Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Radagast]

Old Shooter:
Your Model 36 .38 Chiefs Special was manufactured in 1988. The -1 (three inch heavy barrel) was manufactured concurrently with the no dash (tapered barrel) from 1967 to 1988, when they were replaced by the -2 & -3 respectively. So yours is one of the last no dash versions.

 

[Old Shooter]

Thanks a lot for the information.

Jim

 

[RJTravel]

Just ran across a really nice mod 640-3 ser #CJF59XX. Advance thanks for any info.

 

[Radagast]

RJTravel:
The Model 640-3 .357 Magnum Centennial Stainless was manufactured from 2003 on, the -3 referring to the internal lock. Serial number ranges in the Standard Catalog of S&W only go to CHMxxxx in June 2004. Extrapolating based on the production rate for the years leading up to 2004, I would guesstimate your gun as being from mid 2006.

 

[mnrivrat]

Looking for DOB

1903 I Frame S&W in 32 S&W L

Nickel plate with 3&1/4" barrel , 6 shot Cylinder, round butt

Seral number : 33994

 

[Radagast]

mnrivrat:
Best I can give you is as follows. .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 1st Change was manufactured 1904 to 1906 in the serial range 19426 to 51126. My guess would be 1905.

 

[edwardyoung]

Model 640-1
CAR108x
2" barrel
357 magnum
5 shot
round butt

Thanks

 

[9mmfan]

Hello. Thanks to all for this thread. It is a helpful resource.
The down and dirty. I have what I believe to be a 1905 4th change .38 M&P from the early '20s, and would like to confirm. The serial number puts into the heat treated cylinder era, based on several posts across a few different forums.
It lacks the "Made in U.S.A." marking, which I believe dates it prior to 1922.
.38 Special, obviously.
4" tapered barrel.
Square butt.
Small S&W logo on left side of frame.
Fixed sights, "half moon" front sight.
Serial # 3417**. No letters except for the "B" under the barrel, which I believe indicates it was shipped blued.
This is the best pic I have right now, the sun didn't come out today.


Thanks for your time.

 

[Radagast]

edwardyoung:
Your Model 640-1 .357 magnum Centennial Stainless was manufactured in 1996, the first year of production on the new J Magnum frame.

9mmfan:
I believe the B under the barrel means its the barrel serial number. Do you have a link to a reference to it indicating a blued finish?
I have a note in my Standard Catalog of S&W that heat treating started in September 1919 (unconfirmed) at serial number 3165648 (confirmed). That date seems likely as guns in the 264xxx range shipped in 1917.
Serial numbers in the 358xxx range shipped in December 1920, so I think its fairly safe to say your gun also dates to 1920.

Edit: Great pic, I like the composition, it tells a story.

 

[9mmfan]

Radagast, thanks for the info. I appreciate you taking the time to do this for all of us.

I have no reference regarding the "b", just saw on another forum or two opining that info, and further stating that an "n" would indicate factory nickel. One might very well have nothing to do with the other, and I will certainly defer to your greater wisdom on the subject.

Thanks for the comment on the pic, I thought the holster would look better than a pencil or something through the trigger guard to prop it up. I was hoping for some better lighting to capture more detail (though the shadows might have been a blessing, it could stand to be cleaned.) I had it out in the workshop to test the fit of the LSWCs I plan on loading up for it soon (standard pressure only).

Thanks again, and have a good one.

 

[sgtstryker]

I have a Model 36, nickel plate, snubby. SN is 225xxx. Best I can tell from the Catalog is the manufacture date is between 1957 and 1962. How can I narrow it down? It's a round butt with diamond grips. For some reason I've listed it as 1953, but that is way off. Don't know where that came from. Can you narrow this date any? Thanks.

 

[Radagast]

9mmfan:
Just to add, your gun predates the positive internal hammer block introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun in WWII. Treat it as a 5 shooter and leave the chamber under the hammer empty.
I would also refrain from shooting jacketed or semi jacketed ammo through it. It is heat treated, but I've read of cases of bulged barrels and chambers on guns made through the 1920s, but not in the 30s. I think there may have been a change in the quality of steel around 1930. That's my surmise only, without any info to back it up. But why risk a lovely old handgun when there are plenty of newer ones to shoot the hot stuff through.


sgtstryker:
Possibly you misread the 1953 number in the Catalog as 28916x, not 28916, which would lead you to think that the gun was from that period.
Serial numbers in the 149000 to 163000 range shipped in 1959.
Serial number 295000 shipped in 1962.
So 1959 to 1962 is the range. 1960 or 1961 seems likely, with at least 146000 guns shipping over that 4 year stretch, or roughly 36000 guns a year.

 

[16in50calNavalRifle]

Considering buying an interesting old S&W from an acquaintance. It was taken off of an illegal border-crosser more than 50 years ago. Haven't seen it yet but apparently it is in once-fired condition.

