Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Shade00]

Merledog: I believe the 586 was introduced in 1980, so it is a fairly 'early' gun.

hexidismal: That serial puts the gun in the 1973-1974 birth range.

[hexidismal]

Thanks shade, I appreciate the lookup.
My books are still packed... somewhere.. from a move.

[d906670]

Another Highway Patrolman
a)357 mag
b)4"
c)square (target)
d)6
e)front-fixed, rear-adjustable
f)N5779XX
g)Mod 28-2
under model number on cylinder side of yoke it reads
27156
B6
Thank you

[Shade00]

Sorry for the late response d906670, I've been wrapped up in writing a law review casenote. Your model 28-2 was likely born sometime between 1978-1980; based on the serial range, I'd say 1979. More specificity would require a Jinks letter.

[d906670]

Thank you Shade00

[Oro]

based on the serial range, I'd say 1979. More specificity would require a Jinks lette

Shade00 is extrapolating correctly. I had an N547,xxx that was late '78. Yours would almost certainly be mid/late 1979.

[Old Fuff]

Shade00 is extrapolating correctly.

Not necessarily.

Smith & Wesson made a practice of numbering frames and then putting them into inventory. They didn’t always draw them out in numerical order, and they numbered all of the revolver models made on the NT frame in the same serial number series at this time.

The only sure way to know when the gun was shipped out of the factory (as opposed to when it was made -specific production records don’t exist) is to have company historian Roy G. Jinks research the shipping records.

[Shade00]

Hey hey hey hey you. I try to qualify my guesses with the Jinks letter comment. And you've got to remember that all most of us mere mortals have is the Standard Catalog. So there.

[Old Fuff]

Didn't mean to rattle your chain, I sometimes do some extrapolating myself.

But on too many occasions I've been wrong because of the reasons I explained. On more occasions I come across guns that had features, or lacked them, if you went by the serial number. There even some where the serial number was lower then the introduction one listed in the book. This was especially true before 1957 when S&W started stamping model numbers (with dash numbers as they came along) on the frame behind the yoke.

Most of the time this doesn't really matter as long as you are in the ballpark, but when it is important then a letter is the only way to go.

[Jeeping]

a) 38 spl
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle) I don't know
c) grips shape round
d) number of shots 5
e) type of sights not adjustable
f) serial number J359**
g) Model number MOD-38 and then this number on the crane 26606.

[Shade00]

Fuff: you didn't rattle my chain. Just pickin'. But this thread really is just about ballpark guesses, right? In most instances folks are content with that. If not, they should know by now to write to Mr. Jinks.

Jeeping: my cloudy crystal ball says 1975-1976, ballpark it in the latter part of that range.

[1/7GRUNT]

Hey Shade here is my baby:

Mod. 65-3
ALB25**
3in barrel
.357 Magnum
Fixed sights
Round grip
THanks for the help

OH and in the yoke in front of the cylinder it is marked x8321

[6203zz]

357
4"
square
6 shot
Fixed
D9123XX
D17
When was this made? Thanks, Bill

[Jeeping]

Thanks shade!!

[lindy]

38 and US service ctg
5"
sq butt
6 shot
ajustable target (factory)
ser no 58214
hand ejector
no model number

[Oro]

Smith & Wesson made a practice of numbering frames and then putting them into inventory. They didn’t always draw them out in numerical order, and they numbered all of the revolver models made on the NT frame in the same serial number series at this time.

All is true. But by 1970, these things left the factory pretty close to the forging/fabrication date. This advice is very applicable to what happend from 1909 to about 1960. After that, production and distribution got much more in line (the two world wars and the great depression all in the past and all). From 1970 forward, things are very predictable, and letters and dates well established. For example, reference the SWCA database on N frame dates (which is what I reference, not the less precise SCSW appendices), and you will see that year-specific precision is pretty easy for modern N frames. For late 70's 28 models, this is a non-issue.

As to the HP we are discussing, I'll wager $100 against someone who can document it's not 1979. There are better references than the SCSW.

Helpfull stuff:

1/7 Dude, wasn't that Chesty Puller's regiment at Guadalcanal? Oh wow...

Nice 3" k frame, should be about 1985. I have two around that date that bracket it (joke if you were arty).

6203zz Winter 76/77.

lindy You really need to get a camera and post photos, both sides, in detail. That sounds like a very early Military and police model, Model 1902 or so, and with factory adjustable sights it gets very, very interesting. The barrel stamping of the cartridge, etc. make it sound like a very early M&P. Details about the grips, metal condition, etc. make the difference between this being a $150 gun and a $1,200 gun. More details needed. The problem is many had adjustable sights retrofitted later, so only photos tell whether that was original or a later modification.

bis spater

[1/7GRUNT]

Thanks for the info Kam!
Yea, Chesty Puller. Our Bn Commander had some old logbook with his signature in it, pretty cool.
No impact, no idea ha ha. No, I wasn't a cannoncocker, not smart enough so I was a grunt!!!

[Shade00]

Whew, glad kamerer's helping out. I can't keep up with school and this.

[1858]

a) .44 Magnum
b) 4" barrel
c) Square butt
d) 6 shots
e) adjustable rear sight (factory I believe)
f) AZE 45XX
g) M.629-1

Thanks!

[6203zz]

Thanks, Kamerer. I found the Model number to be 13-1 on the frame. Are these unusual as there wasn't much info on the internet? You guys are doing us a great service. Thanks again

[lindy]

Herr Kamerer, Vielen dank.
Thank You for the info. I'll get my camera out and attempt some foto's.
the serial no. of the pistol is stamped
under the adjustable sight,so i think it must be factory sights. the grips are numbered to the gun also.and about 80% blue remains.

Lindy

[Shade00]

1858: Likely early-middle 1988.

[1858]

Shade00 ... thanks ... that's good to know since I bought it used in '93.

[redraidermgr]

19-4
a) .357
b) 4''
c) Square
d) 6 Shot
e) Factory Target (I think)
f) 38Kxxxx
g) 19-4

Sorry everyone I originally posted the serial # as 8kxxxx it is actually 38Kxxxx. I was at work last night and had copied it down wrong.

[35Rem]

a) 22 lr
b) 4"
c) Square
d) 6 shot
e) micro adjustable
f) M 1114xx
g) 63 no dash

Thanks!

Also got a 19-4
a) 357 mag
b) 4"
c) Square
d) 6 shot
e) micro adjustable
f) 52K57xx
g) 19-4