T206 BVG crossover to PSA
 

Hey guys,
I have 3 cards graded by BVG Cobb/Red 2.5, Cobb/bat-off (Sovereign) 3.5, and Evers/Cubs 5.5... all of these look like they could possibly bump up 1/2 grade. Is it better to submit to PSA in the BVG holder or crack them out and submit. Thanks!
Alex

Alex, one question I would ask first-have you cracked a Beckett slab before? If you haven't, and decide to proceed with the crossover, I would send the cards as is. I wouldn't want to see you get hurt, or damage the cards. There may be an easy way to pop them open, but I've not seen it.

I personally have never cross graded from Beckett to PSA, so take this with a grain of salt. To the best of my recollection based on prior conversations on Net 54, Beckett is slightly more lenient when it comes to grading pre-war and vintage cards. Now, it's possible that has changed, and if you feel the cards are indeed undergraded, maybe you should give it a try.

I'll be interested to see what other forum members think. Good luck if you decide to proceed.

Personally, I've found undergraded cards in all three companies' holders. For PSA, I would crack before submitting, because they have a reputation of rejecting anything in another company's holder "just because." SGC and BVG tend to give the card itself a closer look regardless of whether it is in a holder or not. For GAI, CSA or others like that, it is very risky, but most likely PSA, SGC and BVG would all proceed extremely cautiously on any of them, so breaking them out raw is best, but be aware you stand a very high chance of getting it returned Altered.

Good luck any which way!

To break the holders, use a pair of bolt cutters (keep 'em sharp) and snip the top corners off. Then use a small flathead screwdriver to get in between and slowly pry apart the two halves all the way around the top. Be careful if you have to pry up the sides at all that you don't jam the screwdriver into the card. Usually just getting the top open is enough to pull the sides apart by hand.

I would remove it from the holder so the grader's opinion isn't influenced from the get go.