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08-19-2014, 06:19 PM
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Why Do 586's Rarely Have the Original Box With Them?
Is it just me, but it seems that the early 586's rarely have the original box with them? When you look at the auction sites it seems that other models from the similar time period (i.e. early 686's) have the original box more often than the 586?
What do you think and any ideas about why????
Thanks
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08-19-2014, 07:03 PM
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The only thing I can think of.....
I think that people bought the 586/686 to shoot and they weren't thought of as collectors.
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08-19-2014, 07:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwsmith
I think that people bought the 586/686 to shoot and they weren't thought of as collectors.
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Or as a duty weapon.
As a matter O fact I recall opening the box, removing the paperwork, swapping new Pachmayer rubber grips,
Then after carefully placing the OEM wood grips in the OEM box promptly deposited both into the trash.
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08-19-2014, 08:08 PM
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My guess is that, until recent years, unless a gun was a high dollar item, and/or came with a fancy wood presentation box, most folks quickly pitched the box and paperwork. Guns, like most things we bought in the past, were tools to be used and used and used. Heck, even now, I've seen folks buy a gun and tell the store to dispose of the box.
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08-19-2014, 08:56 PM
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I managed to find a nice 586-3 a few years back. It had all of the goodies with it.
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08-19-2014, 09:26 PM
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I've got a couple of theories.
1). The 586 introduction coincided with the introduction of the new one-piece box. Prior to that S&W had used a two-piece heavy duty box that had metal reinforced corners and a high build quality. The old two-piece box was obviously something meant to be kept. The new one-piece box, in comparison, looked like a cheap throw away Mac & Cheese box. A lot of people did throw it away (Engine49guy), especially in those first few years. Eventually, I think the one-piece box grew to be more accepted, and more people kept it.
2). For the first few years 586's (all L-frames) were heavily allocated to LEO contracts. Those guns were separated from their box very early, as few LEO agencies keep boxes for later resell of the gun to the civilian market.
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08-19-2014, 11:48 PM
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Never really noticed it before but I believe there's some truth in this. Most early model 586s I have seen for sale have been sold without the box/papers. I also think that there are more early pre-lock 686s out there on the used market. In my experience for every fifteen 686 guns I've seen, a 586 would show up. I know they're not really rare, but just don't show up often.
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08-20-2014, 01:25 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Engine49guy
As a matter O fact I recall opening the box, removing the paperwork, swapping new Pachmayer rubber grips,
Then after carefully placing the OEM wood grips in the OEM box promptly deposited both into the trash.
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In 1987, I purchased a brand new in the box 4" 686. Took it home, admired it for awhile, then after placing it and the screwdriver into the padded range bag next to the 4" 19, 6" 29, and Colt Government Model .45 - threw the box and all the paperwork right into the trash.
In the late 80's thru the mid 90's the wondernine craze was on and it seemed that shops could hardly give revolvers away. Many sat unsold in gun dealers cases for a long time. Most never dreamed that they would become valuable collectors items.
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08-20-2014, 02:35 AM
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I don't understand...
Even thought I'm not a collector (I don't even like selling my guns) I don't understand throwing away things like the blue, reinforced cardboard box that my model 10 came in. It goes with the gun and if you want to send it somewhere or sell it, it goes right back in the box. A well made Smith and Wesson box is a good thing to have. I haven't seen what they pack them in lately but I'd probably still save it. If it says 'Smith and Wesson' on it, it's too cool to throw away.
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08-20-2014, 09:42 AM
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Agreed, the new one-piece boxes are a sad replacement for the old 2 piece reinforced boxes, but I still would keep it.
As someone stated, it is useful when selling to ship it in the original box. And it often adds to the price of the gun.
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08-20-2014, 10:15 AM
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To many, a gun is just a tool...anyone out there save the original box, wrapper and warning tags from the last leaf blower you bought? It's only us oddball collector types that fidget about this stuff, but having the box and contents does make the gun's value go up.
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08-20-2014, 10:34 AM
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I tossed the boxes right away. Kept the original grips, though.
If you keep the packaging for every thing you buy your house ends up full to the rafters with junk.
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08-20-2014, 10:40 AM
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I'm sure it's got something to do with hindsight, plus who wants the wrapper the candy came in?
I've started collecting boxes to firearms I've never owned just in case lol.
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08-20-2014, 01:17 PM
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Excellent Replies
Thanks to everyone for the ideas and information. I look forward to hearing more ideas/theories/actual events that you participated in that may help explain this apparent lack of 586 boxes tied to their matched revolver.
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08-20-2014, 01:42 PM
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i have a 4" 586 that Dad left me when he passed. i have the box, all of the paperwork, and the receipt showing it being purchased in October of 1983. He bought it new and it has only been shot maybe 20 times. After it was given to me, I asked on here what the "birthdate" was and was given a range of April to October. It may be buried with me.
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08-20-2014, 02:57 PM
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For many years when I bought a new Smith the tool kit went into my cleaning box and the box/paperwork went into a big box in the attic. They are still there......My 586 box somewhere among them.
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08-20-2014, 03:01 PM
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I bet I have the box for every gun I ever bought that came with one. (Maybe not rifles!) One of these days the box for my blown up Model 19 (1981 purchase) will turn up and I'll give it to someone on this Forum.
