icebear
Sako-addicted
I continue to be amazed by the enormous premiums brought by older guns that are (at least claimed to be) new in the original box. Certain collectors prize this cachet of untouched newness above all else. The latest Sako example is an AIII carbine in .270 that sold on Gunbroker for a few dollars under $2,000. Now that is a desirable specimen, but A-series guns in .270 or .30-06 are the most common of the Sako carbines. A .270 in excellent condition is, at most, a $1000-1200 gun. That puts the NIB premium over excellent at 60-100%. And a collector who has paid that kind of premium is unlikely to defile his prize by actually shooting it, as that would be a very expensive first shot. I sort of understand the mind-set, but I just can't wrap my head around the idea of paying double the going price for a gun in order to not shoot it. You have something similar in Colt single actions, where guns with an unturned cylinder bring a big premium. It really gives meaning to the expression "too valuable to shoot." Personally, I just won't pay that kind of premium for a gun that's NIB. I buy guns to shoot.
Here's a link to the .270.
https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/892590450
Here's a link to the .270.
https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/892590450