29-2 Presentation Case Cardboard Box

[Harry_Callahan]

Hello Folks,

My first post here, my dear friend Bizio61 from Milan introduced me to the fantastic world of Smith & Wesson and this forum. I found lots of interesting info

recently I bought a nice 29-2 "S" Serial (S317xyz)
should be 1968-1969
unfortunately came without paperwork and case



After some research I understand the correct wood case should be the "Clam Shell". I know, it's going to be very hard to find!



In the meantime, since the Standard Catalog indicates that the first 29's were shipping with a blu(almost black) case, later in a two-piece metal cornered cardboard box. Then in 1980 with the one-piece folded cardboard box, I ran into this two-piece metal cornered cardboard box on eBay and decided to but it



Before buying I called S & W on the international phone number and asked about this box without any writing, according to them it should be from that era

What do you guys think? If it's not correct at least I got the paperwork

Cheers!

 

[bamabiker]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the great looking M29-2. If you got the box for a good price that's just an added bonus.

 

[Harry_Callahan]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the great looking M29-2.

Thanks!

If you got the box for a good price that's just an added bonus.

Please, don't remember me how much I paid it, shipping & VAT are crazy, the auction too

I hope it's from that time. Lets see if anyone remembers some 29-2 shipped with this box in 1968-69. Do you have any clue?

Thanks again

 

[bamabiker]

One of the experts should be along but I believe they were shipped in a box like that along with the wood presentation box.

 

[Doc44]

The 29-2 you have would have been shipped in the case (no cardboard box involved until 1979) along with the accessories and paperwork. The mahogany case would have been inside a cardboard shipping carton with a S&W sticker on the end. Also, your 29-2 probably dates to mid-1969 and for the 6 1/2-inch and 4-inch barrel lengths the clamshell type of case had been replaced by the next style of case that was used from 1969-1974 (see photo below). The clamshell case continued to be used for the 8 3/8-inch barrel length until around 1971 or 72.

Bill

 

[Harry_Callahan]

One of the experts should be along but I believe they were shipped in a box like that along with the wood presentation box.

OK, so it seems that I did the right thing buying the cardboard box

Now with a little patience I'll try to find the "clam shell"

 

[TDC]

Welcome to the forum, Harry Callahan!

Are you also from Italy like Bizio61?

You are looking for "correctness" for your "S" Mod. 29 and that is commendable.

There is currently a "Clam shell" presentation case on eBay, however, the listers "buy now" price is a whopping $400 USD plus shipping. IMO, that price is way beyond the acceptable investment needed to help your Mod 29 be completely correct.

I may be wrong, but I believe the non-clam shell presentation cases showing the barrel pointing to the left are also correct for your model and if so, the price of those is commonly about $100 on eBay.

A notable case repair expert on this board has the user name of jcelect. Another top expert with both the Mod 29's and their correct cases has the user name Doc44. They have helped many people with questions like yours. You may want to contact them directly...

Please keep us informed of the progress you make....

Opps, just realized Doc44 beat me with his post..... Sorry about any redundancy...

 

[Harry_Callahan]

The 29-2 you have would have been shipped in the case (no cardboard box involved until 1979) along with the accessories and paperwork.

you gave me bad news with this

Also, your 29-2 probably dates to mid-1969 and for the 6 1/2-inch and 4-inch barrels lengths, the clamshell type of case had been replaced the next style of case (she photo below).

that seems better news
the clam shell is impossibile to find

much easier to find is this:



the one with the "lip" on top

thanks

 

[bamabiker]

Well I got one part right, the experts showed up.

 

[Doc44]

Harry_Callahan...the case you posted a photo of was used from 1975-1979. It came after the one I posted. The correct case can be found for your 29-2, but it will need to be restored as the covering in these cases deteriorated rapidly and I have not seen one that did not require restoration for over ten years.

Bill

 

[Harry_Callahan]

Welcome to the forum, Harry Callahan!

Are you also from Italy like Bizio61?

Thanks, yes Bizio61 is a wonderful person, last november we found this gun together in a foggy little town about 60Km from were we live.

I live in Italy since 1988, born in Long Island left at the age of 13

Cheers!

 

[Harry_Callahan]

Harry_Callahan...the case you posted a photo of was used from 1975-1979.

Yes, I know because its got the lip and uses plastic on top\bottom


So the cardboard box is a big mistake I seem to understand?

