1. During the time when S&W used midnight blue cardboard boxes with silver trim, they used paste-on labels to identify what was inside. Why were the labels usually pasted on upside down?

2. What information is supposed to be written in the spaces on the labels stamped INS, PKR, and WO?

3. Model 39 pistols have the rear sight adjustable for windage only. There are S&W sights available for the 39 that are adjustable for both windage and elevation. Were these added to some pistols at the factory or were they an aftermarket add-on, or both?

The real 39 experts probably know the answer to 3, but I have never seen a 39 fitted with the fully adjustable sight from the factory.

The characters you mention probably stand for inspector, packer, and maybe work order... ? Not sure about the WO.

I have seen it said that the labels were afixed upside down because the guns were stacked in their boxes with the "lids" down, so that when someone picked one up they were not as likely to accidentally drop a gun. If the label was afixed normally, it would then be upside down while the guns were stacked and it would be harder to read. Don't recall where I have seen this, but have seen it several times, and it seems to make sense, for whatever that may be worth.

The upside down label also allows the pistol to be displayed in the box. The top lid is placed upside down and the bottom placed inside it which allows the label to be read.

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

1) It always made me wonder why they didn't put the print on the other side upside down too.

2) WO is White Outline for the rear sight.

3) I know they were available aftermarket but think you could order one (39 or 59) with them on it too.

Cyrano: There are no dumb questions - this is how we learn!

My late model 39-2 A6948xx has the paper label upside down still, but only includes INS and PKR, the third space on the second line is labeled Special Features:

It came to me unfired, with both the standard windage-adjustable sight, and a white outline windage- and elevation-adjustable sight.

I'll install the WO sight and take some pictures.

Cyrano,
Don't ever feel bad about posting any question that you may have here on the forum. The only dumb question is the one that is not asked.

As it relates to your question about what should be written next to INS and PKR - that would be the inspector and packers initials. As far as WO it would have a check mark if the gun was shipped with a white outline front sight. I have been told the reason the labels were put on up-side-down had to do with a precautionary measure when the boxes were stacked in the S&W vault. I guess the reasoning was that if the boxes were up-side-down so you could read the label it would be almost impossible to pull one out and end up with just the lid in your hand and the bottom of the box and the gun on the floor. I don't know if this is just some old S&W tale or if there is some credence to the story. You can decide.

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Doug

The original Model 39 and 59 rear sights were adjustable for windage only. There were aftermarket sights available that also had elevation adjustment. In the mid- to late-1970's, I think, S&W developed their own that had both windage and elevation adjustment. I never saw one with the extra assembly in the box, but during the time period the new sight came out, no 9mm S&W sat on dealers shelves for very long.

Thanks, all. As usual, the S&W forum is the one to read if you want the straight, ungarbled word.