[barx7ranch]

I have a S & W model 51 and I am trying to determine the age. Value does not matter as I love it and won't part with it. When opened, under the model # is the number 83125. On the butt of the gun is the number 58387. Which one is the serial number? On the side of the barrel it says 22 M.R.F. CTG. I know it is a magnum rim fire but what is CTG. ? Any help?

[owen]

CTG means cartridge

[rcmodel]

Model 51, 1960 .22/32 Kit Gun
The actual serial number is on the bottom of the butt of the gun, not the side of the grip.
(May be under the grips if it happens to have large target grips)

58387 would have been made in 1955 before the model 51 came out in 1960, so that isn't a valid serial number.

The 83125 inside the frame may be the actual serial number, and if it matches the one on the bottom of the butt, it was made around 1962 or so.

rc

[barx7ranch]

How would the # on the butt be invalid? Is it interchangeable with some other model? There is no doubt about the numbers. They are very clear. Thanks for this information.

[Ron James]

There is some overlap in the serial numbers. Serial number range is 52637-135465 in the Kit Gun series. As a result the exact date of manufacture is a little fuzzy. Since production of the 51 started in 1960 with 52367, yours was probably made in 1960/61. [ Pg 217, 3rd edition of the Standard Catalog ]. When I first researched the numbers in the back of the book, I said whoa, this don't compute, so I dug a little deeper:)

[barx7ranch]

Thanks to you both for the effort you put into my question. Ron..I moved from Mesa to Vinita, OK. I got 80 beautiful acres for less thal I sold my home for. People say what the hell brought you to Oklahoma. My simple answer is 2.3 million people in metropolitan Phoenix. I have my own shooting range. I shoot off my porch into the bank of a pond. Don't miss it a lick.

[rcmodel]

Ron
Thanks for clarifying that.

My wife was brow-beating me to get off the computer and go out to eat, so I didn't research it as deep as I should have.

rc