Model 15-2

Serial No. K528901

Friend says that "10D" appears under the serial number - what would that mean? He also said the barrel has the number 250152 on it (forgot to ask him what location).

Thanks for any info on birth date and significance of those other numbers.

 

[Radagast]

16in50calNavalRifle:
That Model 15-2 Combat Masterpiece was manufactured in 1963, so the 50 year story holds true.
Pre-model number S&Ws had the serial number, with a B prefix, stamped on the flat on the underside of the barrel, roughly in line with the ejector rod.
If a factory stamping, then it indicates the gun has been re-barreled in the past, with a barrel from a donor gun. If not then it could be a personal ID number, police dept. rack number, or the gun equivalent of graffiti.
The 10D is almost certainly an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory. It has no meaning after the gun is completed.

 

[16in50calNavalRifle]

Thank you very much, Radagast. You are an invaluable resource within an invaluable resource (THR).

Anxious to get my hands on this revolver next week and check it out.

 

[petersblt]

649-1 date?

SN BBN7333 .38 spl Date?


looks new and shoots fantastic. I mostly point and shoot about 20 ft and hit a target mostly. Might get larger grips. It has the checkered wood now. LOVE this gun.

 

[Radagast]

petersblt:
Your Model 649-1 .38 Bodyguard Stainless was manufactured in 1988. It takes round butt J frame grips.

 

[osteodoc08]

My father has recently passed. His first revolver was a Smith 41 Mag. I'd love to date it.

Smith Model 57 No dash P&R
Blued 6" Barrel
TTT
Serial #N792**

I'm gonna send off for a letter, but until then, would be curious of the dating.

Thanks guys,

Osteodoc08

 

[Radagast]

osteodoc08:
According to the Standard Catalog of S&W the N7xxxxx serial range was only used in 1980. As your number is so high I would not be surprised if it shipped in 1981.
The Model 57 was replaced by the Model 57-1 in 1982, so late 1980 or early 1981 is probably right.
Let me know what Roy says, so I can update my SCSW lists for future answers.

 

[osteodoc08]

I've got a 57-1 that dates to 82 or so. I thought dad at one time mentioned he bought it before I was born, so that'll put it before 81. I think he was stationed in Kansas at the time. Perhaps ill get a letter on it. It's well worn even after a factory refinish and tightening. It's been put into semi retirement. The hot stuff goes into the Blackhawks and marlins.

 

[Skull-ring]

Victory Osterreich Polizel

I was wonering about my latest's Birth date ?
A 38 S&W
B 5" barrel
C Grips (smooth magna maybe?)
D 6 shot
E fixed sights
F V 571878 ( butt frame, cylinder and barrel #s all match )
G Looks like a Big backwards 3 (maybe it is half an 8) over the numbers 20583

I'm sure it's a K frame victory later to be called a model 10 , Don't know the year it was made. And that after the war it was issued to the Austrian Police.
Do you know what year it was made ? Thanks.

 

[Radagast]

Skull-ring:
You have a .38/200 British Service Revolver manufactured between 1942 & September 1944, serial range V1 to V769000, so early 1943 would be my guess. The serial range was shared with the .38 Special Victory Model, they were basically the same gun, one in the .38 S&W chambering used by the British Empire, with a 5 inch barrel, and the other was a .38 Special chambering for US forces. The .38/200 refers to the 200 grain lead projectile originally used by the British, they later changed to a 173 grain FMJ.
Many were issued to police forces in the western occupied zone after the war, THR member Saxon Pig is happy to own one that used to be issued to the Saxony Police - So Saxon Pig owns a gun once carried by a Saxon Pig.

 

[papashark]

Needing help identifying my revolver

Thank you in advance for your help:
32 Cal S&W Revolver
3-1/2" barrel
5 shot break cylinder
Butt # 28069
photo attached

 

[osteodoc08]

Anyone else with insight on dates?

Smith Model 57 No dash P&R
Blued 6" Barrel
TTT
Serial #N792**



Thanks guys,

Osteodoc08

 

[Radagast]

papashark:
You have a .32 Single Action, also known as the Model One a Half Centerfire.

The odd name is due to the rimfire First Model being a .22, the 2nd Model being a .38, so instead of the .32 being the third Model, it was slotted between the 1st & 2nd as the Model 1& a 1/2. The .44 caliber gun became the 3rd Model. The designation carried over into the first centerfire guns .

The .32 Single Action was produced from 1878-1892 in the serial range 1-97574.
A gun in the 8837x serial range shipped in August 1887, so between 1878 & 1887 for your gun, with somewhere around 1880-1882 being most likely, assuming a fairly constant production rate over those years.

The hard rubber grips are correct to the gun, that style was used between serial number 15000 & 29000. The mottled red finish is uncommon, black or brown were the norm. The 3.5 inch barrel was standard, as was the nickel finish.