Chief’s Special box?

demkofour · #1 01-18-2022, 03:20 PM

Way back when, before I became a cop, I came across a S&W box, including the vapor paper and half of the warranty card… I honestly forgot about it (again: 38 Chiefs Special box ) until this morning. I’ve had it for at least 40 years.

The written S/N dates to around 1955… Any thoughts on collectibility, value OR, EVEN BETTER, does someone here on the Forum have the Pre-36 that this box belongs to? What a great reunion that would be!

Hondo44 · #2 01-18-2022, 06:13 PM

Those boxes in such nice shape can sell in the ball park of $100 more or less. The right guy would be a happy camper to find it. That box shipped in 1956 and was for a Model of 1953 New J frame .38 Chiefs Special.

MikeR90S · #3 01-18-2022, 07:08 PM

Question for Jim - I have a baby Chief, sn 2600X... would it have come in a blue box like shown or the earlier red box?

Thanks,

Mike

VM · #4 01-18-2022, 07:16 PM

Jim, I agree with Hondo44’s estimate on the box. Be aware that the Nox rust paper is worth $50 by itself. NICE!

CZU · #5 01-18-2022, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeR90S

Question for Jim - I have a baby Chief, sn 2600X... would it have come in a blue box like shown or the earlier red box?

Thanks,

Mike

I'm not Jim, but yes, BC's would have shipped in a red box. Serial number would be hand written on the bottom.

tlawler · #6 01-18-2022, 07:38 PM

Dang…got excited there for a minute. Mine shipped in April ‘55, but it’s about 12K earlier than your serial.

Hondo44 · #7 01-18-2022, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeR90S

Question for Jim - I have a baby Chief, sn 2600X... would it have come in a blue box like shown or the earlier red box?

Thanks,

Mike

It's highly likely that # gun would have come in the red box. We see red boxes used as high as #43926. However one can never be certain about the boxes. As you probably know, S&W didn't assemble or ship their guns in serial # order. Therefore if #2600X was what we call a "late shipper" which means it shipped out a lot later than the # might otherwise have us believe (around mid 1953), or if the right size red box for the barrel length was out of inventory, it could have been stuffed in a correct size blue box to get it out the door to the dealer.

Hope that helps,

ladder13 · #8 01-18-2022, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlawler

Dang…got excited there for a minute. Mine shipped in April ‘55, but it’s about 12K earlier than your serial.

It will fit in that box.

demkofour · #9 01-19-2022, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Those boxes in such nice shape can sell in the ball park of $100 more or less. The right guy would be a happy camper to find it. That box shipped in 1956 and was for a Model of 1953 New J frame .38 Chiefs Special.

Roy reports that the Serial Number 70480 shipped in February of 1956, two years after I was born! That box is now almost 66 years old…