I used prop_physics_override just to spawn the model, that isn't the class of real gifts since they are controlled by the clients, not the server.
For the server crash: make sure you have at least SM 1.3.5 and have the gamedata updated for both SM and SDK Hooks.
Video showing it in action (skip to 1 : 35)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P7xqtQkAkY