K-22 Box Question

[mmais]

I have a K-22 but no box, the serial number is K207xxx which makes it 1953. Would the box have been the yellow gold color box with the picture of the gun on the top, or would it have been the blue box?

Thanks Mike

 

[murphydog]

Pretty sure it would have been the gold box. Others will now post photos of theirs just to show off ;) .

 

[fat tom]

Would hate to disappoint. :D



f.t.

 

[samandglove1]

I'll add one also.

 

[boykinlp]

I have a K-22 but no box, the serial number is K207xxx which makes it 1950. Would the box have been the yellow gold color box with the picture of the gun on the top, or would it have been the blue box?

Thanks Mike

Actually, your serial number should be closer to a 1953. It is a great revolver and very well liked on this forum.

 

[mmais]

Thanks I thought it was the gold box & sorry I knew it was 1953 just hit wrong key.

Mike

 

[rburg]

I want to argue... :) I've got one at K204,000s that came in a black box. Its what we call "pastel" or fades to it. Keep in mind that S&W was inconsiderate back then and didn't even bother to record the exact grip type, box color, screwdriver type etc. All they seem to have been interested in was selling another gun. Go figure. As you get up a little higher, as into the K240,000s range, almost all the examples are seen with the black box. Gold boxes seem to have run out for K22s.

The best answer to the question is that no one can say with any certainty what your gun shipped with. Maybe that's not true. Some can be certain, but they might be wrong.

 

[samandglove1]

The picture of the K22 that I posted above is of K204969 and it was shipped in December 1953. I hope that helps.

 

[JudgeColt]

Remember, there are two styles of these gold K22 boxes. The difference is found on the sides (not ends) of the box in the way the logos and lettering are printed.

What I call Style 1 has the S&W logos just printed (not embossed) in a smooth spot on the sides of the box. What I call Style 2 has the S&W logos embossed (raised) on the sides of the box.

Style 1 has the lines of blue lettering on the sides printed in a smooth area with no pebble grain in the area of printing. Style 2 has the lines of blue lettering on the sides of the box printed over the pebble grain.

Based on my own collection, I believe Style 1 is the earlier style, and was used until about 1950. I think Style 2 probably ran from about 1950 to the end of the gold box era. I suspect there was some overlap. If anyone has more firm dates, I would be interested to learn them.