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Old 06-17-2013, 06:09 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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I don't think I could be anymore impressed than with that package. We just never know what's still 'out there'. Thanks for sharing that one! And the box paired with it is almost as impressive to me because it reads S&W .45 Special inside the lid and on the end label. Most of these that have surfaced have newer end labels stuck on top of the original 45 Spl label:



For those not familiar with the box's reason for existence and its history, its roots are pre-production S&W .45 Special Triple Locks chambered in '.45 S&W Special' (.45 Frankford) from 1906. They are mentioned in SCSW, 3rd, Pgs. 158 & 159 with more details here in this thread:
The Army Tests the Triple Lock in 1907

Smith & Wesson 1857-1945, by Neal & Jinks. Stated on pages 208-9 is this:

"In 1908 or 1909 [S&W] seriously considered introducing a model that was to be called the "45 Special." This cartridge was designed for use in the 44 Hand Ejector 1st Model [New Century]. The cartridge was a revolver cartridge developed for military use [earlier] at the Frankford Arsenal. The project progressed so far that the company actually made boxes for the gun, but it was never commercially sold.”

The boxes subsequently show up re-labeled with 44s and 455s shipped in them. As always, the factory wasted nothing.
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