Any S&W box recovery stories?

[ShowMePro]

Just curious, does anyone have any stories of finding the factory S&W (or other?) gun boxes back for their guns? And I don't mean in the back of your safes, lol. Wondering if there's any wild tales of successful recoveries out there....

 

[alwslate]

I have a wild tale of a box lost. Way back in the early 70s I took my S&W model 28 that I bought new in 1968 out to the local outdoor shooting range. Back then the range had no shooting benches so I set the 28 in the box on the ground and walked out to the 50 yd mound to put up a target. When I turned around I saw some rotten little dog with the box top in it's mouth disappear over the hill behind the range. I still have the bottom of the box with no top.

 

[mm93]

Never found a specific box for the exact S&W, but have found numerous boxes that were correct for the model I had. They used to be plentiful at our local gun shows, and prices were stupid cheap at $5-$10 each for the old dark blue, and even some gold boxes. I bought several wood presentation boxes for $20-$25 also.
Then suddenly it all ended and whatever boxes occasionally showed up were stupid high prices.

 

[LEO918]

Bought a Model 53 with 8 3/8" barrel in Tucson Arizona. Kept it a couple of years and became disenchanted with it.
Ran into a guy from El Mirage Arizona who said he'd buy if I could deliver it.
Drove out there and the deal was made. He reached back behind his desk and pulled out the matching box numbered to the gun.
Both of us were shocked. Said he'd had the box a few years waiting for a gun to go in it.

 

[chuckie]

When I saw a barely fired M586 no dash at a nearby gun store, I put a deposit on it as I wanted to some research. I decided I wanted it and went back the next day and bought it. On my way out the door I thought to ask him if he had the box. He went in the attic and sure enough he had the original box. I was a happy camper.