Why are Uberti pistol boxes so flimsy?

I have several of those S&W blue boxes…

As for keeping boxes the guns came in, it makes it much easier for me to store. It’s easy to identify what is inside generally and select what you want. There is also the added layer of protection provided. No box, the item might get wrapped in an old T-shirt or rag.

Many years ago a friend who was a dealer and collector bought a commemorative rifle. He brought it to work to show me. It was still in the heavy brown paper shipping wrap. We were in the locker room. He took out his new prize and placed it the bench in front of the lockers. He was busy telling me all about the rifle. I told him I had just received the same rifle as a gift. I was cautioned by the gun dealer about the packaging when I picked mine up…

My friend in his excitement shredded the wrapping to reveal the box sleeve. He had a very slight difficulty sliding the sleeve off the inner box. So, he ripped the sleeve…covered in box art…off. I mentioned to him what the gun dealer told me about the packaging, and not to damage it. I told him the box art at the time was valued at $300.00 alone. My friend was sick….

So there you have it. Some do and some don’t.

Jedidiah said:

I think that those who obsess over the box the firearm comes in need to possibly rethink why? it is a box. The idea that the box somehow makes the firearm more valuable has always eluded me. I would not pay squat for a box. Just one mans opinion. That being said, my new Pietta from midway arrived yesterday and tha packing was excellent and the box was quite nice. There was a "packing" box, packing paper, then the Pietta Manuf. Box jacket,, then the internal box that was compartmentalized Styrofoam. All in all, a nice set up.

Click to expand...

The common consensus is if you took good care of the box, you probably took good care of the gun. (In my younger days I did a lot of horse-trading with guns.)

Nice box. How does it group?

Much of this thread is amazing. I can’t even …

BillinOregon said:

No one suggested this was important in the sustenance of human life. But when you receive a new product from Midway or some other vendor and it arrives in a carton that is falling apart before you even open it, one would think the manufacturer would make a simple alteration. No other manufacturer or firearms of airguns that I know of is so unconcerned with the quality of the packaging. It is also worth noting that, should you wish to trade or sell your Uberti or any other firearm, a common question from potential buyers is, do you still have the box.

Click to expand...

You always get that question. Box makes it easier to sell and it will bring a few dollars more.

If you think Italian gun boxes are rickety, try moving a piece of IKEA furniture.
Most only make it to the curb where they get a “Free to good home “ sign taped to them

Old-Duckman said:

What I have found most interesting about this thread is the apparent attitude of many of those who throw the box away. They seem to wear that as some kind of a badge of courage and look at those of us who keep our boxes as some kind of freaks.

Hey, if you don't care to keep the box, don't, who cares? I don't, in fact as I said in a earlier post, the more owners who discard their boxes, the more desirable my firearm, with original box, becomes to those buyers that might find it a plus (for whatever reason). Believe it or not box throwers...some buyers do find it desirable and I suppose some will pay a premium. So please, please throw your boxes away.

Click to expand...

It's a point of pride. I know it's conventional wisdom but sometimes conventional wisdom needs an enema. How many millions of 1851's and 1860's has Uberti produced? Are any of them collectible? Do you really think the boxes of today, that haven't changed in 30yrs, will some day be worth what a 100yr old Colt or S&W box is today?

No. Those old Colt, S&W and sometimes Ruger boxes are not valuable just because they're old. They're valuable because they're Colt, S&W and Ruger boxes from an era that is long passed. If a Uberti you've carried in a holster for 20 or 30yrs is ever a valuable collectible, it won't be in any of our lifetimes. I'm not going to waste valuable storage space holding onto 50 or 60 Uberti and Pietta boxes.

GYJ said:

It's a point of pride. I know it's conventional wisdom but sometimes conventional wisdom needs an enema. How many millions of 1851's and 1860's has Uberti produced? Are any of them collectible? Do you really think the boxes of today, that haven't changed in 30yrs, will some day be worth what a 100yr old Colt or S&W box is today?

No. Those old Colt, S&W and sometimes Ruger boxes are not valuable just because they're old. They're valuable because they're Colt, S&W and Ruger boxes from an era that is long passed. If a Uberti you've carried in a holster for 20 or 30yrs is ever a valuable collectible, it won't be in any of our lifetimes. I'm not going to waste valuable storage space holding onto 50 or 60 Uberti and Pietta boxes.

Click to expand...

Your point is understood and I, sadly, don’t have 50 or 60 Pietta and/or Uberti revolvers. However I still keep the boxes of those I do own. I have boxes for every firearm I have purchased since my early 30’s, prior to that I wasn’t in my current location so many of those are nowhere to be found. I keep them irrespective of the quality or cost of said firearm. And I do agree that for less expensive firearms the advantage of retaining the box is of less importance…but I do it anyway.

I have a 100+ year old Brunswick 4 1/2’ x 9’ pool table in my basement that I stash many of my boxes under, so they aren’t taking up space that would be used for much else, there is lots of room under that table! Long guns, on the other hand, those boxes obviously take up more space. I have a small room that I call “the box room” I am a bit of a hoarder. I tend to keep boxes from Amazon purchases, etc in the box room along with long gun boxes. The Amazon boxes eventually get recycled or burned and I sometimes regret even doing that when looking for an appropriate size box for the purpose at hand.

