Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[walkindude]

Just picked up my first S&W, a 586, thats just incredible, I love this thing ! Can you guys give me a quick B'day for her?

a) 357 Mag
b) 4"
c) Square
d) 6
e) adjustable
f) BNP41xx
g) 586-3

Much Appreciated !!

[Radagast]

walikindude:
1993. Guns in the BNWxxxx range shipped in March of that year.

bwleso:
I believe that S&W no longer work on pre-1957 guns. Your best bet would be http://www.fordsguns.com/ but the price may be higher than the gun is worth.

[hitpure]

Thanks in advance...
Picked this up at a gun show in Hickory NC 2 wks ago...

Caliber = .357
barrel = 4"
grips = square
cylinder bores = 6
type of sights = Rear is adjustable, Front is Red Ramp
Serial Number = BUC71xx
Model Number = 686-4

Will try to attach a picture...

[Radagast]

hitpure:
Guns in the BRFxxxx range shipped in August 1994, in the CAMxxxx range in January 1996. So 1995 seems likely.

[hitpure]

Ha Ha, joke is on me. The guy at the show that sold it to me claimed to be a Smith & Wesson expert, and stated he believed the gun was manufactured sometime in the past two years! Oh well, it is a great gun, in great shape, and works well, so I'm still OK with it.

[Radagast]

hitpure:
Jokes on him. The 686-4 was the last non performance center 686 to use all forged steel parts instead of metal injection molding for small parts.
MIM parts provide uniformity of quality without hand fitting required, but can fail. I've had the MIM hammer block fail on two guns.
Forged steel parts required hand fitting but allowed for better trigger/action work. You'll probably find that a gun coming from the S&W performance center will still have forged steel hammer and trigger as a minimum.
If your gun has a good lock up and trigger pull then I'd be more than happy to have it.
If you remove the rear sight you will find the frame drilled and tapped for a scope mount.
Your gun also lacks the internal trigger lock introduced in 2001. Again, although rare, this can fail and lock up the gun.

In summary, I don't buy into the 'all MIM/lock equipped guns are crap' mindset, but there is nothing wrong with the 686-4 as a design. As long as it hasn't been abused it should last for years.

[hitpure]

Radagast,
You made my day with that encouraging pearl of info, much obliged...

[roguesam]

a) caliber - 38 Special
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle) - 2 "
c) grips shape (round or square) - square
d) number of shots/cylinder bores - 6 shot.
e) type of sights. - Fixed half-moon front
f) serial number -C907xx
g) Model number - none

[Stonestacker]

a) .32 s&w
b) 3"
c) not sure
d) five shot
e) pinned half moon, rear is part of the latch
f) 2561xx
g) no model no.

Thanks!

[Radagast]

roguesam:
Your .38 Military & Police Postwar was manufactured between 1948 & 1951. Serial range for those years was C1 to C223998.

[Radagast]

Stonestacker:
Your .32 Double Action 4th Model was manufactured between & 1898 1909. Serial range was 209601 to 282999. This is a black powder gun, use of modern smokeless ammo will result in accelerated wear.

[Stonestacker]

Thanks Radagast, that pretty much confirms what I thought.

[OldCavSoldier]

Two S&W's I would like to know b-days:

First:
a) .357 Mag
b) 6 1/2 inches
c) square
d) six
e) adjustable
f) 49K7XXX
g) Model 19

Second:
a) .38 Spl
b) 1 7/8
c) round
d) five
e) fixed
f) J564XXX
g) M37 (no dash)

[2ndretread]

a) caliber - 38 S&W Special CTG
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle) - 4 "
c) grips shape (round or square) - square
d) number of shots/cylinder bores - 6 shot.
e) type of sights. - Fixed half-moon front
f) serial number -s 829XXX

[waidmann]

Acknowledging all the help I have received, and knowing several of the scribes keep supplemental notes, I offer:

38 HE # SV770231 was shipped to the Freemore Co. of Minneapolis on March 19, 1946. Butt (swivel) hole plugged, commercial blue, postwar diamond grips. Factory letter describes it as .38 M&P post-WWII Long Action.

Radagast: Hope your recovery continues.

W.

[Radagast]

waidmann:
Thanks, I've annotated my SCSW. Recovery continues slowly, still have a couple of surgerys ahead of me. I'm now swimming and off the pain killers, so I won't complain too much.

2ndretread:
The Standard Catalog of S&W gives the serial range S811120 to S999999 between 1945 & 1948. Taking into account Waidmans info above, I'm going to guesstimate your .38 Miltary & Police Post-war was manufactured in 1946 or 1947.

