S&W 3rd Gen Box-Label experts ….

[Frank Black]

I'm the 3rd owner of this M1066 - TFB20XX. The previous owner hardly shot it. I know the history of the gun with its first owner as related to me in emails by the second guy. With the gun came the box, papers, a bunch of targets, handloading records, notes on gunsmithing work done on it, and some chronograph data amassed by the original owner.

My question pertains to the label on the box.

Above the model no. is "555." Also, the Spec. Ord. is "0130." Can one of our resident label experts tell me what those numbers mean?


I had thought the handwritten "99 - 1002" on the bottom right was some sort of stocking number (with "99" meaning 1999) put there by the dealer from whom the original owner purchased the gun. However, the owner bought it from Bob Swanson (Gun List) as NOS and still NIB in 1996, per the paperwork I received.

There's a longer story of course but I was curious about the other two numbers. Thanks in advance for any info!

 

[ACEd]

I have never heard the top number above the Model No explained.

But the consensus on Spec Ord 0130 would be first digit 0 is last digit of year 1990 or 2000 or possibly 2010 - the remaining 3 digits are the day - so in your case 130th day of 1990 is most likely "Manufacture Date" - though 130 may instead be the day it was boxed or the label created for the box. The Ship date could be after the "Manufacture Date" by anywhere from 0 days to years and of course it could sit on dealer's shelf for more time. 1999 is a long time, but the 1066 was not a very popular model - generally accepted manufacture dates 1990-1992 - so 1996 or 1999 is possible.

You have a great pistol. 35 years after manufacture it is now a very desirable pistol - both because of the rarity of the 3rd generation 10xx models and their performance. The only downsides are (1) the 1026 and 1076 less desirable decocler but that is offset by the rarity of the 1026 and the FBI connection to the 1076, and (2) the rarity and price of the SW mags.

 

[Frank Black]

I have never heard the top number above the Model No explained.
But the consensus on Spec Ord 0130 would be first digit 0 is last digit of year 1990 or 2000 or possibly 2010 - the remaining 3 digits are the day - so in your case 130th day of 1990 is most likely "Manufacture Date" - though 130 may instead be the day it was boxed or the label created for the box. The Ship date could be after the "Manufacture Date" by anywhere from 0 days to years and of course it could sit on dealer's shelf for more time. 1999 is a long time, but the 1066 was not a very popular model - generally accepted manufacture dates 1990-1992 - so 1996 or 1999 is possible.

Thanks for that info!

Yeah, I'm certain of the date of the original purchase: summer of 1996. So the 130th day of 1990 seems the most plausible for the "born on date" or "boxing date." It's interesting the gun was still NIB six years later when the first owner bought it from Swanson advertising on Gun List. He sold a lot of 3rd Gen guns on G.L. back in the day.

You have a great pistol. 35 years after manufacture it is now a very desirable pistol - both because of the rarity of the 3rd generation 10xx models and their performance. The only downsides are (1) the 1026 and 1076 less desirable decocker but that is offset by the rarity of the 1026 and the FBI connection to the 1076, and (2) the rarity and price of the SW mags.

I have two 1066s. The other is my current EDC. I also have an ex-LE 1076 (set up the same way as the Bureau guns), and a 1006.

 

[GaryS]

Just be thankful the number above the Model information wasn't "666."

 

[toddimusnimski]

My question pertains to the label on the box.

Above the model no. is "555." Also, the Spec. Ord. is "0130." Can one of our resident label experts tell me what those numbers mean?

ACEd explained it very well. Unfortunately "the number above the model number" is a question I've also asked and haven't had answered either. Maybe the employee # of the packer? I guess we may never know.

Todd

 

[Sevens]

I will pile on with the group and say that I have not ever heard any explanation for that 555 code on a box label.

I do have some insight on the hand written numbers typically placed on the bottom right of end labels — this was a very typical gun store addition and was usually some sort of a stocking number or "quick access" reference number for the store.

I have seen it as simple as a page number from the catalog of their biggest wholesaler. It was a fast way for a gun store to look up their cost, perhaps to know where they were with regards to moving on the price?

As for the package you got, I love it. It is a gun forum trope to "buy the gun and not the story" and gun forum tropes suck out loud. I totally love the story, I love to hear all the memories associated with any gun I am buying.

 

[ACEd]

ACEd explained it very well. Unfortunately "the number above the model number" is a question I've also asked and haven't had answered either. Maybe the employee # of the packer? I guess we may never know.

Todd

May be something as simple as a more or less random number at top of a manufacturing order sheet going out to the floor - In the 1960s Chrysler used to have a 6 digit number at end of fender tag that was simply a random manufacturing order number - everything else on the tag decoded including the scheduled production date - but not that 6 digit number.

Think in terms of you get an order for 75 or 250 units of the same configuration. Most times the serial numbers are not contiguous (counter example is the CHP or other orders which specify s/n - but most times not). Now the production line has to keep pistols for that order together from manufacture thru shipment. And in some cases of larger quantities the production & shipments may be spread over months - so give them a unique identifier tied to the order.

 

[Frank Black]

As for the package you got, I love it. It is a gun forum trope to "buy the gun and not the story" and gun forum tropes suck out loud. I totally love the story, I love to hear all the memories associated with any gun I am buying.

Thanks. I'll have to follow up with a more detailed post along with pictures of this stuff.

The original owner was an FBI agent whose employment timeline would've overlapped the years that the Bureau's issued the M1076 to field agents. Senior agents were allowed to keep carrying their 1076s (provided they qualified with it) if they chose even after the Bureau started transitioning academy rookies to the Glock 40s in the mid-'90s (G22, G23). I knew some local senior agents as late as 2002-03 who were still carrying their 1076s although these guys were on the verge of retirement.

This 1066 was his personal gun, purchased at or near the end of his career, maybe as a retirement gift to himself. He likely carried it post-retirement and he definitely used it to compete in a state police shooting league with a 170grn SWC handload.