War era prices that are beyond crazy.

Some day, the nearly-last known unfired Glock 17 is going to be worth a bajillion piastas. . . which is cool, but I'm not waiting around that long.

From my personal experience an unfired gun can be a value handicap. I had a Walther PPS M2 that I never fired for several reasons not worth mentioning. Since it was new-in-the-box with all original items that came with it I thought I could get a good private sale deal. A couple prospective buyers balked because I had not fired it. Their concern was since it was never fired its functioning had not been tested. As we all know new guns can be a problem because of reduced checks from the factory. I did get one guy to buy it for my price by buying him an hour old range time and giving him 50 FMJ rounds. The gun worked flawlessly and he paid. The price, but I was out $20 for range time and the cost of 50 rounds that I had on hand. Live and learn.

I'm going to be "that guy." If it has proof marks, it HAS BEEN fired.
The concept of an "un-fired" gun is not even a real thing.

1942bull said:

From my personal experience an unfixed gun can be a value handicap.

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An "unfixed" gun? That would sure put a "handicap" on its value as far as I'm concerned.
Just kidding around, 1942bull. I know what you meant.

Great Value and great investments are what the baby boomer generation says....... there are flukes and the INSANE prices which firearms have commanded since 2020 are proof of just that.

Once the baby boomer generation is gone I have no idea who will buy lc Smith shotguns, unfired colt revolvers, commerative guns, and tell you don't open my gun at the check in station at a gun show.

Buy what makes you happy and use it and who cares what it is worth.

I have a 75 year old friend I speak with often and he has around 300 guns he bought as investments the last 45 years and he is mentally burdened by the task of selling them due to the current price trends. Always not enough money...... I would hate to carry that burden

KY DAN said:

Once the baby boomer generation is gone I have no idea who will buy lc Smith shotguns, unfired colt revolvers, commerative guns,

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I'm a "baby boomer" (74 next month) and I don't have any "lc Smith shotguns," any "unfired colt revolvers," nor any "commerative guns." Every gun I have, I bought to use, and I do - just for different things.
My wife, who is also a "baby boomer," has as many guns as I do, and she uses all of them too.

KY DAN said:

and tell you don't open my gun at the check in station at a gun show.

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I don't even know what that means.

KY DAN said:

Always not enough money...... I would hate to carry that burden

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My wife and I are not rich, but we're doing okay. At any rate, we've always been able to afford the guns we wanted. I don't know how many times I've stated on THR that I paid for my custom 308 Norma Magnum with my first two Social Security payments 12 years ago.
Your paintbrush is too wide, KY DAN.