Does anyone know when S&W started using the two box system; grey for nickel guns and blue for blued? I know that this system was used during the 1970's, but I have a nickel model 36 that was made in 1969, and I'm trying to find out what the matching box is for it. I've learned that S&W changed their boxes subtlely alot over the course of like 30 years and that the box that matches my gun was used from 1965-69 (it has a solid border and not the hash-mark border of the 1970-80 boxes), but I don't know if these boxes came in blue and grey, or just blue with "nickel" or "blue" printed on the box. Any experts out there?

Have a 34-1 2" Nickel ,Silver box solid border & a 34-1 4" Nickel, grey box hash mark border.Don't know when changes occurred.

..."any experts out there?" This place is full of them. I'm not one.

But, I'm gonna' try to help out. Here's a boxed Mod 19 from the early 70's and it's grey with the ID of the revolver on the end.



Put an ad in the 'Want Ads" on the classifieds here on the forum and see if a member has the box you need. Good luck on your search and post a pic when you get it put together.

GF

Photo of Model 19-2 and its box (silver in color) that were shipped in June 1969. The box has a white end label that gives the model number, serial number, etc.

Bill

Doc,
That's quite an interesting gun. I would have expected them to be shipping 19-3's by 1969 and I certainly wouldn't expect a pre-Bangor Punta box.

rlee,
Yes, they used gray boxes in the 1960’s. I wouldn’t call myself a box expert, but based on some boxes I have, I’d say the change from the solid border to the striped border happened in the early 1970’s (71-72). S&W didn’t like to throw things away, so you won’t find a clean change over date (see Doc‘s gun). I believe you want a gray box with a solid border that’s marked Bangor Punta on the lid (rather than S&W Inc.). Good luck finding one! I think you’d have an easier time finding one with a striped border, but they’re much less common than the blue boxes.

This was purchased new in 1969



My guess on this is 1970



Roving J from 1971-72



… but they did what they had to, to get guns out the door!

__________________
"I also cook."

I have a box for a Ni mod 15-3 #K840904 . This serial number is from 1968 and the box is just like the one Bill Cross posted with his 19. It is a solid boarder silver pre Bangor box with the label on one end and the printed info on the other end.
jcelect SWCA #723