Blue-Box Contents?

[RoyS]

Greeting Gentlemen,

A serious question for the more scholarly and experienced members in regards the correct compliment of contents (aside from the gun) in the S&W blue-box - circa 1970's model 19's.

I will have more question on this topic at a later date but to get started; what was the standard 'package' of items that were included? Assuming there was such a 'standard'.!

From my limited understanding, it would seem that the following items are included.

A: Waxed paper
B: Tool kit (bagged)
C: Tissue paper
D: Owners manual/parts list
E: Warranty card
F: Service card
G: Flyer?

Thanking all in advance.

Cheerio,

Roy

 

[824tsv]

The flyer could be an advertisement for S&W holsters which I've seen several times from the 70's.

 

[RoyS]

Thanks for that,

Interesting and good to know. I wonder how many different flyers were used throughout this period.

I have one flyer advertising their knives (circa 1975). I found this of particular interest as it brought back so many memories, as my first quality knife I ever purchased was the S&W survival knife (featured in this flyer) in the late 1970's. As a youngster on an English farm I was so incredibly proud to be carrying a 'Smith & Wesson'...!

God bless America..!

Cheerio,

Roy

 

[JP@AK]

In addition to the holsters and knives, sometimes an ammunition brochure was included in the 1970s. I have a couple of them, but no pictures. If you really need a photo, I could try to dig one out and photograph it, but maybe not until I return from the SWCA symposium in Reno. Let me know.

 

[RoyS]

Hello Jack,

Thank you for that additional information. So it certainly seems at leas three flyers were used at various times. I wonder if there was any structure to these being included or if there was no rhyme or reason. It would be nice to study 1970's boxes to see if there is at least some rudimentary timeline that could be extrapolated.

Cheers,

Roy

 

[JP@AK]

Roy

I just checked three boxes that I know are intact with original contents, as follows (dates are ship dates):
1975 N frame - parts list, warranty card, warranty service locations, holster brochure.

1980 K frame - parts list, warranty card, warranty service locations, ammunition brocure

1983 N frame - parts list, safety instructions, warranty card, warranty service locations, holster brochure (specific to N frame holsters)

I have three other boxes and guns that I bought new in the 1970s. Unfortunately, only the parts lists remain with them. The other stuff - warranty cards, service locations, knife brochure, ammo brochure, etc. - were pulled out and stashed in a separate file. I still have them, but which of them came in which box is something I cannot reconstruct. Too bad, but back then it didn't occur to me to keep them together. At least I didn't throw them away!

Part of the problem is that the original box for the 4" 28-2 I bought when I got back from 'Nam became the storage box for my cleaning stuff long, long ago. It sits on a shelf under my workbench but its original contents are in the file, mixed up with other paperwork and S&W brochures. I wasn't really a serious collector back in those days. That HP was just a work gun.

 

[JP@AK]

Forgot one!

1971 K frame - parts list, warranty card, service locations, ammo brochure.

Of course, all of them (previous post and this one) came with the vox paper and tissue paper.

 

[RoyS]

Hi Jack,

Thank you for all that. A pattern is certain starting to appear. I'm amazed you still have these revolvers after all these years, owning such thing was just a glint in a child's eyes (mine) when you were buying these. Lovely to get some first hand accounts.

Cheers,

Roy

 

[stoshini]

Can someone explain the "tissue paper"? I've had many NIB Smiths. Only the "wax" paper for mine.

 

[RoyS]

Can someone explain the "tissue paper"? I've had many NIB Smiths. Only the "wax" paper for mine.

Hi,

Yes I would like to know this too and it was one of my questions to pose down the road. My 'assumption' is that the 'tissue' paper if to wrap the documents in to protect them from any oil/grease etc. but I don't really know, just a guess. Hopefully someone will know for sure.

Cheerio,

Roy

 

[dant]

tissue paper.....

was usually rolled up and tucked in the void ( space) below the triangle formed when the gun was first wrapped in the vox paper.......below the narrowed part of the barrel and kept the plastic wrapped tool kit ( or in the case of a gun with NO screw driver, ala "fixed" sights", the brush, swab and rod), the tissue paper kept the "tool kit" in place........

 

[RoyS]

Hello Dan,

Thank you for that, I learned something today thanks to You..

On a related note; I would be interested to know 'how' revolvers of this period (1970's) were packed?

I know it's a 'anorak' type of question (that's English for 'geek') but as such guns that are still around (i.e. NIB) have been unpacked/repacked etc, it would be interesting (to me) to know how one would have viewed a 'new' gun when unpacking it (back int the day).

Note: As a kid in England (1970's) seeing a new S&W was something I never had the opportunity of.

Cheerio,

Roy