How to sell Old/Antique ammo?

[Xringshooter]

I was given a box filled with a bunch of stuff, including a lot of loose ammo (.45acp, 9mm, .38S&W, blanks). Sorted it, it's all antique, newest headstamp is 34. There were no original boxes so I put it in generic ammo boxes.

The .45s are 1917, 1918, and some look like 1934, 9mm 1916, 1917

How's the best way to price, best way to sell? I know most ammo collectors want the original boxes, but that won't happen. I just don't know where to how to price for this loose ammo.

Got a couple of good things out of the box also, one was a set of pre civil war officers spurs (authenticated by a civil war historian) and a lanyard 1911 magazine that showed all the correct metal coloring. Got $300 for the spurs and $100 for the magazine.

Here's some pics:

[Outpost75]

Single rounds would go at gun shows if you want to drag them around. You could also sell the lot on GunBroker and dealers in collector cartridges might bid to get individual samples they might sell to those wanting singles, without having to break up a box. They would not bring alot of money but you could set an opening bid price for the lot of about $1 per round and see if you get any bids.

[Xringshooter]

Good Info Outpost75. I'll probably go that route, just don't know whether to just start at $0.01 no reserve and see what it does or go with a starting bid, no reserve and see what happens.

[Outpost75]

Do a search for "vintage ammo" first and take a look at what is out there.

If it were me, I would put a minimum "starting" bid at $0.50 times the number of rounds, and a "Buy Now" price of $1/round for a 10 day auction and see if it draws any tire kickers.

[Xringshooter]

Well, it's on GB now, my "Buy It Now" is about $0.50 a round and an 11 day auction so it ends on a Sunday.

[too many things]

ammo is in good shape maybe some one has old box. would be best to wipe with good gun oil so it dont tarnish . its not for shooting so oil wont hurt it .

[Xringshooter]

ammo is in good shape maybe some one has old box. would be best to wipe with good gun oil so it dont tarnish . its not for shooting so oil wont hurt it .

People selling the boxes would probably want more for the boxes than the ammo is worth . Well, they've been sitting around for 100 years or so, so I don't think they'll tarnish any more than they already have.

I put them on Gunbroker, if they sell great, if not I'll have them relisted automatically and pull the ad if nothing happens in a few months. I'm not desperate to sell them, they've been sitting around for a while so I figured I'd ask around to find out how best to deal with them Worse case, I get tired of having them around and shoot them (or at least try to shoot them).

[salpal48]

I have been selling Collectors Cartridges for the past 40 years. Gun shows, cartridges Shows and alike. At one time There was a brisk market for them. Now Like coins, Stamps, electric Trains. cartridges are now Part of the dead Hobby
Go to a cartridge show, like myself It is a haven for Older people. who are Reliving past Glory. Cartridge Books Claim There worth . $5,10, 20, 100. Only Ultra Rare stuff sell. All the rest sits Because there are No young people Getting Into this hobby. Now there all worthless.
Many Guys come to me to sell Boxes Of stuff some good , some Junk, . I always pass Knowing That I will be dead Before It sells..
Get what you can and don't look Back

[2ndAmendmentNut]

What's the best way to legally ship ammo?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Xringshooter]

You can legally ship ammo via UPS. I've done it before it's not a big deal - EXCEPT - you must go to a UPS hub to do it, a UPS Store or other UPS franchised place won't. Luckily, my UPS hub is about a mile from my house.

[ascast]

what are the 5 rounds, blanks? look like 30-40 Krag, or 30 Gov. ?

[Xringshooter]

Those 5 rounds, I was told, were called 5 in 1 blanks. Apparently they could be fired in several different caliber guns. I haven't been able to find out any more but I haven't really been trying. Need to get back on it to see what I can find out.

[Xringshooter]

Here's what a quick search came up with:
From Wikipedia:

Five-in-One Blanks or 5-in-1 Blanks are blank cartridges which can be used in a variety of firearms. They are specifically made for theatrical use and are commonly used in real firearms for dramatic effect. Since the loud report and flash of ignition, and not the projection of a bullet, is the goal of the cartridge, it can be used in firearms with different sizes of bore.

5-in-1 Blanks can be used in firearms chambered for the .38-40 Winchester, .44-40 Winchester, and .45 Colt because, although the bores of the firearms differ in diameter, the chambers (which hold the cartridge in place) are of similar shape. They were called a 5-in-1 Blanks because, when they were originally introduced, there were no .45 Colt rifles, as such they could be fired in five different firearms commonly used in Hollywood Westerns: .38-40 and .44-40 Winchester rifles and .38-40, .44-40 and .45 Colt revolvers.

The cartridges could be loaded with different charges ranging from lower powered to indoor scenes and scenes around animals up to full charges for outdoor shooting.[1]

5-in-1 blanks are also called a 3-in-1 blanks for the three calibers .38-40, .44-40 and .45 Colt that they are fired from.

The 5-in-1 blanks in use today have been redesigned and are made with plastic cases which can be used not only in .38-40, .44-40 and .45 Colt calibers, but also .44 Special, .44 Magnum, and .410 Gauge firearms. They are available in Crimped and Open Ended/Balloon blank varieties and are made using Black Powder, Smokeless Powder and Half Load types. The Black Powder blanks produce not only a loud report and flash, but also a cloud of white smoke.

[ascast]

I am familiar with 5in1 blanks, common with the movie industry. Those five you have are ( I think) Frankford Aresenal 30=40 Krag, with month and year code in head stamp. That would be the old government arsenal, not the new private concern.
As such, I've never seen Krag blanks. Not that it means much, but somebody might be interested.
You can find boxes of Remington 5-1 blanks on gunbroker, etc.

[ascast]

ps most old cowboy movies etc use 92 Winchesters as they eat 5-1 blanks like the pistols.

[Geezer in NH]

Shipping today will cost more than the ammo is worth. Sorry single cartridge sales are done due to this. Sell at a show and hope for an offer IMHO.

Big auction house will move them but do not expect much from them. Local auction house may do better from the unknowing crowd.

[Xringshooter]

Shipping today will cost more than the ammo is worth. Sorry single cartridge sales are done due to this. Sell at a show and hope for an offer IMHO.

Big auction house will move them but do not expect much from them. Local auction house may do better from the unknowing crowd.

Yeah, I'm seeing this with the low number of views on GB and no bids. I'll probably pull the auction after it runs out this time and maybe just shoot the .45s and keep the other stuff with my small collection of different rounds I've picked up over the years. At some point I can get back into the woodworker mode and build a case and display them in my shop.