What am I missing?

[iby]

BTW, tell me which box is the rarer of the two? The subject matter of this thread or the box for the Model 1 Third Issue as photographed below. The price the Gunbroker revolver brought makes the price I paid for this one, in comparison, very cheap.

You already know the answer .
Yours is an outstanding example

 

[Masterpiece]

Ex Dr Roy G Jinks collection.

Guess the above statement says it all...Rarely cross paths with one in such pristine condition...Let alone with the Original Box!! Again, Thanks for posting the photo!!

 

[mrcvs]

The rimfire boxes are very rare. The centerfire boxes, not so much unless looking for a box for a low production gun like a Wesson Favorite (~1000) or a 1st Model .32 DA (1-30). Thirty-two centerfire Single Action boxes are somewhat common, both green and red, except for the S&W in-house produced wood boxes. I'm not knocking the GB sale of that 1 1/2 but I'd expect a near perfect box to accompany a revolver of that quality. Being the Devil's Advocate, I suspect that it is a marriage with the box as I do not see a serial number on the box bottom and the condition of the box seems dingy compared to the revolver. And, yes, I know not every box had a serial number but with this late production I'm suspicious... especially at that price.

I too, noted the lack of a penciled serial number on the base of the box and think it’s A box and not THE box. The box probably would be in better condition than it is if paired with this particular revolver since the time of manufacture, but, in the other hand, the revolver might be in such good condition as it remained in this box since manufacture, unlike other revolvers not kept in boxes and in worse condition, and the wear seen on the box is simply the wear NOT seen on this revolver due to being stored in the box and the wear exhibited on revolvers of the same era stored less carefully.

 

[glowe]

I guess there is no reason to suggest the box is either matched with the gun or not. I have several top-break boxes that either have an illegible number or worn completely off. Worn as the bottom is from sliding around on a shelf or drawer bottom for 120 years make it almost certain the lightly penciled number would be gone.

 

[iby]

box

It's just better if the box has the number