I'm seeing pretty frequent examples of hand written box labels on GB. Is a handwritten label always an indicator of a box not original to the gun? Did boxes ever leave the factory w/handwritten labels? Might it have varied by era? Pre-1980 and post-1980? I'd appreciate help on this. Thanks.
Info about hand written box labels
- Thread starter Tyree1867
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2005
- Messages
- 7,994
- Reaction score
- 7,043
One type of label was handwritten, later they used a different type that was printed by computer. Some had both, one on each end of the box.
The thing I am seeing is that some sellers, in an effort to make everything appear original, are buying period papers and modern labels and putting them in boxes that were not original to the gun, to make the whole package appear "LNIB" or "ANIB."
Fake labels used to be easy to spot, but the forgers have gotten better. Now, you have to guess based upon condition and "yellowing" of the label. A bright white label on a box when all of the interior papers have yellowed in the last 30 years is a dead give away.
The thing I am seeing is that some sellers, in an effort to make everything appear original, are buying period papers and modern labels and putting them in boxes that were not original to the gun, to make the whole package appear "LNIB" or "ANIB."
Fake labels used to be easy to spot, but the forgers have gotten better. Now, you have to guess based upon condition and "yellowing" of the label. A bright white label on a box when all of the interior papers have yellowed in the last 30 years is a dead give away.
OP
So it sounds like no post-85 Revolver would have an original box with gun details written/printed by hand. Would that be correct? Tyree1867
Last edited:
, IMHO Correct
hotrod150
Member
Box fading....I have a 1977-ish 2-piece Bangor Punta box, which sat up on a window-sill in a friends reloading room for years. The factory printing on the label is all faded away, with only the hand-written info (model #, s/n, etc) remaining.
wheelgun28
Member
I notice that handwriting styles change over the years.
some of the 1980s guns have a very flowing hand writing, I am sure it was written by a young-ish female during that period. I saw the style and it brought me back to school days with girls writing just like that.
I have seen some labels around the same vintage with this strong block lettering done with a heavy hand, I have doubts its real
People that fill out forms like this all day get casual about filling them in. If it looks like they tried hard to make it nice, well...
some of the 1980s guns have a very flowing hand writing, I am sure it was written by a young-ish female during that period. I saw the style and it brought me back to school days with girls writing just like that.
I have seen some labels around the same vintage with this strong block lettering done with a heavy hand, I have doubts its real
People that fill out forms like this all day get casual about filling them in. If it looks like they tried hard to make it nice, well...
rck281
Member
IMHO, many of the fake handwritten labels have square corners. The original hand written labels have rounded corners. Of course, there are undoubtedly some rounded corner fake labels.
OP
Thanks
Thanks to all who took the time to help me out.
Thanks to all who took the time to help me out.
skeezix
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I have a "NIB" gun which was shipped in 1975. Box label is handwritten with a felt-tip pen.
I'm old and can't remember that far back. Did they have felt-tip pens back then?
I'm old and can't remember that far back. Did they have felt-tip pens back then?
Yes, and they actually pre-date ball point pens.
hotrod150
Member
No, they still used ink and quill. I graduated high school in 1975, and remember writing my homework with a piece of coal on a shovel by the light of the campfire...
BJoe
Member
Also look at all the reprint instruction manuals out there. E-bay is full of them.
Similar threads
