Hello Members, Can anyone tell me something about this old S&W box. I purchased it the other day with a revolver in it but i dont think it came from the factory in this box.Any ideas about mfg. period or what originally came in it would be interesting. thanks Oh yeah, ,the gun that was in it was a 1954 K-32 Masterpiece.

i have never seen anything like it. it's cool lookin

The box is indeed neat to see, but man oh man what a find inside!!

You are going to be told that is a "Saleman's Sample" case from the early 50's. That story has been floating around for decades.
Roy has actually said the factory toyed with the idea of shipping K Masterpieces in them in the 50's. They had a bunch made up, but for some reason scrapped the idea. Possibly because they chipped so easily, both inside and out. They appear to be made of the same basic material as masonite. They are usually a metallic blue, but I have seen very dark blue/black.
They were later sold off, possibly to one large distributor. They are encountered fairly often at larger shows and during selloffs by accumulator/collectors. I have probably owned a dozen or so, and seen several more.
I would NOT store a gun in one.

Where did you run across that sweet 16?

I bought it off a 72 year old collector that I met at a gunshow . He told me he had 82 S&W revolvers and was ready to sell them. He let me go to his house & have firt pick. I bought a few but couldnt afford them all.

Would love to meet a guy like that. Were his prices fair?

He was knowledgable on current gun values and used the 3rd edition S&W book as a general guide. Then knocked a small percent off for buying in bulk. We were both happy.