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Posted: 1/14/2011 9:38:23 PM EDT
| I'm interested in how many people might want to buy styrofoam inserts. I'm looking for a manufacture to make exact copies of the styrofoam and I'm sure if I find a company they'll have to make a large number to make it feasible. What would you be willing to pay for such? Thanks for your input |
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Depending on the quality of the repro, its interesting, I have an AK Bullpup, the original Norinco one, not the newer knock offs, and I would pay 100 or more for a good duplicate foam and box, more for an original factory one. Frick, I've got a Norinco 86s new in the box also. I don't think I'd have that insert made if I can have any made. I'm leaning toward an underfolder insert first because the PolyTech boxes are available and generally speaking, underfolders are commanding such a premium price more people are likely to spend some money for an original type box. I'll likely then try to get a full length made. The 86s insert will only fit the 86s. I figure the underfolder insert could be used for the sidefolders too. I think I'd pay 100.00 also for the correct insert and box but I just can't find any thats why I've come up with this idea. 
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One thought I had, and if it works, you can pay me some of the royalties, was trying to find information on the companies in China, who made the originals, just to see if any old stock was available, or, if they were reproduceable, the problem being of course, probably a very limited market.
A domestic company, that perhaps did cardboard prototyping, might be a start for the boxes, and the styrofoam, if you could just get the raw sheets and an electric foam cutter to slice them out, after templating them, even by hand, would probably be doable. There were pretty crude, at least all the ones I saw were. |
| I don't understand why someone would want to buy a styrofoam box which would only be used to try to get the max price when selling a gun as original with box & insert. Would these sellers be honest & state in the ad that the insert is brand new & not the one the gun was shipped in? To me this would be like selling a 70 Chevelle LS6 with a crate engine & stamping the original engine codes & vin on the crate motor. Deception? GARY N4KVE |
| I just like to have mine in the box with all the accessories as they came with. The box and styrofoam get messed up easily over time. I have no plans of selling any of the AK's I care to keep in the box. I wouldn't dream of putting my NIB Legends in the safe to get scratched. |
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I don't understand why someone would want to buy a styrofoam box which would only be used to try to get the max price when selling a gun as original with box & insert. Would these sellers be honest & state in the ad that the insert is brand new & not the one the gun was shipped in? To me this would be like selling a 70 Chevelle LS6 with a crate engine & stamping the original engine codes & vin on the crate motor. Deception? GARY N4KVE That's definately one of the things to watch for should reproductions be made. It shouldn't increase the overall value or price of the rifle/accessories but some folks may not be so kind as to state the originality of the set-up and eventually it'll be believed to be original. In all honestly, some kind of small identifier should probably be created on the new-made styrofoam insert to separate them for originals. |
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I just like to have mine in the box with all the accessories as they came with. The box and styrofoam get messed up easily over time. I have no plans of selling any of the AK's I care to keep in the box. I wouldn't dream of putting my NIB Legends in the safe to get scratched. A new in box Legend would already have a Styrofoam box, so why would you need to make another? 
If i had a the Styrofoam box for every gun i had, I wouldn't need a safe, I would need bank. 
As far as gun storage, you can use gun socks to protect guns from rubbing one another. The other is to use soft tactical rifle case. They will protect better (ak's have shape bolts handles and bayonet mounts) but will take up more space in the safe, and cost about $30 each. |
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I see somewhat of a difference between an overstamped classic car motor, and a piece of styrofoam.
There would be no way to exactly duplicate the box, and the printing, which would be the really hard part. I could do a good job on a piece of foam given enough time with a milling machine or a hot knife to do the styrofoam. |
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I'll give you 200 for the box and styrofoam, wanna sell?? http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/JacksBlackToys/248.jpg |
Im in. What price? I need one for a Polytech side folder.
| I find it extremely odd that people are willing to pay for a repro styro box. To each their own for whatever reasons but that's just damn strange. I'll continue to put money into quality guns and ammo to feed them, ya'll can buy all the foam inserts ya want, knock yourself out. |
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I find it extremely odd that people are willing to pay for a repro styro box. To each their own for whatever reasons but that's just damn strange. I'll continue to put money into quality guns and ammo to feed them, ya'll can buy all the foam inserts ya want, knock yourself out. That's true. The problem will be that if reproduction inserts become available, how many folks are going to pass them off/not mention they're reproduction when doing a potential sale. 
