38 M&P Patent Box 1920's

mbliss57 · #1 03-24-2012, 03:26 PM

I found one of these 1920's "Patent Boxes" with a gun that is for sale I am looking at. Does anyone know where I can get a price range on the box.It's in nice shape. The .38 DAO safety from 1906 is the gun. but I am thinking these Patent Boxes can't be all that common. I have an early M&P 1905 2nd change so this box is too late for that.
I want to know as the gun is a little over priced but this box may make the difference, They called it the original box

They have no idea. When I told them it wasn't they were not in a hurry to fix their advertising... (G. Mountain)

Or who on the forum is a box expert?

mbliss57 · #2 03-24-2012, 03:38 PM

Can you move this to the antiques section.. thanks

DCWilson · #3 03-24-2012, 03:52 PM

I wouldn't claim to be a box expert, but I'd think a patent box from the 1920s would be around $75 at the low end (worn but reparable, with maybe a broken corner or two) up to $200-225 in very good to excellent shape.

Does the box in question have a serial number on the bottom? My understanding is that the patent box was introduced in the mid-1920s. I'd expect a serial number no lower than about 500000.

mbliss57 · #4 03-24-2012, 03:57 PM

It does have SN. the box it self is in good shape. It was a 1 piece box bit the hinge which is just the paper is separated. It can easily be glued back on but it's all there. the box portion top and bottom are very good. It has someone's adress written in pencil in the box.. If $75 is a low end price that helps with my purchase of the .38 new departure.