I just bought a 36, box and paperwork made in 1978. The label is upside down in that when box lid is on, its upside down. I figured this was just a fluke, but have seen a few more like this on Gunbroker. Label looks original. Others were on two 36's and a 10. Any thoughts?

Someone was drunk at the plant?

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Now go make God proud...

I just purchased a model 67 no dash and a 12-2 from a gentleman who was selling several good condition smiths. The two I bought had (I assume) their original boxes and paperwork. The labels are also upside down. Someone commented that he believed the while the boxes were correct he thought the labels looked off. I really don't know myself. Here are the two I bought.

I worked for an S&W distributor from 1976 to 1990 and all the firearms shipped from S&W to us in the two piece boxes had the labels on upside down. I always figured that if the boxes were sitting on the shelf as pictured above it would be easy to pick up the box and have the bottom and all the contents spill out. We shelved the guns with the labels up and the box tops down just for this reason. When S&W switched to the new (at the time) cardboard boxes that were one piece with the "hinged" top all the labels were positioned correctly.

My theory is it made the boxes easier to handle when sliding on and off shelves and into/out of shipping cartons at the factory......and the gun was "safer" and less likely to be dropped out of the box when safely captured in the lid. Just a theory though....maybe hogwash.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I posted the following on a different thread just a few hours ago. It might bear repeating here.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I was always told the box was shelved lid down so you could pick up the weapon with one hand from the shelf. ????

The paraphrased "story", as I heard it, is that, when pulled from the factory shelving for shipping to a customer, the clerk was left holding only the box top as the contents (gun, etc.) hit the floor with damage. Someone said "that's going to cost money" followed immediately by "well that won't happen again!", and after that the labels were put on "upside down". Never dropped another while holding the box top. Y'all with plant knowledge can verify or shoot down.

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Steve Sprague
SWCA 1400

I was told that story some years ago.. Sounds likely to me...
JIM..............

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SWCA # L-1911

When I went through Armorer's School years ago, as part of factory tour, we followed the "birth of a gun". The gun's components & assemblies were placed in the box bottom, which was placed inside the lid during various fitting stages. As the serial number was already assigned, the label was placed so it was readable as the gun progressed through the various fitting stages without having to turn the box over; it remained open until the final stage. This was according to our guide......

Thanks, guys.

Interesting, I had noticed the upside down label on my 19-4 box but never asked...now at least I have an idea of why lol

^^^^This^^^^ Here's your answer.........