M&P "Gold Box" Years?

[CW3RDL]

I am looking at an M&P 4" in excellent condition with the serial number C 3077XX. Four faint old looking numbers written in ?crayon? on the bottom of the "gold" box do not appear to match the serial number. What years was the gold box used as the factory container for the S&W M&P? Where were serial numbers placed on the box before the modern end labels with brl. length, finish, caliber, etc. with which most of us are familiar. Thanks.

 

[JP@AK]

Gold boxes for the M&P started replacing the maroon boxes in the summer of 1946. There was, of course, a phase out-period for the maroon boxes. Gold boxes remained in use until well into the 1950s, but were replaced eventually by the blue boxes. I have gold boxes in my collection that shipped as late as 1956.

Serial numbers were usually written on the bottom with a grease pencil. All of the early examples I have were written with a black grease pencil. Some of my early blue boxes have the serial number written in the same place with a white grease pencil, but I've never seen that on a gold box.

One interesting fact that has emerged in my collecting is a few maroon boxes with the serial number written in ink on the end label. Of course, the end label was quite different then than the later type used on blue boxes beginning in the late 1950s.

Here is an example from April, 1946:

I hope this helps.

 

[JP@AK]

BTW C307xxx is probably from 1954, maybe around July or August. A gold box is entirely possible at that point. But if the number on the bottom doesn't match your gun, it is period-correct but not original.

 

[wheelgun610]

The 'gold box era' ended around the same time frame as the five screw S&W revolver. The usual caveats apply. In other words, they didn't all of a sudden throw out any gold ones just because they changed over to blue ones.

Mark

 

[CW3RDL]

Thanks; you guys are great! I have learned so much from this site.

 

[JP@AK]

they didn't all of a sudden throw out any gold ones just because they changed over to blue ones.

Case in point, Mark, I recently saw a K-32 Masterpiece that shipped in a gold box in the early 1960s ('61 IIRC). An anomaly that speaks to the slow sales of that model, I'm sure.

 

[Targets Guy]

The 3rd edition of the SCS&W says they were used 1946 - 1965. They were phased out in the mid to late 1950's but were still used until 1965 on some models.

 

[JP@AK]

The 3rd edition of the SCS&W says they were used 1946 - 1965. They were phased out in the mid to late 1950's but were still used until 1965 on some models.

This is no doubt true. But in my experience looking at dozens of S&W revolvers in sporting goods stores in the mid-1960s I don't remember seeing many or even any gold boxes. Everything seemed to be displayed with the blue boxes or the occasional presentation case (Model 29s, for example). So, my guess is the gold boxes were becoming fairly scarce by that time, at least in the part of the country I was in.

 

[Targets Guy]

This is no doubt true. But in my experience looking at dozens of S&W revolvers in sporting goods stores in the mid-1960s I don't remember seeing many or even any gold boxes. Everything seemed to be displayed with the blue boxes or the occasional presentation case (Model 29s, for example). So, my guess is the gold boxes were becoming fairly scarce by that time, at least in the part of the country I was in.

I would agree.

 

[handejector]

Case in point, Mark, I recently saw a K-32 Masterpiece that shipped in a gold box in the early 1960s ('61 IIRC). An anomaly that speaks to the slow sales of that model, I'm sure.

We know for a fact that the Service Dept used LOTS of gold boxes when they returned guns. They were obsolete, so they just used them up as shippers. If a gold box has a date stamped inside the top, it was probably used this way. They usually wrote the serial number of the gun on those gold boxes as usual- with a grease pencil since nothing else writes as well on a gold box. It was often written on the end instead of the bottom.
I suspect that gold box with that K-32 was either added by the Service Dept, or mated with that gun post factory.

The 3rd edition of the SCS&W says they were used 1946 - 1965. They were phased out in the mid to late 1950's but were still used until 1965 on some models.

That statement in SCSW-3rd is so broad it is almost disinformation.
I've seen very late 5 screw M&Ps in early blue-gray boxes.
I've seen very late 5 screw Masterpieces in early blue-gray boxes.
My Mom's 32 HE shipped in Oct 54 and bought brand new was in a blue-gray box.
I don't think a hundred gold boxes were used past 1955-56 in any popular model. Slow movers, maybe.

But I've only got my lyin eyes with 54 years of observation to go on.

 

[larryofcc]

I know for certain, some guns were shipped in the blue box with the solid white line as early as 1956. My Combat Magnum was shipped in 1956 and has a blue box with an over label.
My Model of M1953 Chiefs Special was shipped in 1955 in the blue Star Burst box. Both are numbered to the gun. Big Larry