Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Radagast]

ki4oyh:
Your gun could be one of several:
Second Model Russian/Model No.3 Russian 2nd Model. Serial range was 1 to 9000, manufactured 1873 to 1878. Barrel should have "REISSUE" followed by the patent date stamped on it, a long ejector housing, pinned front sight, and a spurred trigger guard. 6 inch barrels are rare and worth a premium.

Third Model Russian/Model No.3 Russian 3rd Model. Reissue stamp, medium ejector housing, forged front sight, spurred trigger. barrel length was 6.5 inches.
Manufactured 1874 to 1878.

new Model Number Three. Non spur trigger. Manufactured in 1878 or 1879.

.44 Double Action First Model/New Model Navy No.3 Revolver. Manufactured between 1881 & 1899.

VancMike:
I'm in Australia. Different time zones.
Model 10-7 .38 Military & Police Tapered Barrel dates to 1978 or 1979.
Model 18-3 K22 Combat Masterpiece dates to 1972.
Model 586 Distinguished Combat Magnum dates to 1983.
There is a recall on the early 586s, withs some magnum ammo it is possible for the primer to 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 firing bushing. If your gun has already been modified there should be an M stamped under the cylinder yoke near the model number. If your gun hasn't been modified and you want to have it done, give S&W a call and they will send you a shipping label.

[VancMike]

Thanks so much. There's no "M" on the cylinder yoke or anywhere else. Even though there's been many, many rounds fired, that's a good idea. I'll contact S&W.

I really appreciate all your help. You're doing us all a good service.

[ki4oyh]

Looks as if it's the 3rd Model. I suspected as much, but had been able to pin it down. Thank you, again.

[VancMike]

one more:

38 S&W (there is no identification of caliber on the frame or barrel)
4" barrel
sq. butt (the lanyard swivel hole may have been plugged or even never drilled)
fixed sights
V5351xx
E
no model #, but cylinder yoke is marked 96936

Each space between chambers on the cylinder is marked "BNP (and a crown)" "England" is stamped on the cylinder once.

So it's a Victory?

Thanks!

[wrs840]

Hi Radagast.

How about my "new" 617-1, 6"bbl, 6-shot, S&W Logo Factory Rubber Grips (& Round Butt grip frame), color case hardened forged Target Hammer and Trigger...

BUT, frame NOT drilled and tapped for optics, (which seems out of sync to me for a 617-1 with rubber grips).

s.n. BUD49xx

Thanks in advance!

[spm]

If this thread is still open.
Model 37
.38 spl
1.78" bbl
Round butt
5 shot
Fixed sights
Serial #J806444

Thank you,
spm

[Radagast]

spm:
Your Model 37 Chiefs Special Airweight was manufactured in 1981.

wrs840:
BUDxxxx should date your Model 617-1 K22 Masterpiece Stainless to late 1994 or 1995. You are correct it should have a drilled and tapped frame. The square butt variant was still available in 1994 and was not drilled and tapped. My guess is someone screwed up when putting your gun together.

VancMike:
You have a British Service Revolver. These were manufactured concurrently with the Victory model. but in .38 S&W with a five inch barrel. Originally supplied under a direct commercial contract, they were later supplied via the US Govt. under the Lend Lease agreement. Its quite likely the barrel was cut back at the same time that the lanyard loop was plugged, but its possible the gun left the factory in that configuration. It was manufactured between late 1941 and late 1943, with 1942/43 being likely.
96936 is an assembly number used to track parts in the factory, it was not recorded and has no meaning after the gun was completed.
BNP & crown is a British proof mark, British Nitro Proof. All British issued weapons were proofed with an over pressure load and stamped by a govt. approved proof house.

[VancMike]

Thanks so much....great info!

[wendellj]

I've inherited this S&W from father-in-law

38 SPL CGT AIRWEIGHT
4"
square
6 shot
fixed
8D18107 ON BUTT

I'm looking for DOB and value. It's in original box and looks like it's never been fired.

[Radagast]

wendellj:
You have a Model 12-3 .38 Military & Police Airweight manufactured in 1981.
It is an aluminum framed version of the Model 10 .38 Military & Police, hence the 'Airweight' tag.
The aluminun KA frame is slightly narrower than the steel K frame, so non Model 12 grips may not fit correctly.
In 2006 the Standard catalog of S&W gave a value of $470 for an as new in box gun. Check online auction sites such as gunbroker or gunsamerica to get a feel for current prices.

[Squid6]

a. .38
B. 5"
C. Square
D. 6
E. Fixed, Rear sight = groove
F. 49XXX
G. 6572 No model stamp, just four digits

Information will be appreciated.

[chromerunner]

a) .32 wcf
b) 4inch
c) square
d) 6
e) fixed front. groove fixed rear
f) 51162

Looking for DOB and value

The pistol has "SPAIN" stamped inbetween the trigger guard and grip.

[wrs840]

First, Thanks Radagast, for diligently continuing with this service!

