Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Radagast]

788ham:
The Standard Catalog of S&W does not give year by year break downs for that period. Best I can give you is between 1931 & 1945. Serial number 38309 shipped November 1931. Serial no 45808, one of the first .357 Magnums, shipped early 1935. So somewhere roughly in the middle. 1933 would be my guess.

[SingleAction52]

38 special
3" bbl
Square frame
5 shot
J49073
Model 36

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted by SingleAction52

38 special
3" bbl
Square frame
5 shot
J49073
Model 36

Your serial number falls between 1969 and 1970. Most likely late 1969.

[Propforce]

Hi, got another one for you

a) .38 special
b) 4 inch
c) round rubber grip
d) 6 shots
e) fixed sight
f) 18D8XXX
g) 10-8

Thanks in advance!

[Radagast]

Propforce:
Your Model 10-8 .38 Military & Police was manufactured in 1983. The -8 denotes a heavy barrel design variant produced between 1977 & 1988.

[Propforce]

Thanks again Radagast!!

[FJagr]

Any info on this fellow would be greatly appreciated. Also, any idea of the value?

45ACP
3" bbl
Round Pachmayr
6 Shots
Adjustable Iron
Ser# BEN4835
Model# 625-3



Thank you!

[C5rider]

Model 10-5
SN D3275xx
Also has 56585 inside the crane by the model #, along with what looks like a "T"
6 shots
38 Spl.
4-inch bbl.

Interestingly, it has milled serations on the back of the front sight. I was of the understanding that the heavy barrels had the milled/angled sights but the pencil barrels had the half-round sights. Thoughts?

[Radagast]

C5rider:
Half moon sights went out the door in the 1950s in favor of the ramped front sight still seen today. There was an intermediate design with a sight that looked like a quarter moon at the front with a serrated ramped rear used in the 1960s on tapered barrel guns. Your gun dates to 1969-70. and the -5 model designation means a tapered barrel, so that matches up.
The additional markings under the crane are assembly numbers. They have no meaning after the gun was shipped.

FJagr:
The 625-3 is listed as produced between 1990 & 1993.
The three inch barrel was discontinued in 1992.
Guns in the BEN serial range shipped in November 1989.
The Standard Catalog of S&W does not list a special run or performance center model with a three inch barrel or porting from that period.
So my guesstimate is that you have a gun produced in late 1989, released in 1990 and given aftermarket porting by a gunsmith.
I've no idea of value - I'm in Australia and do not have a good grip on American values.

[C5rider]

Thanks Radagast!

[FJagr]

Solid, thank you much!

[Guillermo]

Ok Radagast (and other Swamis)

I have one that is beyond the reach of the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson.

It is a Model 15-4, 4 inch but the serial number does NOT start with "K"

It is AHP8959

[Gladius]

And yet another 29-2!

a) .44 Magnum
b) 6.5 Inch
c) square butt
d) 6 rounds
e) Adjustable
f) serial number N304146
g) Model 29-2.

[Radagast]

Guillermo:
My guess is you have a wrongly stamped frame. Is it pinned? 15-4 was pinned, 15-5 was not.
That serial number dates to 1985. If it isn't pinned then its a 15-5 from 1985. If it is pinned then My guess is they found an old frame and used it.

Gladius:
1975 for your .44 magnum.

[Guillermo]

not pinned

[Radagast]

G:
1985 and really a 15-5.

[Slimbo]

38 special
4"
Square
6
Fixed
573254

[Sealevel]

Radagast, here is another odd one.

.22LR
4 inch heavy
Square
6 shots
Adjustable with ramp front
BBJ7153
17-6

Looking at my catalog I'm thinking '86-'89 timeframe. Thanks for your help.

[jasper275]

Could you give me details on following?

686
6 inch barrel
6 shot
adjustable rear sight
square butt
AJRO417 on lug along with E stamped over F?, 12
46322 on lug and butt
on left grip frame: 7671, K in circle, D in triangle

many thanks!

[jasper275]

One last one if you could?

Model 67
4 inch barrel
adj. rear sight
6 shot
16K5901
685xx, C18, C20

Thanks again!

[joaovictorio]

a) 38 spl (AIRWEIGT)
b) 1,98"
c) round
d) 5
e) fixed
f) J 767140

[Radagast]

joaovictorio:
Your gun was produced in 1981. If the hammer is fully exposed then it is a Model 37 .38 Chiefs Special Airweight. If all but the tip of the hammer is concealed by a hump on the back of the frame, then it is a Model 38 Bodyguard Airweight.
Neither Model was rated for PlusP until 1997 when they switched to the larger K J-magnum frame.
The general rule of thumb with these older guns is to train with standard pressure loads, fire once cylinder of PlusP for familiarization, then carry with PlusP. It will not blow up with PlusP; but will see accelerated wear.

jasper275:
Your Model 67 .38 Combat Masterpiece Stainless was manufactured in 1977. The serial number is 16K5901, the other numbers are assembly numbers, used to track parts in the factory. They have no meaning after the gun was shipped.
Your Model 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1985. AJR0417 is the serial number, the other numbers are assembly numbers.
There is a recall on this model. With some magnum ammo the primer can flow back into the firing pin bushing, locking up the cylinder. Under the recall S&W will pay shipping both ways and install a new firing pin and bushing. If the gun has already been modified there will be an M stamped near the model number under the cylinder yoke. If it has not been modified and you wish to have this done, call S&W customer service and they will send you a shipping label.

Sealevel:
The Model 17-4 4 inch heavy barrel was introduced in 1986 when the taper barreled Model 18 was discontinued. The 17-6 with the full lug barrel was officially released in 1989. with early guns using up the old stock of heavy barrels.
Your gun was produced mid to late 1988.

Slimbo:
if there is no letter prefix to the serial number then you have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured between 1927 & 1930. Serial range for those years was 500000 to 630000. If the grips are original and have a silver medallion, then 1929-1930. If plain walnut then 1927-1928.

[joaovictorio]

Thank you very much for information.I am a Brazilian gun colector and will ask many other informations later.My revolver should be the model 37 because the hammer is fully exposed.I intend to use plus P ammo only in dangerous situations
Obrigado
joao victorio

[Trader Ray]

Well, after reading all the good info on this thread, I would like to ask about a Revolver I have.
38 special ctg
Half moon sights
2 inch barrel
6 Shot cylinder
Original blue
Serial Number is; S 9574xx
Square butt grips
It is very good condition but has scratches on it. I have it on good info that it may be a pre-10 and maybe around 1948. Thank You for any info on this piece.

[Radagast]

Trader Ray:
You have a .38 Military & Police (Postwar) / Pre-Model 10.
Serial number S811140 shipped September 1915 & S97924 shipped 13th March 1948, so your gun should fall within that time period. Your gun is considered a transitional model, it has the pre-war long action hammer, the wartime hammer block safety and predates the current long action hammer by a couple of months. The S prefix refers to the safety, which makes that gun safe to carry with all six chambers loaded.