Actually 2010 was the last year for the budget J frames in plastic boxes. Models such as the 625 are still shipping in the blue plastic boxes. The change to cardboard coincided with a big price drop on the low cost J frames. IIRC that price drop was in the ballpark of 100 dollars so I wouldn't flog S&W for saving perhaps 5-7 bucks by shipping these low cost models in cardboard boxes.