Help: Presentation Cases, Cleaning & SATs

S&W HE · #1 04-11-2011, 02:29 AM

I started a thread on the S&W Revolvers: 1898 to 1961 section requesting information on the black 4" case that proved very helpful.

Since the other presentation cases, and the majority of the cleaning and SATs are post 1960, we'll post here in the 1961 to 1980 section.

In addition to the black case, I have an 8 3/8" and two other four inch presentation cases which are different from each other. Also in my stash are three or four different types of sight adjustment tools and two types of cleaning brushes and swabs.

I'd like to know more about what I've got, including which tools go with which case and what these components are worth in todays market.

Here's what I've come up with so far.

1. The 8 3/8" mahogany case is probably from the 70s. It has plastic inserts top & bottom and slots for the tools.

2. One of the 4" mahogany cases also has plastic inserts top & bottom and slots for the tools, but the blue flock seems different.

3. The other 4" mahogany case is probably from the 1969 to 1974 timeframe. The bottom is a shaped styrofoam insert, the top is some type of soft material. The blue covering on both is distintegrating in place.

4. The S&W supplied cleaning rods, brushes and swabs seem to vary. Each of the four 4" cleaning rods is a slightly different length (possibly production tolerances?). The brushes and swabs are of at lest two types; brass or silver color (nickle?) hardware.

5. The SAT picture is somewhat misleading. All SATs were lined up using a straight edge at the base of their handles. If you look closely none of them are exacly the same. Handle design is either knurled of fluted; te length of the handles as well as the blades vary; and there appears to be two designs for the radius at the base of the fluted aluminum handles.

S&W may have subcontrated most if not all of the items mentioned in 1 through 5.
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Doc44 · #2 04-11-2011, 10:58 AM

Dave...See my Expert Commentary postings: Presentation Cases/44 Magnum 1956 and Presentation Cases/44 Magnum 1957-1985. It should answer most of your questions about the cases. S&W made the mahogany cases in their carpentry shop until the late 70s or early 80s.

The sight screwdriver with the aluminum knurled handle was used from 1956 until early 1960 when it was replaced by the sight screwdriver with a fluted aluminum handle and long, flat blade (some refer to it as a chisel point). This style was replaced by the sight screwdriver with the hollow ground tip in late 1963 or early 1964 and it remained in use until 1982 when the presentation case was dropped as a standard item, but still could be special ordered until 1985. The wire brush initially had a wound brass core and brass threaded base and was later changed to a brush with a wound galvanized core and brass threaded base, and finally to an aluminum threaded base. The cotton swab intially had a brass threaded base that was changed in the late 70s to an aluminum threaded base.

The variation in length of the accessories is due to manufacturing variations.

Bill

S&W HE · #3 04-11-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc44

Dave...See my Expert Commentary postings: Presentation Cases/44 Magnum 1956 and Presentation Cases/44 Magnum 1957-1985. It should answer most of your questions about the cases. S&W made the mahogany cases in their carpentry shop until the late 70s or early 80s.

The sight screwdriver with the aluminum knurled handle was used from 1956 until early 1960 when it was replaced by the sight screwdriver with a fluted aluminum handle and long, flat blade (some refer to it as a chisel point). This style was replaced by the sight screwdriver with the hollow ground tip in late 1963 or early 1964 and it remained in use until 1982 when the presentation case was dropped as a standard item, but still could be special ordered until 1985. The wire brush initially had a wound brass core and brass threaded base and was later changed to a brush with a wound galvanized core and brass threaded base, and finally to an aluminum threaded base. The cotton swab intially had a brass threaded base that was changed in the late 70s to an aluminum threaded base.

The variation in length of the accessories is due to manufacturing variations.

Bill

Thanks Doc,

I did indeed read all of your Expert Commentaries. Quite excellent to say the least.

One more thing, I'd like to know market values for the wood cases and SATs if available.

410bore · #4 04-11-2011, 02:50 PM

from what i have seen, the aluminum knurled SAT is worth between $80 and $100. the other SAT's you have pictured are worth about $20 each.

S&W HE · #5 04-12-2011, 12:01 AM

Can anyone help with fair market prices for the wood cases?

410bore · #6 04-12-2011, 10:50 AM

i saw the blue 44 magnum case on ebay for close to $400...i'm no expert on them but the EBAYers are paying that for them....as for the others, it just depends on condition, but even one with deteriorated flocking and scratches should be worth at least $50...

a buddy of mine and me went to a gunshow once (OGCA show) and a guy had 5 pres cases on his table with a sign that said, $35 each or all for $125.....that was probably the deal of the day there....it was right at opening time as they would have been snatched up by someone else...one even had a set of grips in it.