Was there a Purple 1940 catalog

[Aussie Collector]

G'day,
I don't have a 1940 catalog and believe it to be blue as I've seen on the internet and described in SCSW. I notices some time back that on the S&W 2000 catalog, it has a picture of the purple (looks brown) 1941 catalog and calls it 1940 or is this correct?
I can understand people getting confused as my 1941 catalog (purple) has the 1940 price list stapled to it, although page 1 says 1941.
Was there blue only in 1940, or both a blue catalog and a purple catalog?
Cheers.

 

[Masterpiece]

Hope You're Happy Now!!

Hi Aussie,

Hope you're happy now that you've finally made me go dig out my 2000 Catalog to see where you were getting all these references....Ha!~Ha!

Anyway, as far as I can tell the catalog they have pictured was most likely misidentified & is in fact a 1941 Catalog (Purple) with the 1940 Pricing attached inside like the one you have because I've never seen a 1940 dated Catalog in Purple!! As far as I know all of the 1940 Catalogs are Blue & dated 1940 on the first printed page as in the photos I've attached!! They also have a tab inserted where the "New" K-22 Masterpiece is listed with reference stating they would be available with the Standard Hammer "Only" because there was no need to order a Humpback Hammer because of the New Short Action!! (See Pic)

I've also attached a couple photos of a 1939 Catalog with a 1938 Price List stapled inside the Rear Cover to show you that this was common practice for them to do as with your 1941 Catalog!! Most likely these Catalogs were printed late in the model year when the prior years catalog supply was exhausted & rather than printing a batch dated for that specific year they just stapled in that years pricing in the upcoming year's Catalog!!

By the way, in case you weren't aware, there was also an "All Model Circular" available in 1940!! It's Red dated 7/40 & also includes the "New" K22 Masterpiece Revolver!! If you're interested I can post some photos of it as well!! Hope this helps!!

 

[Aussie Collector]

Masterpiece, Thanks for the information and pictures.
Now you have the 2000 catalog out here are some of my observations,
1. As discussed 1941 incorrectly dated as 1940.
2. 1961 catalog called "All Model Circular"
3. 1971 catalog called 1972.
4. 1892 catalog called 1893, granted it would have been used until the 1894 catalog was issued.
I have always liked the design of the 1939 catalog and would rate it as my favourite plain/basic covers.
I was aware of the 1940 circular but have never seen one, I would like to see the cover, thanks. Actually the only old catalogs I see are either over the internet or in my collection, which I get from the US. I have never seen them displayed or for sale in Australia at gun shows or elsewhere.
Cheers.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

This is my 1941 catalog.

 

[Aussie Collector]

Thanks Don,
I don't doubt you as all things S&W are written in soft mud on a fluid table with a very light stroke.
I thought this catalog was from 1939, and was used for a couple of years until stock ran out, like a lot of others and can be found with later price lists. Unless there is a difference between yours and others from 1939, please feel free to comment.
I also believe the catalog P4 and purple catalog (pictured) being 1941s.
Of couse between the 1939 and 1941 we have 1940 which was the blue same design as 1941.
My comments are from observations and books so I can easily be wrong.
The other comment I will make is the only catalog "cover" that I'm aware that was reissued over the years intermittently (with different catalogs between) is the 1925, 30 (75th), 31, 36 (80th) & 37 (85th) 4 pictured here.
Maybe the 1939 & 1941 is another use of the same cover with others in-between?
Is there 50 or 34 pages in this 1941 catalog?
Cheers.

 

[Aussie Collector]

I made a mistake in the previous post, went to edit it and thought, no I'll let someone tell me the mistake and cancelled the edit.
Being a week and no one picked it up I can only gather that there are not too many catalog collectors out there?
Anyway the omission was on the same catalog reused over a few years. There was also a 1938 (85th) which is actually the one pictured. I could also add that if you like splitting straws some of these also had a few versions with page differences.
Cheers.