yes, that is about the time of the transition from the two piece cardboard to the sleeves and styrofoam, like others say, may need an actual shipping date.............many times the better selling guns get the newer packaging faster as they sell quicker, so would run out of boxes sooner,,,,see this with Colt as well as S&W and others, have seen slow moving S&W with older " diamond" grips and early boxes not ship till some years later ( early ,mid 60's
A good question for over at the Colt forum............ :roll: