I have been looking at a couple of the M27s no dash.
One is Nickel in S208XXX serial range and the other is Blue in S210XXX range. Both come with supposedly original boxes - gray for a nickel gun and blue for a blued gun. The strangest thing is that one box has no end label and has a serial number written in white grease pencil on the bottom and the other one has a white paper label on the side of the box. With all the fake boxes and labels proliferation, when was the white label actually introduced?
Is there a serial range for M27 where white paper labels start to appear on the side of the box?
Thank you!

Great question. I sold my 27 no dash but it had the grease pencil markings with no label as I recall.

__________________
S&WCA #3012

I'd have to dig it out of the safe to be sure, but I have a Model 14-1 that shipped in 1962, and I'm pretty sure it has no paper label on the box end, just the embossed model information.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

It's not a 27 but my 28 no dash S205XXX has an end label that says Smith and Wesson Highway Patrolman Blued 6in the serial number is written on the bottom in grease pencil

Any other observations in S210000 and higher serial range?

It should have the serial # in grease pencil on the bottom, AND a white label with a blue diamond pattern outline that reads

This particular box has no white sticker with diamonds, but has the same writing printed on the side of the box and the white penciled number on the bottom. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures...