Safety Hammerless boxes

[9245]

Does anyone have a picture of the original box and label for the third gen .38 Safety hammerless? Thought it would be neat to try and get/make the correct box for display.

 

[orbruce]

In my experience the boxes and end labels do not differ appreciably between the 1st and 4th Models of the 38 Safeties. There are different color end labels for blue and nickel models and box color can vary. The major difference is in the instruction labels inside the lid, these have slightly different directions for the different models. Do you have a blue or nickel 3th Model/

B. Mower

 

[9245]

In my experience the boxes and end labels do not differ appreciably between the 1st and 4th Models of the 38 Safeties. There are different color end labels for blue and nickel models and box color can vary. The major difference is in the instruction labels inside the lid, these have slightly different directions for the different models. Do you have a blue or nickel 3th Model/

B. Mower

It’s nickelwith pearl grips, with either a 5 or 6 inch barrel, I’m not sure, I have to measure it when I get it in hand, but I suspect 6.

 

[glowe]

Need a serial number since they made the 3rd Model for 9 years and the box changed over that time.

 

[9245]

Need a serial number since they made the 3rd Model for 9 years and the box changed over that time.

The serial number is 103711.

 

[glowe]

That would put your revolver at around 1897 ship date, so before the Pearl stocks sticker placed in the bottom of the box starting around 1898. The box would be maroon, like the images I posted below. Note that both lid label and end label state model and barrel length.

The end label seems to have some mystery associated with its color. Supica stated that the blued guns were green and the nickel guns were orange or white. Both my 3rd Model 38 Safety boxes have whitish labels stating blued gun, so???????

 

[orbruce]

Safety boxes

The serial number is 103711.

Here's some pictures of a 3rd Model 38 Safety in the 94xxx serial number range. Note that the lid direction begin with "Press the barrel catch..." as the 3rd Models had a button type latch. The latch was changed on the 4th Model and the directions are different. A box for a 5" or 6" is going to be a tough to find.

B. Mower

 

[9245]

That would put your revolver at around 1897 ship date, so before the Pearl stocks sticker placed in the bottom of the box starting around 1898. The box would be maroon, like the images I posted below. Note that both lid label and end label state model and barrel length.

The end label seems to have some mystery associated with its color. Supica stated that the blued guns were green and the nickel guns were orange or white. Both my 3rd Model 38 Safety boxes have whitish labels stating blued gun, so???????

Thanks, those are helpful What pearl stocks sticker? And what is that target thing in the bottom of the box?

 

[glowe]

The factory was providing quality pearl stocks throughout the 1800s up to around the mid-1890s, when large distributors started replacing hard rubber stocks with their own inferior grade pearls. Factory would get the complaints about those distributors stocks because the buyer did not know they were not factory installed. Around 1898, the company started placing gold medallions in their pearl and ivory stocks to differentiate from the distributors and placed a label on the bottom inside of the box.

S&W used to provide a target with a shot placed in the small bullseye to show the buyer that the gun functions and shoots where aimed.

 

[9245]

The factory was providing quality pearl stocks throughout the 1800s up to around the mid-1890s, when large distributors started replacing hard rubber stocks with their own inferior grade pearls. Factory would get the complaints about those distributors stocks because the buyer did not know they were not factory installed. Around 1898, the company started placing gold medallions in their pearl and ivory stocks to differentiate from the distributors and placed a label on the bottom inside of the box.

S&W used to provide a target with a shot placed in the small bullseye to show the buyer that the gun functions and shoots where aimed.

Thanks.

I do have pearl grips, but being that mine was made in 1897, before the medallion, how can I tell if they are factory original?

Also, was the target provided in all of them?

 

[glowe]

Best way is factory letter that will tell you exactly where and when the gun was shipped. It will also tell you the gun's configuration. Another method is to compare the thickness of the stocks with factory hard rubber and they should be the same. I have a 38 Safety with hard rubber stocks and they measure 1.1" wide installed on the gun. I also have a non-factory set of pearls that measure .94" installed on the gun.

Targets were used for some time around 1900, but not sure when they started or stopped using them.