[HABU]

How can I tell how many of each barrel length was manufactured for a particular S&W model?

[Ala Dan]

Oops, that might be a problem? I don't know if Mr.
Roy Jinks of Smith & Wesson has stat's on barrel
length's produced or not; but that would certainly
be a good place to start.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Old Fuff]

I don't think that Roy has that kind of data in the top of his head. Over the years S&W has manufactured literally millions of revolvers. To determine how many of a particular model were made in a certain barrel length would require reviewing the whole production history of that model, gun by gun.

This has been done in at least one case. The research was done on pre-war .357 Magnums, but this only involved a few thousand guns. In other instances they know that a particular model was produced in one barrel length (WW-2 Victory Model/.38 Spec./4 inch) except for a special run of the same with 2 inch barrels. If one had a particular model in mind Roy might give an educated estimate about barrel length, but that's the best he could do.

One thing that collectors' do is look for barrel lengths that weren't cataloged for a certain model. For example, a model 29 with a 5 inch barrel. They made some, but they weren't cataloged.

Last but not least, the people that usually find (and get) the valuable rare stuff are those that spend the money to buy some research books. In gun collecting as well as many other things, knowledge is power.