So yes I think your point is a valid one due to the relative cost of imported BP revolvers however in my case were I to purchase a used, import BP revolver, I would appreciate one that has the original box but would not pay a premium price just because the box comes along with the deal. But for an older high quality firearm I just might consider paying a bit extra in that case. I own 4 ROAs, two came with factory boxes, two without. Did the fact that two came with the box affect my decision to buy them, no, but it was a nice bonus and was appreciated. And of course I haven’t thrown them away!

BillinOregon said:

No one suggested this was important in the sustenance of human life. But when you receive a new product from Midway or some other vendor and it arrives in a carton that is falling apart before you even open it, one would think the manufacturer would make a simple alteration. No other manufacturer or firearms of airguns that I know of is so unconcerned with the quality of the packaging. It is also worth noting that, should you wish to trade or sell your Uberti or any other firearm, a common question from potential buyers is, do you still have the box.

Click to expand...

I would sy yes, I still have the box, and of you would like i,t add $50 to the price. See how much they want the box then!!! LOL,LOL,LOL

GYJ said:

It's a point of pride. I know it's conventional wisdom but sometimes conventional wisdom needs an enema. How many millions of 1851's and 1860's has Uberti produced? Are any of them collectible? Do you really think the boxes of today, that haven't changed in 30yrs, will some day be worth what a 100yr old Colt or S&W box is today?

No. Those old Colt, S&W and sometimes Ruger boxes are not valuable just because they're old. They're valuable because they're Colt, S&W and Ruger boxes from an era that is long passed. If a Uberti you've carried in a holster for 20 or 30yrs is ever a valuable collectible, it won't be in any of our lifetimes. I'm not going to waste valuable storage space holding onto 50 or 60 Uberti and Pietta boxes.

Click to expand...

I think you are correct. An old original S&W, Colt, Ruger or Winchester box may make some buyers pee themselves, but a Uberti or Pietta box? Just wait to you tell them how much it adds to the cost of the firearm! See how important it is then.

slwnbp said:

You always get that question. Box makes it easier to sell and it will bring a few dollars more.

Click to expand...

When I have looked at firearms with a box I always ask them to give me a price without the box!! LOL,LOL they usually can't do it! I tell them, " if the box is worth so much, you can sell it separately", otherwise it is not worth squat to me!

ZUG said:

Because it reflects the original owners care and pride in what he or she owns. When you take care of the firearm AND the box it came with then the new buyer has some feeling that the firearm has been taken care of also. Get real -- you don't like to keep the original box that fine - a LOT of people do like a used gun with its original box and YES - they will pay more when the gun has its original box. This comment is towards all of those that don't like to keep the original gun boxes. My two cents worth

Click to expand...

Like WC Fields was known to say..."there's one born every minute"!

Old-Duckman said:

I would appreciate one that has the original box but would not pay a premium price just because the box comes along with the deal.

Click to expand...

I would wager most people feel that way. Everybody says they want a box but few are willing to pay any extra for them. As I said before, I held onto every box for decades but eventually realized that I've never gotten more money out of a sale or trade because I had the box. I was, in effect, saving them for other people and they were taking up a lot of space. In the hot, humid South I know what happens to stuff left in the attic. It usually doesn't last long, especially cardboard so mine were always stored in a cooler, drier place.

Of course, relatively rare older collectible guns are the exception. I have a Single Six convertible from the 1960's that came with the box and paperwork. Of course, I'm keeping all that stuff, not only due to age but because it came from the collection of the late gunwriter Terry Murbach. I would not have paid a premium for it just to get the box.

I keep all boxes until my cat loses interest it.

CaptainVane said:

I keep all boxes until my cat loses interest it.
View attachment 291602

Click to expand...

LOL. Your cat has that look that says, "don't mess with my box!"

Jedidiah said:

LOL. Your cat has that look that says, "don't mess with my box!"

Click to expand...

We keep a small pile of Amazon boxes, when she loses interest in one we rotate them so she thinks its a new box. Keeps her entertained.

I have two nice Ruger Old Army. One without the box. The other is in the gray hard box. $800.00 your choice. Which one do you want?

I just wish their dang boxes would survive shipping. A pocket Colt flops around in there because the box is way too big, but on the other hand, a 1860 with 8" barrel barely fits and tears it open. When the box tears, the plastic bag sometimes tears too, so it all ends up an oily mess.

slwnbp said:

I have two nice Ruger Old Army. One without the box. The other is in the gray hard box. $800.00 your choice. Which one do you want?

Click to expand...

Do you really like the gray hard plastic box? Would you pay more for it? I wouldn't. I would take the ROA that is in the best overall condition, period.

Wow, a thread about boxes has keep people talking for four pages!

Phil Coffins said:

Wow, a thread about boxes has keep people talking for four pages!

Click to expand...

yup, that is what happens when its cold out ,and people are bored! LOL,