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S&W Antiques S&W Lever Action Pistols, Tip-Up Revolvers, ALL Top-Break Revolvers, and ALL Single Shots


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  #1  
Old 01-18-2022, 01:03 PM
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Default CAN ANYBODY IDENTIFY THIS OLD BOX

looking for some help on this box...IMG_7504.jpg

IMG_7508.jpg
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Old 01-18-2022, 01:16 PM
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Well, the model is obvious. . Someone will be along with an age estimate but I would guess late 19th century.
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Old 01-18-2022, 01:38 PM
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Default Orange Label

The Orange Label box came with various type motifs. Dating them is pure speculation. The later 1890's box is an orange cream colored label. This is an earlier box with the dark Orange label that dates to the 1880's/early 1890's. I don't see how you can get closer than that except for the penciled serial number sometimes found on the bottom that could have been applied at any time by a collector that wanted a matching numbered box with their minty double action. I've seen model 2's and 3's in this type of box. I believe the earliest boxes are the green boxes that are found with early production...Like the Baby Russians but that is also speculative since some later guns like the model of 91 are also found in green boxes.

These boxes can also be dated by the instruction type label. They did change with later instruction labels having the model and barrel length on top. Those date to the early 1900's.

I've seen 4 different type orange labels. Dating the labels is difficult at best. see photo's.


Murph
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File Type: jpeg 6B03753D-AF75-4B80-8DA8-E1A5EED4A299.jpeg (131.5 KB, 41 views)
File Type: jpeg A8E9E1EA-4000-4430-AC84-61818800F5B4.jpeg (132.3 KB, 43 views)
File Type: jpg CBAB044D-29D6-4BEB-8DEE-E9FA40F03E20.jpg (53.7 KB, 46 views)

Last edited by BMur; 01-18-2022 at 01:52 PM.
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Old 01-18-2022, 01:42 PM
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Can you make out a serial number penciled on the bottom? That would give a time frame for its age. It might not be easy to see.

Mark
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Old 01-18-2022, 03:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wheelgun610 View Post
Can you make out a serial number penciled on the bottom? That would give a time frame for its age. It might not be easy to see.

Mark
nothing on bottom of box
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Old 01-18-2022, 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by murphydog View Post
Well, the model is obvious. . Someone will be along with an age estimate but I would guess late 19th century.
excuse my dopiness ... whats would be the model# ?
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Old 01-18-2022, 03:37 PM
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A top-break revolver called a 32 Double Action revolver. The orange color was used to quickly ID nickel plated revolvers, while green was used for blued guns. That plan fell apart in the early 1900s when you would find orange, green, white, blue, and ivory. I should add that this model started production in 1880, so your box dates between 1880 and 1900.

Here is a 32 DA in the box. Around 1900, the inside label stated the model and barrel length. Before that, a simple directions for use was standard.

CAN ANYBODY IDENTIFY THIS OLD BOX-p1010003-jpg
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Old 01-18-2022, 05:36 PM
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Default "Extreme variety"

The real problem is that there is a "huge" variance in the type of labels found. "Several" in just the orange type label alone. Look closely at the photos.

Awful strange also that I've seen many labels where they are pasted over another label. Changing the box from a Blued to nickel. Or nickel to blued. Would Smith & Wesson do this? Or would a Distributor?

Also, I think the white label was introduced prior to 1900 see last photo after post 1900 white label.

So, it's a very difficult subject to actually iron out. I'm still convinced the Distributor played a key role in boxing early guns. After 1900 the boxing became very steady and predictable for some reason.

Murph

Last edited by BMur; 01-18-2022 at 05:45 PM.
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Old 01-18-2022, 05:53 PM
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Default Guns in the orange label box

Here is what the correct guns would look like in the orange label 32 cal double action box.

Murph
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File Type: jpg 860ECB4D-D8D5-4FE5-BF79-BE01BB964A0D.jpg (47.1 KB, 32 views)

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Old 01-18-2022, 08:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glowe View Post
A top-break revolver called a 32 Double Action revolver. The orange color was used to quickly ID nickel plated revolvers, while green was used for blued guns. That plan fell apart in the early 1900s when you would find orange, green, white, blue, and ivory. I should add that this model started production in 1880, so your box dates between 1880 and 1900.

Here is a 32 DA in the box. Around 1900, the inside label stated the model and barrel length. Before that, a simple directions for use was standard.

CAN ANYBODY IDENTIFY THIS OLD BOX-p1010003-jpg
thats is a sweet looking gun...wow !!
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Old 01-18-2022, 09:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMur View Post
The real problem is that there is a "huge" variance in the type of labels found. "Several" in just the orange type label alone. Look closely at the photos.

Awful strange also that I've seen many labels where they are pasted over another label. Changing the box from a Blued to nickel. Or nickel to blued. Would Smith & Wesson do this? Or would a Distributor?

Also, I think the white label was introduced prior to 1900 see last photo after post 1900 white label.

So, it's a very difficult subject to actually iron out. I'm still convinced the Distributor played a key role in boxing early guns. After 1900 the boxing became very steady and predictable for some reason.

Murph
mine looks like the #2 box you show, the details in the 4 corners of the label match.... thank you
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Old 01-19-2022, 05:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shooter0961 View Post
excuse my dopiness ... whats would be the model# ?
Smith & Wesson did not start using model nimbers until the mid 1950's. They gave the guns names up until then this one would simply been known as a 32 Double Action . Collectors much later started adding a number to indicate changes to the design Smith & Wesson did not start doing this until it went to a numbered identification for example a model 29-2 would indicate the second design change of this model 44 mag. Clear as mud?
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