Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[thertel]

a) .357 Magnum
b) 4"
c) Round
d) 6
e) Target
f) N266XX
g) 28-2

[IndyGTO]

Radagast -
Your prompt response is greatly appreciated. The information on my grandfather's service weapon is invaluable. He passed when I was young but I still have great memories, your info just helps them all fit into place a little better. Thank you . . .

[augustus_01]

a) .357 Magnum
b) 6"
c) Square
d) 6
e) Target
f) BFL61XX
g) 686-3

[Radagast]

augustus_01:
Your Model 686-3 Distinguished Combat Magnum Stainless was probably manufactured in early 1990, serial numbers in the BFNxxxx range shipped in March of that year.

IndyGTO:
My pleasure. A couple more things, the grips are sarial numbered to the gun as they were ground while fitted to the frame to be a perfect fit. If you take them off keep them aside as a similar pair from that era may not be a perfect fit. Aftermarket rubber grips should fit, you will need K frame grips, and it is almost certainly a square butt variant, but I would need pics to confirm.

thertel:
Your Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman was manufactured in the period 1969-1972. Serrial range for those years was N1 to N100000, so 1969 or early 1970 seems likely.

[jw johnson]

I have one for you.

27-2
Blue steel
.357
6"
six shot
n492302

just picked it up today, decent shape and it will be a shooter.
Thanks in advance

JW

[m1903]

a) .38 s&w special
b) bbl length 4"
c) grips shape --round
d) number of shots/cylinder bores-6
e) type of sights. fixed
f) serial number, v103241

Marked U.S.NAVY on top left strap


In advance.. Thank you very much for any info..
I also started a new thread with pictures

[augustus_01]

Originally Posted by Radagast

augustus_01:
Your Model 686-3 Distinguished Combat Magnum Stainless was probably manufactured in early 1990, serial numbers in the BFNxxxx range shipped in March of that year.

Thanks.

[cyclopsshooter]

a) .357 Magnum
b) 4"
c) Square
d) 6
e) Target
f) 58k83XX
g) 19-4 very large trigger (wider than trigger guard) and an N frame sized target hammer spur

a) .357 Magnum
b) 4"
c) Square
d) 6
e) Target
f) ads67XX
g) 19-5

Thank you!

[Radagast]

cyclopsshooter:
Your Model 19-4 dates to 1980, I'm inclined to believe the hammer and trigger are aftermarket, I'm not aware of any factory triggers wider than the trigger guard.

Your Model 19-5 dates to late 1983 or early 1984, Serial numbers in the ADTxxxx range shipped in December and January of those years.


m1903:
You have a Victory model, probably dating to 1941/42. These were a wartime finish variant of the .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change revolver for the US forces. The Navy markings make it more desirable and potentially more valuable to a collector.
Note that your gun predates the internal hammer block safety introduced in 1944, if dropped it could fire, so leave the chamber under the hammer empty.
Some guns were retrofited with the new safety and marked with an S high on the left rear of the frame, if so marked your gun is definitely collectible.

The
jw johnson:
Your Model 27-2 The .357 Magnum was manufactured in 1977 or 1978. With a high serial number in the 4xxxxx range I would guess that 1978 is likely.

[wrs840]

a) .357 Magnum
b) 4"
c) Square
d) 6
e) orange insert SS front sight , Black adj rear with White-lined notch
f) 9K254xx
g) 66 no-dash

Thanks in advance

[m1903]

QUOTE
Some guns were retrofited with the new safety and marked with an S high on the left rear of the frame, if so marked your gun is definitely collectible.


Thanks Radagast.. Exactly the info I was looking for. I don't see an "S" anywhere so the way I read your reply is that is is less collectible than if it had one. I'm still happy with my 1st WWII era purchase and can't wait to shoot it.. Thanks Again

[Radagast]

m1903:
The Standard Catalog of S&W does state a 50% to 100% increase in value for the navy version. There is enough collectors interest that fake markings are not unknown.

wrs840:
Your Model 66 Combat Magnum Stainless was manufacture in 1975 or 1976.

[rambler]

1) 357 mag
2) 4 inch bbl
3) round butt
4) 6 rounds
5) adjustable sights
6) 586-1
7) AWU 88xx M

thanks
rambler

[Radagast]

rambler:
Your Model 586-1 Distinguished Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1987. The M after the serial number means it has been modified under a recall, with a new firing pin and firing pin bushing fitted.

[Robinett_11B]

a) .22LR
b) 2"
c) Round
d) 6
e) Red Ramp Front, Adjustable Rear
f) BKD4003
g) Model 63



Thanks, Radagast!

