hi all I’ve been here for research a few times but never joined. Well I have this 400a that I bought and it’s brand new so I’m hesitant to use it as it may be worth something to a collector but not really to me. I have some old lanterns but not much of a stove guy. So the question is “should I use it or save it and buy a new one and use that” or just get my old military style stove to work? Thanks.
Welcome to CCS! How old is the 400? I would probably sell the unfired one to someone who is looking for such a specimen and buy a used one to....use. Lots of good inexpensive examples are available. I think I paid $15 for mine in perfect working order. Then also get your military burner working.
They were made for burning. They're not ornaments. If you need a stove, this is one of the best ever made. If you don't really need a stove you should probably sell it. Tron
At this point the 400A is not a rare stove. Even unfired I doubt it is worth very much more than a good condition used one. If you like this model and would like to use it, I say go for it. That way you know the stove has not been abused with car gas. The little you would gain by selling and buying another one is not worth the hassle. Brad
This is why I don’t buy unfired stoves. Also why I consider myself an enthusiast not a collector. It would drive me nuts having a stove that I haven’t used. But then again I’m the type of guy that would do this.
If we are voting, I cast mine with BradB who stated the case very well. Much more eloquently than I would have, which would have been along the lines of "Fer cryin' out loud, it's a cheap-ass mass-production Coleman. It's a great stove and it ain't worth squat. Burn it!"
I wouldn't hesitate to use a new 400. But if indeed you intend to simply sell it, then unfired you'd get a few more bucks for it; but small bucks.
Howdy, @Seabee1 , Welcome to CCS! @BradB gave you the straight poop on the 400A. I LOVE that stove, and have several of them, "just because", including an unfired one. However, if all I had was the unfired 400A, I would fire it up, straight away, and use it regularly! It's one of the best Coleman backpacking stoves, if a tad heavy, ever made, IMHO!! It's not worth much on the collector's market, unless you find someone for whom having an unfired 400A would be important. But, as a gauge, though I have an unfired 400A, and like having it, I would not pay a premium for such a stove, if I were looking for one today. And, that's coming from someone who thinks the power and simmering abilities of the 400A blows the doors off of the majority of stoves on the market today!! For what's it's worth..... keep it, and enjoy using it, or sell if, IF you have no plans on using it. Just don't expect to make much cash, if you sell it. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Pay No attention to what these old Gassers have to say. The 400 Coleman stove is getting rarer and harder to find in NIB unfired condition. It is relative to how much money you have to spend. The 400 stove is a very well constructed and powerful small compact stove for its era and is still viable today. 50.00$ and up on the E-Bay is common but hard to find in new condition. The valve and generator is still available at OldColemanParts but the rest are gone. I have several of the 400 series and each are very nice operating stoves. Any collector would be happy to own a new unfired 400.
My personal opinion is that stoves are meant to be used and I don't understand the unfired thing. Crank it up and make coffee and pancakes on it. I wouldn't have a Ferrari I couldn't drive either. That opinion aside, I know there are plenty who do value unfired status in a stove. If we fire all the stoves now because they're common and cheap, there won't be any unfired ones later. The one valuable unfired stove I came across, I passed on to someone who would appreciate it. I did come across another unfired example, still in current production and can be purchased brand new today, which I fired and use.
Whatever. As a collector I say leave it unfired, there are fewer and fewer. If you need a stove, use it. But, if all you are going to do is light it and never use it again, let another member, or a Coleman collector have it.
I have a well used brown 400 and a new, in box 400A. I value both, in different ways. The brown 400 has been a virtual life saver at times (hot drinks or meals, in very bad weather). The 400A is in pristine condition, and has a certain "beauty" in the right light. If your 400A remains NIB, I would consider bidding for it at auction, along with other collectors. I value used and unused stoves as a user and collector of such. Cheers Simon Foxxx New Zealand
