Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[hovercat]

Help please.

38 s&w
4"
Checkered wood grips, square (I guess)
5 shot
Blade front sight, rear is groove on top strap.
SS# 68713 on barrel bottom and where ring finger goes on butt, nothing on bottom of butt.

Can you tell a model also please.
More research found it is a Regulation Police, and the grips have the same serial #. Would still appreciate date and any other info.

 

[Radagast]

hovercat:
Post war production of the .38 S&W Regulation Police began in 1949 at serial number 54475 & continued through to serial number 122678 in 1969.
Serial number 58470 shipped in July 1951.
As yours lacks a Model 33 stamping under the cylinder yoke it should be a 1957 or earlier gun, as model numbers were introduced in that year.
So 1951-1957 is the range.
If there is a screw in front of the trigger guard, then 1953 or earlier. If no screw then 1953 or later.
If there is a screw holding the side plate on just in front of the hammer, then 1955 or earlier. If no screw then 1955 or later.
With the above you should be able to narrow it down to a two year band.

 

[hovercat]

Yes to both screws, so 1951-3. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

 

[kingvillien]

Date my revolver

A)Caliber -357magnum
b) bbl length- 2.5"
c) grips shape- round
d) number of shots/cylinder bores- 6
e) type of sights.- Rear adjustable. Front Ramp with orange dot
f) serial number- CDW8635
g) Model number- 66-5

Thanks, man.

 

[Radagast]

kingvillien:
Your Model 66-5 Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in late 1999 or early 2000. Guns in the CDWxxxx range shipped in January 2000.

 

[non2os13]

A) 38 special
B) 2 inch barrel
C) square grips
D) 6 shot
E) non adjustable blade front recessed rear
F) c475943
G) model 12 no dash

Thanks for any info.

 

[Radagast]

non2os13:
Your Model 12 .38 Military & Police Airweight was shipped in 1961 but may have been manufactured in late 1960.

 

[non2os13]

Thanks

 

[tbreihan]

Please Date My Revolver...

a) .38 Special
b) 3-inch
c) Square-butt
d) 6
e) Fixed (Ramp front)
f) D745XX
g) 10-5

It's one of the recent agency trade-ins from Bud's. Thanks!

 

[Radagast]

tbreihan:
Your Model 10-5 .38 Military & Police tapered barrel was manufactured in 1975.

 

[tbreihan]

Thank you, sir! Much appreciated!

 

[Spartacus]

Another one from Bud's

.38 Special
4"
Square
6 shot
Fixed sights
8D296XX
10-8

 

[Radagast]

Spartacus:
Your Model 10-8 .38 Military & Police heavy barrel was manufactured in 1981.

 

[Spartacus]

Awesome. Thank you, sir.

 

[pittspilot]

Another bucket list gun.

66-3
2.5 barrel
BBT5xxx

Thanks,

 

[Radagast]

pitsspilot:
Your Model 66-3 Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1988. Serial number BBT2293 shipped in October of that year.

 

[VaguelyUseful]

Another Bud's special...

.38 Special
4"
Round
6 shot
Fixed sights
CTD17XX
10-11

 

[Radagast]

VaguelyUseful:

Your Model 10-11 .38 Military & Police tapered barrel is relatively new. The serial number ranges in the Standard Catalog of S&W go up to CTAxxxx in October 2004, so I would guesstimate your gun as late 2005.
Because it is relatively new it should be in S&W's computerized records and a call to S&W customer service may get you a shipping date.

 

[ruger1228]

32-20 wcf

Picked up a S&W 32-20 yesterday. I believe it is a 32-20 Model of 1905.
Caliber 32-20
Barrel 5 inches
6 shot with fluted cylinder
Wood grips with diamond center- No S&W emblem on grips
SN1278**
Smooth Trigger
SMITH & WESSON on one side of barrel
32-20 CTG on other side of barrel
Could you give me any information on the revolver and approximate
date of manufacture?
Thanking you in Advance.

 

[Radagast]

ruger1228:
Your .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 4th Change was probably manufactured manufactured in 1924. Serial number 120129 shipped in February of that year and serial number 125183 shipped in March, so it is likely that your gun was made shortly after. Mass production of the .32-20 effectively ended with the onset of the great depression, although it remained cataloged until 1940.
Your gun has a heat treated cylinder and should be fine with any current factory .32-20 ammunition.
Do not shoot any old jacketed ammo through it. The .32-20 Hi-Speed was rifle only ammunition and has a reputation for bulging the barrels of S&Ws.
Current ammo is lead only and loaded to be safe in these revolvers.
This model lacks the current positive hammer block developed in 1944 after a fatality with a dropped gun. Treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the hammer down on an empty chamber.
Collector value for these guns is higher than for a similar .38 special, but they are not in the Registered Magnum range.

 

[edwardyoung]

If I may,

357
2 1/2"
6 shot
RB Currently wearing Pachmayrs. Should it have come with Uncle Mike's?
Adj sights
Model 66-2
ACV371x

Thanks

 

[Radagast]

edwardyoung:
Your Model 66-2 .357 Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1983. The original grips would have been round butt Magna timber grips. Uncle Mikes were standard from 1994.

 

[edwardyoung]

Thanks again, Radagast

 

[RJTravel]

Just acquired a mod 640-3 .357 mag, ser #CJF59XX. Any idea?
Thanks in advance.
Richard

 

[Radagast]

RJTravel:
Your Model 640-3 .357 Magnum Centennial Stainless was manufactured after 2004, the last year the Standard Catalog of S&W gives serial ranges for. My guesstimate is late 2005 or 2006, based on the rate of production in the two years prior to that.
A call to S&W customer service should get you the year, as it was manufactured after they computerized their records.