This is one of those no right ~ no wrong type things. Had a brand new in the "sealed box" very early production Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum revolver. The only thing really known was that something in that box was sort of rattling around. Could have a been padded rock inside that carton?

Had the box for a little more than a year. It was suppose to be of the highest collector value being sealed in the factory original box. Every now and then, the carton would come down off the closet shelf . . held for a few seconds and then shaken a little. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! How marvelous!

Needless to say, I never physically saw that gun. One day a friend asked me to sell the unopened box with the dazzling Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum revolver supposedly inside. I'd grown tired of sniffing and shaking the box and sold the thing to him for a few bucks than I had paid. Was glad to be rid of it because, after thinking about it for awhile, the entire situation was totally stupid. Fact is . . . how much would the that NEW gun be "devalued" by taking it out of the box with wrapper and looking at it? Just the enjoyment of seeing it would probably more than offset any tentative asset
diminishment.

For all I can guess, that S&W wheel gun is probably still in the unopened box sitting on some guy's bedroom closet shelf.

On the other hand, the out in the open, excellent condition 1950 FTR - Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk 1/3 rifle has brought lots of enjoyment.