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Why would one have the "original box" and no insert? Having said that, if one were to try to deceive a buyer w/one of these repro inserts, wouldn't the potential buyer have enough sense to know whether or not the box is legit or not. Those Polyparts/GB boxes are passed off as original all the time. Guys buying Poly's/Norinco's or any other chicom prebans for collector purposes know what they are buying for the most part, and having the "original" box/insert and accessories is a plus.
Though if these do become available, I will be down for two for my own collection, not to pass off as an original. 4T4 |
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This thread is funny.
Years ago, I bought a Mak90 from a guy in a parking lot, at a gun shop. It was wrapped in a beach towel and in his trunk when he showed it to me. It was also crazy clean and unfired. I gave him $450 for it as is. He even threw in the towel. 
I don't think the styrofoam would make that much difference in the long run, and it seems like a hassle to find/make them. Is it really worth the extra $100 you might get trying to fool someone into thinking it's never been used? I'm hardly a collector.. so don't take my opinion too seriously.
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Every day, there's new folks getting interested in the hobby. Some enjoy starting out with shooters; others want to go straight to investment-grade rifles. Some folks wouldn't be that read-up on every original nuance of the rifles. And it could be where someone who paid a $100 for reproduction inserts to complete a bare box might add that $100 or more to the sale value.
Those inserts would be great for someone who simply just wants them - either to complete a look or to protect their rifle iin a box. I think it's a good idea either way as long as they're not too expensive. |
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Really.
Who's gonna care whether or not the foam tray is original, all the value is in the gun. Oh what the hell am I saying. If there's someone out there anal enough to want a foam tray then they're surely anal enough to insist that it be the ORIGINAL foam tray. It's a sad day when such importance is placed on such a mundane and unimportant item as this. I feel stupid even commenting on this thread so I think, despite is humorous silliness, that I'll try to forget it even exists. |
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wanting or not wanting a foam box insert is just a matter of preference.
kinda like some who insist on a perfect flawless AK that is just for looking at... or others that could care less about how it looks and more about how it shoots. we are all built a little different and have different views,if someone wants a foam insert then by all means buy one. |
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So I hope the guy who makes these inserts has a big "2011" marked on the backside so there is no confusion, or deception. GARY N4KVE What does it matter. 44 So an unscrupulous seller can't use a new insert to try to boost the value of a gun by a couple of hundred $. GARY N4KVE |
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So I hope the guy who makes these inserts has a big "2011" marked on the backside so there is no confusion, or deception. GARY N4KVE What does it matter. 44 So an unscrupulous seller can't use a new insert to try to boost the value of a gun by a couple of hundred $. GARY N4KVE Again, what does it matter to you. Dealers are doing it now, chicom mags being sold as yugo etc, chicom drummies being sold as bulgarian etc, russian kits being sold as bulgarian... It really doesn't matter in the whole scheme of things if someone on GB gets another $150 for his preban Polytech because he has an insert or not. I really don't see the point in wondering what other people are doing or what their true intentions are, as long as you are walking the right side of the line then you should rest easy at night. 44 |
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Maybe I don't want to be on the receiving end of one of those scams. GARY N4KVE C'mon you've been around long enough to know the difference. Again, if someone is going out to try to get a replacement foam insert, chances are he/she doesn't have the original box to begin with and has one of those common boxes off GB. I've said it before, guys who are looking for NIB Preban Chicoms for the most part have done their homework. I myself think its a decent idea, if it does come to pass I would prolly pick up two of them to go with my two boxes I bought from Polyparts some time ago. (JUST 4 PERSONAL USE)... I'm done, this poor guys thread has gone way off topic for no real reason. 44 |
| Wow this thread has gone crazy. I just had the idea of reproducing the inserts for my own use then quickly figured out I'd have to have more than I could ever want to make it feasible. I never even thought about people buying one to pass off as original. And even if they did, I don't really see how the styrofoam being original Chinese or a close copy could make a gun worth more than maybe $50.00. Anyway to put all these people to rest about being scammed into buying a gun with a copy insert, the guy who I've been talking to about making them says the best and/or closest material he has to make the inserts from would be about like those swimming pool "noodles" are made from. It's much denser which would hold up better and not close enough to the original material for anyone to mistake. At this point, I'm not really sure I'll even have them made because the price is more than I want to spend and that doesn't include the cost of a cardboard box to ship them in. Last word from him was he would "quote" me a price on the box's which sounds expensive. I think it comes down to the number I want made isn't really worth their time and it's still more than I want to spend so we'll see. |
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