My latest, yeah it has ILS, MIM parts, and the dreaded two-piece barrel, but I had to have it because of the 3"bbl and the outstanding action:

M64-8, 3"bbl, stainless, fixed sight, round grips.
s.n. CHT11xx

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[Radagast]

wrs840:
2004 or early 2005. S&W were at CHMxxxx in July 2004, which is as far as the serail ranges in the Standard Catalog of S&W go. The two piece barrel was introduced in 2004, the three inch barrel version of the Model 64 had the product code 162504, I have a sneaking suspicion the 2 piece barrel version may have had product code 162505.

Chromerunner:
If your gun is a S&W then it is a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 3rdth Change manufactured between 1909 & 1915 in the serial range 45201 to 65700.
if it a S&W then your gun predates heat treatment of cylinders, so don't shoot hot hand loads. Definitely don't shoot any old jacketed ammo marked Hi-Speed as this was rifle only ammunition and had a reputation for bulging the barrels on S&W revolvers.
If it is a S&W it also predates the modern hammer block safety. If dropped it could fire, so leave the chamber under the hammer empty.
As your gun is marked Spain I have a feeling it is one of many counterfeit guns imported in the 1920s & 30s, these were made from iron or pot metal, not fron steel and are often unsafe to shoot. I suggest you post some pics in the firearms research subforum to get some advice on this.
If a Spanish gun value is less than $100. If a S&W value is dependent upon condition, in very good to excellent condition it may be worth $400 to $800 to a collector. The trick is finding a collector willing to pay that.

Squid6:
you have a .38/44 Heavy Duty (Pre-war). This was a .38 Special chambering of the .44 sized N frame revolver. High speed ammunition was available for use in this gun, effectively it was the ancestor of the .357 Magnum. With the advent of the .357 Magnum sales began to decline and it was eventually discontinued in 1966. Your gun has magna grips, if original it dates your gun to the period 1938-1940. The grips should have the serial number of the gun they were fitted to on the inside of the grip panel. The Nickel and Magnas make it desirable from a collectors stand point. Members Peter M Eick & Saxon Pig have a number of Heavy Dutys, a search on their names will bring up several discussion threads.

[Squid6]

Radagast:

Thank you for your information. I will check the grips for sn, and follow the reference.

Thanks again.

[Squid6]

The information was interesting enough for me to ask about my only other (so far) Smith.

A. .32 S&W Long
B. 2"
C. Round
D. 6
E. Fixed
F. 545XXX
G. No Model, but A 1107 1 See Photo

Thank you for excellent information.

[wrs840]

Originally Posted by Radagast

...the three inch barrel version of the Model 64 had the product code 162504, I have a sneaking suspicion the 2 piece barrel version may have had product code 162505.

it came with the box, so I checked... it's 162504E. Thanks again!

[Radagast]

wrs840:
Thanks for that. I've made a note in my SCSW.

Squid6:
You have a Post war .32 Hand Ejector. Post World War II production restarted in 1946 at serial number 536685 and by 1956 had reached 640980. The two inch barrel was introduced in 1949. So I would guesstimate your gun as being from 1949, one of the first produced.
The grips are the pre 1936 style, they may be original old stock or they may have been replaced at some time.
The markings under the cylinder yoke are assembly numbers, used to track parts in the factory. They are not recorded and have no meaning after the gun is assembled.

[texas1776]

Originally Posted by Radagast

gbran:
Late 1985.

texas1776:
You have a Chiefs Special manufactured in 1956. A good source of parts is Numrich arms: http://www.gunpartscorp.com/ You will want the earlier 'flat latch' if you want to restore it to original condition. In 1957 the Chiefs Special was designated the Model 36.

AFK for a a while. I'll answer the other questions a little later.

Thanks Radagast..........As soon as I get some info from Texas Department of Public Safety archived firearms lab, I will post the history of this pistol.

John

[Sealevel]

Request the DOB for my recent acquisition:
a. .38 special
b. 1.875" barrel
c. Square grip
d. 5 shot cylinder
e. Ramp front sight and fixed rear
f. J231212
g. Model 36 (no dash)

Thank you for the assistance!

[gbball98]

Does anyone know D.O.B. of a model 10-5 ser# D314319?

[Radagast]

gbball98:
1969 or 1970. Serial range for those years was D90001 to D330000. So 1970 seems likely.

Sealevel:
1973 or 1974. Serial range for those years was J100000 to J250000, so 1974. seems likely.

[mikerednam]

Hi, Sorry if this model or serial number was already asked for I tried looking as much as I could.

a) .357
b) 4"
c) Square
d) 6 Shots
e) Adjustable sights
f) AJW43xx
g) 66-2

Thanks

[Radagast]

mikerednam:
Your Model 66-2 .357 Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1985.

[wrs840]

a) .357
b) 4"
c) Square
d) 6 Shots
e) Adjustable white-outline rear notch, red-insert front
f) 2K813xx
g) 19-3

Target hammer and trigger.

I've attached a tumbnail to ask this: The grips don't look refinished, but is a finish this dark and red common to the era?

Thanks in advance!