Mod 24-3 Box Question

[CScott]

I recently took possession of a Mod 24-3, 4" that came to me unfired and in a S&W wood presentation box. I have since been reading about the 24-3's and one source indicates that the 4" guns never came in a wood box but that the "Presentation Case" was available for separate purchase.
Does any forum member know anything about this? Obviously the collectability would be affected if it is not in the correct box. I'm trying to decide whether to shoot it or hold it.
Scott

 

[6string]

Hi,
I remember when the 24-3 came out. It was pretty exciting! The wood presentation boxes were, I believe, optional accessories that were available for separate purchase. Only special commemorative models included the case, if I'm not mistaken.
Also, the correct cardboard box for the 24-3 could be in the LSI style or the Bangor Punta style, presumably dependent on supplies on hand. They were also numbered to the gun.
I'm basing this on my experience of working for Remington in Canada, who shared the same distributor as S&W.

Best regards,
Jim

 

[jcelect]

Presentation case

The 24-3 change was implemented around 1983! At about the same time S&W stopped the practice of shipping N frame guns in a presentation case. However the D type case could be bought until about 1985 as an aftermarket item. In 1985 they changed the style of the presentation case inside and out! This is the way a type D case was shipped with a gun. Notice the label on the outside of the cardboard shipping carton.

The only true way to know how your gun was shipped from the factory is to have the original box w/end label numbered to the gun! I don't believe a factory letter would answer your question unless it was special ordered that way. Many of us put the N frame guns in a period correct presentation case and say "It might have been shipped like that!"

jcelect SWCA#LM723

Side note; The case liners in the picture have been recovered! It is impossible to find a type D case in original condition!

 

[cbvanb]

A few months back I purchased a 24-3, in unfired condition. It came with the original blue box, numbered to the gun, but nothing else other than the wrapping paper. I don't recall them being supplied from the factory with the presentation case.
For what it's worth, I also can't decide whether to shoot this one or not. I wanted a shooter for the longest time, but this one is so clean I can barely find the turn line on the cylinder. Decisions, decisions....

 

[6string]

PS: I can probably find and post the info from the catalog from when the 24-3 was announced, if anyone's interested....

 

[CScott]

PS: I can probably find and post the info from the catalog from when the 24-3 was announced, if anyone's interested....

Sure, I would like to see that.
I too have been looking for a 24-3 to shoot so that I can rest my older 44's. Now this one is too nice to shoot! I guess I'll just have to keep looking for a good "shooter".
Thanks for all your thoughts.

 

[6string]

Hi,
I hope the attachments show correctly.
Please note that these are from the 1984 catalog. The 1983 catalog actually had an announcement for the 24-3 at the beginning of the "Handguns" section of the catalog. To give you some possible help with the box question, here's a quote from the 1984 catalog: "The Model 29 is available with or without a presentation case." Under the Model 27 it states: "An optional presentation case is available." There is no such quote for the Model 24, nor is there any picture or mention of presentation cases anywhere else in the catalog, including under accessories.
I couldn't say how definitive this may be taken as a matter of S&W policy, whether for just 1984 or including 1983, when the 24-3 was introduced.
Unless, I'm mistaken, the 24-3 was S&W's first venture into what might be called the "Nostalgia" market, i.e. reintroducing a formerly discontinued model with some type of limited production. Maybe that might have some collector significance. Marketing of such things at the time seems to have been done somewhat clumsily compared to the refined marketing we are accustomed to today. Nonetheless, the announcement of the 24-3 was pretty exciting news!

 

[ars1876]

model 24-3 box question

I purchased mine Dec 4 th 1983,$ 341.25,brand new,from Dave's Guns, at the Wheaton,Il gun show. (Chicago,Il suburb ) It was brand new and in the blue Bangor Punta 2 pc box.S&W made 5000 w/6" barrels & 2500 w/4".Skeeter Skelton wrote the first article about them in the March 1983 issue of Shooting Times magazine,P.47.Still have it & box,tools,paper & owners manual.Hope this helps.