CMP M1D - To leave sealed or not

[Orlando]

Sell it to me, your dilemma is over

[browningautorifle]

Sell it to me

There you go...

[rayg]

You will lose money if you unwrap it and shoot it. Mint in the package and unfired as they were shipped from the arsenal rifles will always bring good money for those that collect those type rifles and it will only go up in value in later years.
On the other hand, it's fun to shoot those rifles and if you don't care on losing a few bucks, go ahead and shoot it. It's like a new car, you lose money the minute you drive it out of the dealership.
Personal, if I had other rifles to shoot, I would leave it unfired, or sell it and use the money to buy one to shoot that you wouldn't feel guilty about shooting and have money left over. Ray

[browningautorifle]

Mint in the package and unfired as they were shipped from the arsenal

This is from CMP not the arsenal.

[CINDERS]

Better to unpack it and check that the 18 years in the plastic has not done what it does well sweat and trap moisture the protective coatings may stop water but after 18 years and not looking at it I would expedite the unpacking and inspect clean and oil it it as if it has become dimpled or pitted what then 18 years of waiting just to have a.........

Like RT said someone's going to do it so why not have that singular pleasure yourself if your not going to sell it then what is the harm and to lose a few bucks cause it is unpacked big deal, imagine the sh*te selling it to a person they unpack it and find out it is not quite cochre, better state "as is where is" if you sell it

[Johnny Peppers]

Mine was received in 1995 or 96, but was still through the DCM, and was shipped from an arsenal.

If I had not opened it in this length of time, I would leave it sealed. Since you apparently have no desire to fire it, it will be worth more should you decide to sell it.

[Phrogpilot]

You will lower the value and collectable desirability if you take it out and oil it. If you ever sell it, you will get maximum return by keeping it dry and in the original packaging...

[WarPig1976]

When you get right down to it it's all relative. Do you buy a $5000.00+ Browning over/under only to keep it in the "original" packaging? No, you shoot the **** out of it especially downing clays. There's nothing rare about the rifle in question except it's still in its beat up packaging.
A couple hundred or even a thousand bucks is worth it to me for MY enjoyment,why should the next guy get to have all the fun....

[browningautorifle]

Provided it's cared for, it won't really devalue unless you (gasp!) shoot the barrel out of it...!

[Joe W]

For your answer to this question you only need to look at the "brand new", bone dry, M1 rifles uncovered at the GCA convention at CMP south in Oct. 2009, during the unpacking of the Greek Air Force M1's. These rifles have sold at auction for what, $ 5000.00, $ 6,000.00 ??? Remove the foil from the sights and oil them up and what do you think they would bring ? I think you would be lucky to get $ 1500.00 to a max of $ 2000.00.