Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Oro]

Hi zinj,

That mean machine would be from the winter of 64/65 most likely.

Cheers.

[zinj]

Thank you very much sir!

[bflobill_69]

a) .357mag model 19-3
b) 4" bbl length
c) square grips
d) 6 slot cylinder
e) adjustable rear, fixed front (ramp)
f) 43K88xx
g) K Frame

Interesting bluing on this 19 - in direct sunlight its VERY silver/grey... anyway looks much different from the bluing on most of my s&w's - I like it!

Bflobill_69

[rainbowbob]

Can anyone tell me what the following numbers and markings on the crane (or is it the yoke?) of my SW 36 Chiefs Special indicate?

15179

22 (inside a circle)
G2

The serial number is 90J698. I was told by the fella at SW that it shipped around Dec of '79.

I wasn't sure which sticky thread to post this in - so I posted in both.

a) .38 spl model 36 (no dash)
b) 1 7/8" bbl length
c) round butt - checkered wood stocks
d) 5 chamber cylinder
e) fixed sights
f) S/N 90J698
g) J-Frame


Does that ship date sound correct according to the serial number and so forth?

Anybody know what the other marks mean?

[mgbebout]

Thank you in advance for as much info as possible on this gun.

a) .44 Russian
b) 6.5"
c) Rounded grips
d) 6 shot revolver
e) Blade with small pin
f) Parts Gun -
Barrel & Cylinder 15132,
top lock 35685,
frame at grip end 28555 with SH within a diamond
g) Model 3 (2nd or 3rd Model) "Russian Model" is stamped on top of barrel

[BamaHoosier]

Here's my baby:

.357
2.5"
Round Fingered-Grooved Wood w/S&W crest
6 shot
Rear Adj with Orange-dot ramp on bbl
ADH4604
66-2

[Shade00]

bflobill 69: Are you sure that's a 19-3? A 43K serial prefix would seem to put that in 19-4 territory. That prefix indicates a 1978-79 DOB.

rainbowbob: I am not sure what to say on your Model 36. The S&W guys may be right. However, my book lists no 90Jxxxx serials, and I'm not sure what to think about it having no dash.

mgbebout: Kinda hard to tell on this one. The frame on a .44 Hand Ejector with serial # 28555 would date to around 1927; barrel and cylinder to around 1914. I could be wrong about this as I am not in-the-know on .44 Hand Ejectors.

BamaHoosier: Late 1983.

[mgbebout]

Thanks Shade. Hope finals went well for you.

[dogngun]

Another Chief Special: Model 36, no dash, 2" Nickel plate, SN BAF 90xx, standard round butt. One of my favorite Smiths. Thanks.

mark

[bflobill_69]

Shade TY!!!

The box it came in said 19-3...

All I know is this gun will never leave my battery...

Thankyou again,

Bflobill_69

[Feanaro]

A two-fer.

Model 28-2, "Highway Patrolman."
6 shot .357 Magnum.
4" barrel.
Blued.
SN: S2726XX
Plain ramp, adjustable sights.
Magna grips.

Model 10-9.
6 shot .38 Special.
4" pencil barrel.
Blued.
SN: BBH1XXX
Plain old fixed sights.
Magna grips.
Swivel lanyard loop on the butt.

[Shade00]

mgbebout: Thanks for the well wishes. I certainly hope they went well too! I had no idea I was taking the most difficult class offered by the law school when I signed up.

bflobill 69: I too would not get rid of a 19 if I had one.

dogngun: Probably early 1988.

Feanaro: Your Model 28-2 (a Model I myself have been contemplating purchasing, but in 6") dates to 1966-67. Your Model 10-9 dates to late 1988.

[Feanaro]

Thanks for the dates.

(a Model[28-2] I myself have been contemplating purchasing, but in 6")

Mine came with the faintest hint of a turn line, box, and papers. It kinda hurts to shoot it. Don't buy a really nice one, it may find its way into a display case or possibly a small shrine. They are that good.

On the other hand, the Royal Hong Kong police force wore the crap out of the bluing on my 10-9, so thankfully I can shoot it without worries.

[andre66]

Hi there, just received a 617 yesterday and kind of curious as to the date. Thanks
Andre
a) caliber-.22
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle)-6 inches
c) grips shape (round or square)-square
d) number of shots/cylinder bores-6 shot
e) type of 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
g) Model number if it is under the crane.
That number, if it is the s/n, should come from the butt of the grip (or under the barrel or face of the cylinder).BHE58XX

[Shade00]

Feanaro: I know what you mean. The one I have been considering is priced just over $400, and is in great shape - although not impeccable, the only sign of any wear is a smudge of holster wear on the muzzle. Other than that, it's flawless. If I can wrangle up the cash I'm going to at least put it on layaway. Oh, and I've run into trouble with not wanting to shoot nice guns before. Specifically this guy:



I can't shoot it. I just can't.

andre66: That is a nice 617. I'm jealous. I love anything and everything S&W .22. At any rate, your gun likely dates to early 1991.