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08-20-2014, 04:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Engine49guy
Or as a duty weapon.
As a matter O fact I recall opening the box, removing the paperwork, swapping new Pachmayer rubber grips,
Then after carefully placing the OEM wood grips in the OEM box promptly deposited both into the trash.
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YOU ANIMAL!!!
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08-20-2014, 05:11 PM
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Not sure. I bought my 586 no dash, no box! My 686-3, no box either. I have never disposed a box or documents of any gun I have ever owned.
I would keep everything for a $200 gun. But no box has not kept me from buying a gun under proper circumstances! Bob
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08-20-2014, 05:22 PM
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Mine was a duty gun, first year production. Dumped the box. Put the sealed cleaning kit in my gun stuff and recently found it, still sealed. Removed the wood grips and replaced them with rubber. Sold the wood grips. Sorry about that. Long time ago.
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08-20-2014, 06:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KEN L
YOU ANIMAL!!!
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Just wanted to add that I didnt own a house back in 1983 or most likely would have squirreled the boxes away,
Before one settles down and begins the nesting process it just isn't feasible to carry every S&W and cordless drill box purchased in life. ...
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08-20-2014, 06:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by speedyquad
i have a 4" 586 that Dad left me when he passed. i have the box, all of the paperwork, and the receipt showing it being purchased in October of 1983. He bought it new and it has only been shot maybe 20 times. After it was given to me, I asked on here what the "birthdate" was and was given a range of April to October. It may be buried with me.
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If you have the "Special Order" number on the end label of the box, that gives the date it was ready to ship or the exact day.
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08-20-2014, 09:01 PM
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I have never thrown a gun box away. In fact, when we moved recently, I found several boxes/manuals for guns I'd sold many moons ago!
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08-20-2014, 09:19 PM
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Don't know.
What I do know is I have a 4" 586 I bought new, put pachmayr grips on, and threw both the box and the original grips away. This was like in '91. I don't care about the box, but I wish I still had those grips.
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08-20-2014, 09:27 PM
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I have the boxes for every handgun I've ever purchased new, and for the used ones that came with one, including a 4" 586
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08-20-2014, 09:31 PM
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I've yet to buy a used S&W with the box, although I still have the boxes for those I've purchased new, 28-2, 640 and 629. Now I did buy a couple apple boxes of old gun stuff from the son of an old gun nut and squirreled away in the bottom were two S&W boxes without the revolvers (maybe they'll show up some day!) One box is for a 4" 19-3 and the other says it contained a 2" 36. Now I guess I should try and fill them.
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08-20-2014, 10:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murphydog
If you have the "Special Order" number on the end label of the box, that gives the date it was ready to ship or the exact day.
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thanks, i'll have to look...i'm not sure that he ordered it or it just happened to be in the store at the time. i do know he bought it as an example of of something that he could get as he was in the process of getting his FFL.
would this one have had a tool kit as i do not have that. i'm sure hoarder dad has it somewhere
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08-20-2014, 10:13 PM
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I believe it would have had the cleaning rod, brass brush and swab, not sure about the sight adjustment tool type but blackdeuce above probably does.
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08-20-2014, 10:25 PM
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My brother and I've had 4 6" 586/686 that would have had the one piece box over the years; most were under $300..... Not exactly a high priced revolver for the time. Only 1 of them had a box with no papers etc.
The boxes didn't hold up very well either.
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08-20-2014, 11:51 PM
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Since this thread started I had to go take a picture. I'm fortunate that my 586 I picked up just a few months ago came with it's original box and papers. No tools or original grips were included, but the combat grips the seller had on them make up for it.
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08-21-2014, 01:17 AM
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I have the box from 65-1 I bought used a few years back and I kept the nice plastic box that came with the 638 I bought in 2007, but other than that they have all wound up in the trash.
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08-21-2014, 02:12 AM
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Model 586 serial number AAB1468 came in the two piece box.
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08-21-2014, 06:00 PM
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I was pleasantly surprised when I recently purchased a used 586-4 from Top Gun Supply that was in "like new" condition, and it came with its original blue plastic box and other OEM goodies.
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08-22-2014, 10:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ISCS Yoda
I bet I have the box for every gun I ever bought that came with one. (Maybe not rifles!) One of these days the box for my blown up Model 19 (1981 purchase) will turn up and I'll give it to someone on this Forum.
***GRJ***
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Blown up? Hmmm... how'd you do that?
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08-22-2014, 10:35 PM
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Does anyone have a picture of the tools they came with?
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08-23-2014, 04:45 AM
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I cared more about the gun than what it came in. Saw no purpose in keeping it. I guess some people are pack rats. I don't have places to keep things like that. It's worse now with these bulky plastic cases. They take up so much space. No way to get them in the safe so they take up closet space under beds etc. I would much rather have a gun that was taken care of and not allowed to rust or abused than worry about a box and papers. I guess if that's your thing. I understand collectors want them but just give me a beautiful well taken care of gun. I bought a 19-4 in 82 carried it 10 years in LE. Taught LE firearms with it and shot at least 50k rounds. No I don't have the papers and box but I still have a beautiful well taken care of gun.
JR
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