Another gold box grease pencil question

[waelkhntr]

Not wanting to hijack the other thread I'm starting a new one.

Of the few gold boxes I have the grease pencil serial number is either missing or unreadable. Having read the other thread I have some questions.

1) Is there a particular format that was used in marking these boxes
2) If the serial number is hard to read why isn't it okay to trace over it to
make it legible
3) How does one know if a box has been remarked?

Just trying to expand my fledgling knowledge

Thanks,
Terry

 

[gmborkovic]

I would imagine that coming down the line, the packaging people
marked the bottom of the box, so the invoice could be checked.
Im assuming a wax pencil is nothing more than a kids crayon? So
their rubbing of the bottom of the box on a shelf, just wore the Sn.
off. Best I got.

 

[Truckman]

So
their rubbing of the bottom of the box on a shelf, just wore the Sn.
off.

That would be my assumption as well...S&W was only interested in getting the product to the next level of distribution, and less concerned about preserving history for collectors......Ben

 

[handejector]

1) Is there a particular format that was used in marking these boxes
2) If the serial number is hard to read why isn't it okay to trace over it to
make it legible
3) How does one know if a box has been remarked?

1) Yes. The number is written on one end of the bottom. The letter prefix is usually on one line and the number below it.
2) Because it will show no matter how good you are, and the box will then be suspect as a fake.
3) By looking at thousands of them over the last 60 years. One actually recognizes the handwriting of the different packers in different eras.

 

[waelkhntr]

Thanks Handejector,
that was the information I was wondering about. Makes perfect sense.


Terry

 

[glowe]

Lee, I have seen both the K above the first number and K plus entire serial number on one line on Gold boxes???? Does that mean all are fake??? I am confused, but usually only pay attention to Masterpiece boxes.

I also have one that has some white tape on the bottom with the serial number printed on it.

Here is a picture of a Masterpiece box with the K above the number and a picture or white tape label.

 

[Truckman]

I also have one that has some white tape on the bottom with the serial number printed on it.

I have at least one like that also with white tape......Ben

 

[waelkhntr]

Would someone be willing to post a picture of a "legitimate" numbered box? I have tried the search function here and google search but haven't come up with anything. Just trying to learn. Some things that seem so simple turn out to be more complex.

Terry

 

[spin132]

Would someone be willing to post a picture of a "legitimate" numbered box? I have tried the search function here and google search but haven't come up with anything. Just trying to learn. Some things that seem so simple turn out to be more complex.



Terry

Here ya go!

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[JSR III]

The problem is that anything can be faked. Tricks of the trade are discussed here so often that there are no secrets.

Be it grease pencil numbers on a box, penciled serial numbers on the right stock panel or two jig marks strategically placed on the rear of Roper stocks.

It is a shame that bad actors will fake these things for profit but that is the world that we live in.

As far as the factory was concerned, I am sure that different inspectors or clerks had their own way of marking things and not sure that S&W had a hard and fast rule as to where the letter had to fall above the number. Seeing that here in America we read left to right, it would seem normal that if the letter was to be on line one and the number on line two, that the letter would fall above the first number but that is just a wag on my part.

 

[ken158]

The thing is that people here think like collectors instead of employees that were making an item that sold for about $30 or so… Highly doubtful the factory had any rules on how to mark a serial number on the box bottom with a crayon. I believe the purpose for this marking was because the boxes were stacked upside down and it was easier to see and the boxes easier to handle.

 

[JSR III]

It could also have been easier for the shipping department to record the guns serial number going out the door and not have to open the box to look????

 

[waelkhntr]

These are all valid points especially what Ken158 said in post 11. I guess I was thinking as a want to be collector rather than an employee 60 years ago. Write the number on the box put it on the stack and move on to the next one. I doubt they even thought that 60 some odd years in the future people would be scrutinizing their work.

Thanks for the continuing education

Terry

 

[rct269]

And then too----------------------------------------

I'm about 99.9% certain the S&W folks never even thought about looking inside the box to see if what the box said was what it was. My sad case on point concerns an 8" 1st Model .32 caliber Single Shot. It lettered as a 10" .22. It shows on the shipping records page Roy sent to me as a 10" .22.

So how in the world does such a screw-up like that happen? My one and only guess is the nice lady who puts guns in boxes and writes the number on the bottom of the box grabbed the wrong box---one for a 10" .22----and my fate was sealed---almost.

When the gun got to the distributor, their receiving clerk took one look at it, and called out, "Hey Boss, they sent the wrong gun---we ordered a 10" .22, and they sent an 8" .32!" The Boss said, "That's okay, we can sell it----put it on the shelf!"

The deed was done did right then and there!!

Ralph Tremaine