What is the proper box style for an alloy cylinder Chiefs Special Airweight shipped in the 1953-1954 time period?

I assume the proper box would be red, probably with an "AIRWEIGHT" rubber stamp on a "Chiefs Special" end label of the type in use during that time frame. (I mention the rubber stamp because I have a 1953 Centennial that has such a "CENTENNIAL" rubber stamp on an end label that is for a Chiefs Special of that era.) Correct?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

hi
mine is in a blue box with a silver border. and is marked chief special air weight. on the end.
jim fisher

The serial number on my gun is 243XX
and i believe the first blue boxes started in late 1954
jim

A red box with a blue on white end label that identifies it as "Aluminum" would be the ticket - no rubber stamping. There is an excellent picture of one of these in the "Unusual Chiefs Specials Gallery" thread.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Mr. Fisher, I think your gun must be much later than the 1953-1954 time frame. The blue boxes with silver border did not come out until about 1960 as I recall.

Goony, thank you for that link. I was looking at that thread when it started, but never got back to it as it progressed. The box and gun to which you refer are about as perfect as they come. Wow! My two alloy-cylinder guns are nice, but not that perfect.

Funny how Smith made a printed label for the Airweights, but not for the Centennial.

Thank you again for the link. Now I can begin the search.

JudgeColt:

Although my pre-37 Airweight doesn't have tha aluminum alloy cylinder it's serial number places it in 1954. Here are some photos of this gun with it's original box serial numbered to this gun:




bigun(aka: Colt38 on the Colt Forum).

The lack of an upper sideplate screw strongly suggests to me that this gun dates to around 1956, maybe even very early 1957. Can you give us what the serial number range on this example is?

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Serial number is 5377x

By the serial number, late 1954 could be deduced, but by the deleted upper sideplate screw, I'd guess it actually shipped in 1955. Certainly one of the earliest to go out with the newer "tab" sideplate.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Alloy cylinder model.

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John

JayCeeNC, thank you for that fine picture of a fine gun and box.

This box is marked differently from the one in the linked Chiefs Special thread, which was in the 27,XXX range as I recall. I am wondering which box style is earlier, yours or the one in the thread? I suspect yours is, since it exhibits the "bug" screw, which this Colt guy understands is an early feature.

What is the serial number range of your gun? Does the box have a serial number that matches the gun?

VERY nice gun!

JudgeColt, yes, the box is original with matching serial number on the bottom of the box.
I'm overseas right now and don't have access to my records, can't give you the serial number.

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John