 

[Doc44]

The cardboard box you have was used from 1979-1985. The revolver was packaged in the blue box and it was packaged with the presentation case in a larger cardboard shipping carton.

Bill

 

[Harry_Callahan]

The cardboard box you have was used from 1979-1985. The revolver was packaged in the blue box and it was packaged with the presentation case in a larger cardboard shipping carton.

Bill

Hi Bill,

but I'm a little confused.

On page 197 of the SW Catalog it says: the first 29's were shipped with a blue(almost black) case(wood), later in a two-piece metal cornered cardboard box. Then in 1980 with the one-piece folded cardboard box.

is the box your talking about is this?(one piece) :

mine is a two peace with metal corners. no writings

 

[TDC]

I'll take a try at an explanation....

I think I can see where Harry is experiencing some confusion. That confusion seems to center around what is meant by a "cardboard box."

The cardboard box you're referring to is commonly called a "blue box" of that era. They were primarily used with shipments of later model and dash number N frames than yours. These later handguns were enclosed in the blue box inside a larger cardboard carton, which housed both the blue box and the presentation case separately. I believe the cardboard box Doc 44 was referring to in earlier posts is the cardboard sleeve wrapped around the presentation case to protect it in shipping. These sleeves are the same basic dimensions of a presentation case and the package contained no additional blue box.

So many changes and factory modifications have occurred through the years. We should all be thankful for the brand new book Doc44 and S&W Historian Roy Jinks are just now publishing on the history of the 44 Magnums.... Waiting anxiously for mine!!

The blue box you bought was likely intended for a model produced after your 29 when they were shipped in larger cartons. From what I read it is not correct for your 29.

Keep in mind the tools, literature, special wrapping paper, even the blue box itself included with your blue box purchase all have individual value to collectors. You will need many of those items to complete your 29 to be "as originally shipped." Most presentation cases being sold today don't include those extras- like tools...

 

[Doc44]

The SCSW is confusing. The Model 29 was never shipped in a blue box with metal corners unless it was part of the package shipped from 1979-1982 and described in my post #5. In 1982, the presentation case was discontinued as a standard item for the Model 29, but could be ordered at extra cost until 1985. In 1982 and later, if the case was not ordered, the box featured in your last post was used to ship the revolver (probably a Model 29-3).

Read my expert commentary on Presentation Cases for the Model 29, 1957-1985, as it may help you understand what is the correct case for your 29-2. Also, forget the cardboard box for your revolver, it never shipped with one.

Bill

 

[ditrina]

La scatola blu che si mostrano nella foto, è una scatola che la pistola era confezionato in, al momento della spedizione insieme al cofanetto di legno. Non ha la scrittura o la marcatura su di esso. Le armi, gli strumenti di lavoro e la carta sono stati confezionati in quella scatola, e poi messo in una scatola di cartone più grande, con il caso di presentazione di legno, questo è stato chiamato il box "Shipping". L'etichetta identifing è stata poi posta sulla parte esterna della scatola di cartone di grandi dimensioni, e inviati ai rivenditori.

Spero che questo ti aiuta a capire circa la "Blue Box" che hai .. Si tratta di una scatola di spedizione .. che è incluso nella confezione cofanetto ..

Saluti

 

[zelda]

Harry-- That is the correct box for a 29-2. Used when they changed the case design featuring the barrel pointed right and a little covered tray. The case was in the bottom of a larger cardboard box. Those later cases linings crumbeld after a few years. Find a case as l desribed. Then reline it. l think there is a forum member that restores them. Quite nicely too. Outer cardboard box will be harder to find. Dad has the whole pkg. He lets me look at it at times. Sadly he only lets me look

 

[Harry_Callahan]

All clear now. I'm a litte sad that the cardboard box is not from the era of my 29-2. Since the gun didn't have paperwork and tools, at least I added another piece to the puzzle. It's probably much better to leave the gun in the waxed paper and cardboard box then new types of boxes(ex. foam or sponge)

I think the wisest chioce now is to find the mahogany box at Doc44's post #5

@Doc44 I'll stay tuned on your book


For the case, is eBay the only way to find it? Or is there an eShop in the web?

Best Regards to all

Thank you

 

[Bizio]

Ciao Harry_Callahan, welcome on board !
I registered here as Bizio, not as Bizio61