[ToeRag]

Model 617

.22LR
6" BBL
10 Shot
iron sights


Serial # CEK6xxx

[Shade00]

ToeRag: Early 2001.

[ToeRag]

Thanks...

[andre66]

Thanks very much.
Andre

[lwrnc1963]

Any info on this old revolver would be appreciated.
cal- .38 S&W
bbl.- 5"
six shot
square butt with swivel laynard
serial # 14161
The serial # is found on the frame behind the crane with an I located above the ser. #. The # is also found on the crane and the back side of the side plate, however it is NOT on the butt of the gun(?). What model is this and when was it made? I thought all Smiths had the serial # on the butt?

[hoochburn]

A) .38 spl.
B) 1-7/8 bbl.
C) square grips
D) 5 shot
E) fixed sights
F) ser.#449051
G) Mod.38 under crane
H) number on cylinder crane 55567

[Old Fuff]

lwrnc1963

You have a Smith & Wesson .38 1905 Hand Ejector, Model 38-200. They were made between 1940 and 1945, primarily for the British government and their Commonwealth countries. However some were retained for use by the U.S. military and some were issued to domestic defense guards and police departments. The serial number should be on the butt, bottom of the barrel above the ejector rod, and the rear face of the cylinder. The number on the frame behind the yoke cutout is an assembly number that has no relasionship to the serial number. If the serial number (likely having a “V” letter prefix) is not found in the specified places someone must have removed them.

The original contract in 1940 from the British government saved Smith & Wesson from likely bankruptcy. It is an interesting piece with historic relavency.

As a side note: You may also find the serial number stamped inside the sideplate, and inside one of the stocks.

[lwrnc1963]

Thanks Old Fluff,
Upon looking closer there are some fine machining marks where the serial #'s should be under the barrel and on the rear of the cylinder so someone definatly removed the serial #s, the bottom of the butt has too many fine rust pitts to see any machining marks. Whoever removed them did a pretty good job as you have to look really close to see the machining. I looked under the sideplate and only saw the assembly number. One of the grips does have the # 877607 stamped on the inside. There is a V stamped on the right side of the butt by the pin that holds the right grip in place. Makes a guy wonder about the missing #'s. Was it "sterilized" for some unit or most likely some G.I. wanted to take home his issue weapon but didn't want it to be traced back to belonging to the gov't?
Any way despite the exterior finish the inside of the barrel and chambers are brite and shiny with no corrosion whatsoever. The action is perfect and the cylinder locks up as tight as a modern Smith. The rifling is worn some but not bad.
Thanks again for your help.

[Old Fuff]

I suspect that the correct serial number is 877,607. After S&W reached serial number 999,999 in early 1942 they changed to a "V" series, starting at V-1 in 1942 and going to somewhere in the V-700,000 range on 38-200 revolvers by 1945.

I would expect a revolver made during this period (late 1941)to have British proof marks on the cylinder, frame and barrel, and it would be almost impossible to remove all of them without being obvious. Since you have made no mention of them I conclude that is was likely diverted and used to arm U.S. Defense Plant guards or our domestic police forces. This was not an uncommon practice at the time because there was an extreme shortage of available revolvers for use on the home front. You might take a chance and order an historical letter from S&W and see what you get.

To do so you will need a (hardcopy) snapshot of the gun, a full description including the serial number on the butt, (or in your case the stock) and a check in the amount of $30.00 made out to Smith & Wesson. In exchange the company's historian, Roy G. Jinks, will research the original records (which are not computerized by the way) and send you a letter containing the details of what he finds.

This comprehensive document will contain an overview of the model’s history, followed by the details of your particular gun. This usually includes the caliber, barrel length, finish, and the exact date it was shipped from the factory, and to what distributor, dealer or military authority. If there are any special features they will be listed too.

Additional information on a historical letter will be found at the Smith & Wesson company website at:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...ectionId=10504

On the other hand...

If the serial number was V-877,607 that whould make the production date sometime in early 1945, as they ended production at approximately serial number SV-811,000. Your serial number is "out of range," but I've known of that to happen before. Some of the late production guns were shipped to the O.S.S. and lacked usual markings. If it is a late production gun I would expect it to have a positive hammer-block safety. You can tell becaue there will be a notch cut in the hammer face under the firing pin.

Last but not least, it is quite possible the stocks came from another gun, in which case all of this speculation is moot.

[Magnuumpwr]

I only own 2 S&W's:
1st
a) 38spl
b) 4
c) square
d) 6
e) adj
f) 33K95xx
g) 15-4

2nd
a) 44mag
b) 8 3/8
c) square
d) 6
e) adj
f) AHA1036
g) 629-1