Not asking "what is it worth", but trying to get some opinions before doing something that can't be undone.

I obtained some four-pack 20 rounders dated Mar/Apr 64. Some of the packages had some storage damage, outer paper exposed to moisture, but plastic and foil below intact. Of the five that have been opened, four were four x Armalite marked floorplates, and one was four x shiny Colt .223 floorplates. I'm 99% sure there aren't any waffles... but 1% of me can dream.

I could understand an intact mint package, but due to the condition of the remaining packages, I'm not sure they have has much value remaining sealed yet unknown, versus if carefully slit open and identified and kept within the package.

I expect most will say open them, but I do plan to sell some off, and in my haste to part them out, am I denying a collector a sealed pack?

Break the seal or keep intact? Examples below...

I've been a military collector for 30+ years and stuff like this really bugs me.  What to do?  I almost always submit to the temptations.



I say go for it, see whats in it!

Pour yourself your favorite drink and then sit back and open those puppies up!

Dang yo.

I consider myself lucky to own one of those

I say keep them sealed.  There are only so many sealed packages out there. From what I understand. The waffle mags were in individual boxes anyway. Plus, if you are really curious, you can tell by weighing the packages whether they are steel waffle mags or aluminum non-waffle mags.

Perhaps open some of the damaged ones and leave the nicer looking ones sealed? That way you may be able to sell some of the known mags that didn't have pretty packaging to those who wouldn't have kept them in the packing anyways and can sell the sealed ones to collectors who want them that way. Seems like win-win but I'm not the best to ask on this!

I'm not too much of a collector and have even gone out of my way to get repro's (my M1911A1 for example) so I can enjoy them functionally. Retro mag wise, I am plenty content with the Brownells' 20-rounders for just this reason. They get scratched up and tossed around, who cares? In contrast, if I do that with the E-Lander mags that I use in some of my other rifles (they look so terrible in the retros), you'll break glass, toes, or put holes in drywall because you didn't think the mag would flick-out that far.

Unless you are going to have them entombed with your body, like King Tut, somebody somewhere is going to open them.  Might as well be you.

Save the wrapping to prove they were grouped at the factory.

Leave them sealed. There are already hundreds of thousands if not millions of already opened mags. Not near as many still sealed. They will increase in value over time.

Keep them sealed.

Sealed OEM packaging, even in shitty condition, is a big deal to collectors of, well, anything.

If you open them you're going to find 4 20 round magazines.
Basically just like the ones you can buy all over for $15.

NOT the ones he has pictured! Better add $$$$ per mag. LOOK AT THE PICTURE! Armalite marked floorplates

I have to agree with M16indiana. Keep them sealed. There are very few left in the package. In the future there will be fewer still. Each time those few change hands some of them will be opened and the value of those which remain unopened will increase.

I get that, what I'm saying is that while they carry a premium for being original colt / armalite mags, that premium is increased if they're still in the OEM packaging.
So why open them when you can go buy current production 20 round shooters for $15 all day long.
There is zero benefit in opening those packages.

You wouldn't be asking this question if they were open so the answer is SEALED !

Leave the shiny candy like button alone.

Op thanks very much for sharing.  Very cool find.

Think I'd leave them sealed.  As stated you should be able to tell if actually a waffle (magnet) but they were probably done by 1964.

The Armalite's you have already opened are about as good as it gets and probably a lot more rare than the waffle mags just not as much collectible valuable today.  Still an easy $100 all day long and probably much more.  Great condition and great for display items.  As stated there simply aren't any of those still in the wrap.  Consider yourself very lucky.  

Were the Colt 223 circle in 1 mags on bottom left side? Just curious for chronological time frame.

With that said at my age I'd simply unload them as I have done with most all my similar pieces since I never felt right about shooting any of them.  I'd simply let someone younger enjoy them as I had for a few years or those who actually served during that time frame as a retribution / commemorative gift.

Not so much about the coins to me but still comes into play today more than ever.  Figure I had $5ea in mine and gave more away to a lucky few than I ever sold.  Boiled down to the people who had done me right got them for free in one sense but they also paid what I was asking and I simply threw them in the box.  I've always treated people the way I expect to be treated and that is seldom the case today.

Seeing those reminds me of a member here who gave his word to sell me an item for a specific price and after I had sent  items in good faith like mags and such I kept getting one lie after the other until the item somehow ended up in another member's hands and original agreed upon  price tripled.  A man is only as good as his word or that's how it used to be anyway.  

Think you should do what you want and asking here is kinda like a big tease to many although retro cool as it gets.

Thanks for the inputs.

I know it can be interpreted as drumming up interest for a sale, or teasing folks, but I have been really curious how folks felt about breaking a seal on a sealed, new old stock, retro item. I've sat on these for a long time and have always wanted to bring it up without sounding like a shill, though of course, I intend to sell most as I am *trying* to be a 'not more than one' collector of things and know that folks are always on the hunt for that elusive part.

I'm always been stuck in both frames of mind and can see both sides - dwindling number that once done can't be undone, but also that not everyone wants a sealed pack of intangible mags that cost much more than a single mag that they can actually display.

Thanks for the input on waffles, that has been the strongest temptation to break the seal and expect it would be to others.

I'd leave them sealed, if you need them some day then break them open, but right now there are plenty of mags in circulation to use, or display.

You probably paid more for t-paper over that last two years than what their worth to a collector.. Looking at the outside profile in the picture not waffles,,,

THE BIG, RED CANNNDY-LIKE BUTTON?????









 

My two cents would be open them IF you will use them, otherwise leave them.

I remember a few years ago there were several threads about guys that had obtained rifles sent home from WWII, 'bring backs'.
The GIs never returned themselves or for whatever reason the packages were never opened and sat in the attic for 60+ years. So someone x-rays the box confirming there is an Arisaka inside but wondering if they should open it or will that destroy the collectors value? Meanwhile the rifle could be rusting away inside an old wooden box.

I always wondered what the collector value was of something you couldn't see or hold? This stuff can get ridiculous and drive you nuts.
But, I'm a shooter not a  collector so if I need something to keep me shooting, I'd be inclined to open it.
Someone somewhere will have the last unopened  ________  but it probably won't be me.

you can never un-open them, if you NEED them opened, then open them.
if you don't, then don't.