This box is in poor condition with the dreaded duct tape around the edges. It is a two piece M&P box for a 4 incher. I can't tell if it's black or dark maroon. I would post a picture but my weak camera (and skills) won't show any detail. Inside the top are the "DIRECTIONS FOR USE" in english on the left and spanish on the right. It also says "This Container Patented Dec, 28, 1920". Listed in the directions for use is a warning that says "Experience shows that metal patched bullets are frequently responsible for barrel trouble". On the very bottom of the bottom half is stamped made in united states of america.
My question is, does this sound like a typical generic box? And about when would it have been in use. I know just because the patent date says 1920 the company could have used that one on up in the later years. There is a serial number on the bottom in pencil but it is much too weak to make out. Rough stab would be S&W 837055 ??? That number doesn't seem to jive with me for some reason. The end label on the box is too obliterated to make heads or tails, however, I can see part of the brand.. SMI@@@@@@@C. It starts out like smith & wesson would but seems to end in a "C" not an N. That's got me stumped.

Anybody have a box like this out there?

Roger

What the heck... here's a couple of pics!

Roger:
For your consideration...
Ed

Thank you Ed for solving the "C" delimma! That was driving me crazy and I must say that somehow I have never seen the "INC" on a Smith box before. Your box looks in great shape and mine "almost" needs to be set out by the curb but the price was jeeeest right.

Thanks, Roger

Roger,
I have had quite a few of them.
That is an early post-war MAROON box.
MY OPINION on the the date- It is misleading, I THINK, because it is the same printing used on the earlier hinged box, which WAS patented in 1920.
I suspect the serial number you see is:
S
837055

That would be the way they were written on the Transition M&P's.

It is misleading, I THINK, because it is the same printing used on the earlier hinged box, which WAS patented in 1920.
----------------------------------------------

That reminds me of all those boxes with the inside info dated 1955. I have seen where folks claim the gun inside was circa 55 because of that.
I looked in the Neal&Jinks book to try to find that patent but it wasn't listed.

Thanks for the info.

Roger