When did S&W stop using the silver boxes for their nickel plated guns?


Mick

With each model you might discover a varying date, depending upon the supply of boxes at the time. Generally speaking, I would say when the company transitioned to the one-piece box.

For the Bodyguards and Chiefs Specials that occurred around 1982, which was also during a transition period for other things -- the barrel pin, a larger logo on the left side of the frame, and the alphanumeric serial numbers.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

I am looking at a 19-4 nickel. It has a blue box with it but the box is marked on the end label with an N. Serial number dated it to 1980. According to your info it could be correct.

Thanks.
Mick

I bought a Model 19-5 new in about 1983. It was a nickel gun in a blue box. Had a Sharpie - marked N on the end panel. I wish now I had kept that box!

Attached Images

19-5 Nickel.jpg (111.7 KB, 13 views)

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

There's a long-standing fallacy that nickel revolvers don't come in blue boxes. There are plenty of examples of correct two-piece blue boxes that shipped with a nickel revolver.

I have a nickel Chiefs Special that shipped in December 1962 in a blue box with the hand-written "N" in the "finish" box on the label and the correct "NICKEL" finish printed on the other end of the box. The revolver "letters" as a nickel model.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Simple answer, they stopped using the silver box, when the factory deleted the available on hand supply.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I have a Nickel S&W Model 19-4 with 2 1/2” barrel and a Nickel Model 10-5 with 2” barrel, bought them both new in 1980-81 and both guns have the Blue 2 piece S&W boxes. In that time period you were liable to get a gray box or a blue box with a nickel gun.

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James
On the Llano Estacado