[Radagast]

Robinett_11B:
Nice find. Your Model 63-3: 1977 .22/32 Kit Gun Stainless was manufactured in 1991. Serial numbers in the BKNxxxx range shipped in August of that year.
That makes yours one of the first run of 1000 two inch barreled round butt Model 63s. The 2 inch barrel became a standard production item in 1992.

[Robinett_11B]

Robinett_11B: Nice find. Your Model 63-3: 1977 .22/32 Kit Gun Stainless was manufactured in 1991. Serial numbers in the BKNxxxx range shipped in August of that year. That makes yours one of the first run of 1000 two inch barreled round butt Model 63s. The 2 inch barrel became a standard production item in 1992.

Thanks, Radagast. I plan on buying a SCSW here before too long, so I'll be able to date my own S&W's! This thread is a great resource though and I appreciate you taking your time to give so many of us DOB's on our S&W's.

About that M63, I just picked it up yesterday...got it for $700 from a nice fellow on the S&W forum. He bought it NIB in '92 and never fired it! So, I think I did alright Anywho, I had thought that all the 2"-ers were -3's, but this one here is a no-dash. It's probably nothing, but it seemed odd to me. The box is labeled as a no-dash too. What do you make of this, sir?

[Jeb21]

I have a Smith that I would like dated:

Model 64 (no dash)
.38 special
4" pencil barrel - pinned
Square butt
6 shots
Fixed sights
Serial number is D55****

Thanks for your help.

[samantha]

While going thru some of my father's things I came across this 38. Any info on the DOB would be appreciated. My Dad passed away last year at age 82...I remember him carrying this gun on camping trips.

4" Barrel 6 shooter Fixed sights
Stamped on barrel is "Smith & Wesson 38" 767" also 3 1/2 tons
"Made in U.S.A" and trademark stamped on one side
On top "United States Property" stamp
Model 36788
Serial 895179...no letters but on the other side of screw is possible initials "WB" =not my DADS
Also there is a screw in front of the trigger guard.

[Radagast]

samantha:
You have a British Service revolver from 1940 or 1941.
In 1940 Great Britain and the British Commonwealth were at war with Germany, S&W supplied guns to the British under a direct contract and later through an inter-government agreement. The guns supplied via the US Govt under the Lend Lease agreement were marked United States Property.

BSRs were in .38 S&W caliber and usually had a five inch barrel. Other than that they were mechanically identical to the .38 S&W Special Model of 1905 4th Change which was a common police revolver.

The barrel is measured from the frame in front of the cylinder to the muzzle, I think you will find yours is a 5 inch gun.

767" and 3 1/2 tons are British proof marks, .767 inches is the length of the .38 S&W case, 3.5 tonnes is the pressure of the 'proof load' fired to ensure the gun would not blow up when fired.

A lot of these guns were reimported after the war and sold as surplus. Often the chambers were bored out so the more common .38 Special cartridge would fit. If a .38 Special cartridge will fit then you have a converted gun, don't fire anything other than standard pressure lead loads in a converted gun as the cartridge is not a tight fit to the chambers and increased pressure loads could result in split cases and gas escaping.

If the .38 Special won't fit then the gun is still in its original caliber. .38 S&W ammo is rare and relatively expensive but still available.

36788 is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory. It has no meaning after the gun is completed. S&W did not introduce model numbers until 1957.
895197 is the serial number, this is the only number recorded if sold through a gun dealer.
I'm not sure what the WB means, could be Britsh markings or could be a previous owners.
The screw in front of the trigger guard is correct for that model, up until the 1950s S&W used 5 screws in the frame, 4 in the side plate and and one in front of the frame. These are commonly known as 5 screw models.

The grips are not original, they are a fake stag horn that was commonly used to dress up the surplus guns sold in the 1950s.

[Radagast]

Robinett_11B:
It's not unknown for S&W to fail to stamp a dash number or even the model number on their guns. Its definitely not a no dash as the barrel is not pinned.

Jeb21:
Your Model 64 .38 Military & Police Stainless (tapered barrel) was manufactured in 1973 or 1974 Serial range for those years was D510000 to D659901, so 1973 seems likely.

[tomkatz]

4in. .38spl. square butt
serial# V122140
Any info will be much appreciated!

[Radagast]

tomkatz:
You have a Victory Model manufactured around 1942. This was a wartime finish version of the .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change.

[tomkatz]

Thanks Radagast, appreciate the info!

[samurai]

1- 357
2- 6"
3- Square- wood
4- 6 shot
5- adjustable
6- AEJ-1xxx
7- 686

I bought this gun new- just can't remember the year.