OldCavSoldier:
Your Model 19 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1978 or 1979. Serial range for those years was 25k0001 to 56K9999. 1979 seems likely.

Your Model 37 Chiefs Special Airweight was manufactured in 1976 or 1977. Serial range was J370001 to J610000. With your number falling close to the middle of the range I'm not going to try and guess which year.

[2ndretread]

I was off by decades; I guess I need to stay away from all higher pressure rounds.
Once again, thank you Radagast, please say hi to Gwaihir when you next see him.

[Radagast]

2nd retread:
PlusP in the old guns is covered in depth here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=583694

TLDR: You should be fine with PlusP or jacketed ammo.

[Robinett_11B]

a) .22 Long Rifle
b) 6"
c) Square
d) 6
e) Adjustable
f) K631602
g) Model 17-2



Thanks, Radagast!

[chrt396]

Here is the info on my Smith & Wesson 41 mag., model 58. Thanks for the help and useful info!


a) caliber - 41 magnum
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle) - 4"
c) grips shape (round or square) - Square
d) number of shots/cylinder bores - 6
e) type of sights. - Fixed
f) serial number - N2711XX
g) Model number- Model 58

[chrt396]

I do have another S&W .357 that I've had for quite some time. Just that...I don't remember just how long ago it's been that I actually bought it!
Sigh.... ....I am getting senile in my accelerating middle aged years!




a) caliber - 357 magnum
b) bbl length - 6"
c) grips shape (round or square) - Round??
d) number of shots/cylinder bores - 6
e) type of sights. - Adjustable rear, fixed front
f) serial number- AUB69XX
g) Model number - Model 686

[Radagast]

Robinett_11B:
Your Model 17-2 K22 Masterpiece was manufactured in 1965.

chrt396:
Your Model 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1987should be a 686-2 variant. If it is a 686 (no dash) or 686-1 then it is the subject of as recall by S&W. With some magnum ammo the primer can flow back into the firing pin bushing and lock up the gun. Under the recall S&W will pay shipping both ways and install a new firing pin and bushing. If your gun has already been modified there will be an M stamped after the model number under the cylinder yoke. If a 686-2 the gun is already fitted with the new parts when manufactured.

Your Model 58 .41 Magnum Military & Police was manufactured between 1974 & 1977, the last half of the N2xxxxx serial range was allocated to the Model 58 & Model 28, so I can't guestimate the year based on the position in the serial number range, it could have been any of those years.

[RISC_Taker]

Thanks very much for your time and effort on this one.

Dont know that it makes a difference, but on the butt strap the pistol has been stamped with Mass. State Police

It never ceases to amaze me every time I take this pistol out for some target practice how accurate it is.

I took my Hogue rubber grips off for the pictures, I have the original wooden grips in a box somewhere...

a) caliber
.357

b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle)
3 inch

c) grips shape (round or square)
Round butt

d) number of shots/cylinder bores
6 shot

e) type of sights.
Fixed sights

f) serial number, and if there is a letter in front of or anywhere near the s/n on the bottom of the grip
7D51XXX

g) Model number if it is under the crane.
65-2

There is also the following stamped on the bottom LEFT of the handle (normally covered by the grip)
F6
4X417

There is also the following stamped on the bottom RIGHT of the handle (normally covered by the grip)
7574
An "M" with a circle around it, and a "5" with a heart around it.













Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.

[pazsint]

I have two K38 M&P's as below for dating please....also where can I get a good schematic and parts list for them ? Is the model 10 Sticky here accurate for reassembling mine ? Also I need to re-tap and chase threads...where can I find all the screw specs to re-smith one ?
Thanks !


a) caliber - 38 S&W Ctg.
b) bbl length - 4"
c) grips shape - square
d) number of shots/cylinder bores - 6
e) type of sights. - both fixed
f) serial number- 68523x
g) Model number - K
h) Finish- Chrome

a) caliber - 38 S&W Spl.
b) bbl length - 6
c) grips shape - square
d) number of shots/cylinder bores - 6
e) type of sights. - both fixed
f) serial number- C 37038x
g) Model number - K
h) Finish- Black blue

[Radagast]

RISC_Taker:
Your Model 65-2 .357 Magnum Miltiary & Police Heavy Barrel Stainless was manufactured in 1981. The symbols stamped on the flats of the frame are assembly numbers used to track parts in the factory, they have no meaning after the gun is completed. The Standard Catalog of S&W notes that the issued the 65-2 in the 4 inch and three inch variants, so the stampings on the backstrap were probably done by S&W as part of the order.