Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[content]

Radagast,
I SCREWED UP, lol

All your info is correct.
I just picked up the 1 1/2 and the barrel is 3 1/2" ribbed octagon.
The serial number was stamped on the inside of the grips also.

I really need to get glasses or be sure to have a magnifier.

I just ordered the Standard Catalog of S&W 3rd edition, well worth it if this is where you get all your info.

I appreciate your persistance in helping such a fool, content

[Radagast]

Meh. I wouldn't call you a fool, fools a) aren't polite as they are too foolish to maintain normal standards of discourse and b) fools don't admit that they are wrong.
As for needing glasses, same here. I'm blind as a bat without them, in fact I'm peering at the screen right now, so I apologise in advance for any typoes.

PS Yes, I use the SCSW, plus a few bits of info dropped by experts like Old Fuff, Saxon Pig, Peter M. Eick & Xavier Breath.

I highly recommend the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson Third Edition by Jim Supica & Richard Nahas, published by Gun Digest books, to anyone who has an interest in S&W firearms.

[skoro]

a) 38 special
b) 4"
c) square
d) 6
e) fixed
f) D5077xx
g) 10-5

Thanks in advance.

[Radagast]

skoro:
Your Model 10-5 Military & Police tapered barrel dates to 1972 or 1973, probably late 1972 or 1973 as the serial range was D420001 to D510000 for that period.

[rwyarbro]

http://picasaweb.google.com/russellw...qZt6fTnNmB0AE#

I have a 44 S&W Special CTG with a serial # of 1146 on the cyclinder and the bottom of the Gun. I have a picture if someone could help me if identify the model and year.. Thanks here are number of pictures.

Appreciate the help!!!!


Russell

[Radagast]

rwyarbro:
You have a .44 Hand Ejector 1st Model. Also known as the New Century or Triple Lock. Manufactured between 1907 & 1915 in the serial range 1 to 15375.
This gun introduced the .44 sized N frame, still used today for S&Ws .44 Magnums and .357 Magnums.
It also introduced the .44 Special, which was a stretched version of the earlier .44 Russian & .44 American. In the 1950s it was stretched again to become the .44 Magnum.
The triple lock was so called because it had an additional lock up point on the yoke, deleted in later models.
Triple locks have a high collectors interest, in 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave the following values: Excellent $2000, Very Good $1250, Good $750, Fair $400. Your gun probably rates between very good and excellent.

In this case it may be worth the $50 cost of a factory letter from Roy Jinks at S&W. He'll look up the original (paper) shipping records and find out when, where to and to whom your gun shipped, along with the original specifications. This all goes on a rather classy factory letter, which makes it more interesting to a collector.

Now if you are going to keep it and shoot it, be aware that it predates heat treating of cylinders. Stick to factory lead ammunition, no jacketed and no hot hand loads. It also lacks an internal hammer block safety, so if you carry it or keep it loaded, leave the chamber under the hammer empty. This will prevent an accidental discharge if the gun is dropped.

That's an interesting and rare firearm, nice to see it in good shape after a century.

[rwyarbro]

That is incredible information! Thanks for all of your detailed information... I really appreciate your help...

[Texasgunlover]

4'' stainless model 66-7,serial CHWO909.SEEMS ALMOST UNFIRED ,NO EROSION ON F/CONE HATE THE LOCK BUT HAVE THEIR BEEN ANY REAL PROBLEMS.oops sorry forgot the c/l button.any good things to say of this revolver ,recalls ect what year,as i heard they were only made for 2 years

[Radagast]

Texasgunlover:
Your Model 66-7 Combat Magnum Stainless is not listed in the Standard Catalog of S&W, cutting off at the 66-6, so I can't give you much detail. The SCSW serial ranges list CHMxxxx in July 2004 & CSRxxxx in October 2004, so your gun probably dates to late 2004. The Model 66 was deleted in 2005. I am assuming the 66-7 was the version with the two piece barrel consisting of an internal rifled liner and an external shround.
If so the only thing I can say about it is that the change over to the two piece barrel was not without problems in the K frame, with one agency sending back it's order of .38 Specials as a number had the barrel break off at the frame when fired. I've never heard of this happening with the .357 Magnum variants though.
The Model 66 was discontinued in 2005 and replaced by the L frame Model 620.
On the downside I did manage to flatten the hammer block safety on my 66-5, I've concluded that it's one part that should be forged rather than MIM as I had the same problem with the Model 66.
Apart from all of the above, I've found the Model 66 to be an accurate and generally reliable firearm and I do recommend them. I still own one, an early variant from the 1970s.

[maginethat]

hello, novice here! i have a 38 special, 6 shot, s/n on butt is 352314, 5 inches from ctg to tip of barrel, right side of barrel has 38 s&w special ctg, left side has smith & wesson, trademark is by thumb position on left side, top of barrel has last patent date of dec 29 14, fixed sights, blued, guessing its a square butt..holster has H.H.HEISER, also has what looks to be engraved in the leather-- 14BO, and O.P.5.. thanks for any input... maginethat

[Radagast]

maginethat:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change, manufactured in in 1920. These are the predecessors to todays Model 10. the internal design has changed over the years, so if you need parts you will need to contact www.gunpartscorp.com who strip old guns for parts.
Your gun has a heat treated cylinder, so any standard or PlusP rated ammunition should be safe to shoot in it. Avoid anything marked +P+ as there is no industry standard for such a load.
The 4th Change indicates an internal design change, including an internal hammer block safety. Unfortunately this did fail with fatal results when a gun was dropped during WWII, leading to the development of the current hammer block in 1944. It would be prudent to leave the chamber under the hammer empty if you keep the gun loaded.

I can't give you any info on the holster.

[thefresh2o]

Hello,
My friend is buying a 686 and has been dragging the information out of the 70 yr old owner - apparently he's just learning the interwebs & email is still a bit of a challenge!

So, there's a couple of gaps in the info available, so I'd appreciate your best guess.

a-357/38
b-6" barrel
c- Wooden targets - don't know shape (and, no photo either)
d-6 shot cylinder
e-adj sights
f- AJJ2973
g- 686 (dash something?)

Thanks Evan

[Radagast]

thefresh2o:
The 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum your friend is looking at probably dates to between July 1985 and November 1985. There was some inconsistency in shipping dates for serial numbers during that period, so it could be as late as 1986. This will make it a 686 (1985) or a 686-1 (1986).
It will be a square butt gun. Grips will be Goncalo Alves target grips.

There is a recall out on all 686 & 686-1 variants, as during the 1980s there were some reports of magnum primers flowing back into the firing pin bushing and locking up the gun. Under the terms of the recall the firing pin and the firing pin bushing are replaced, with an M being stamped after the model number under the cylinder yoke (for modified). If your friend wishes to take advantage of the recall S&W will pay shipping both ways. FWIW I've not heard of a single case of a gun locking up in the ten years I have been a regular on gun boards, so it is either very rare or the primers involved are no longer made.

[Quoheleth]

How 'bout a 17-6 SN AWY4XXX?
Half-lug, 6".

I know it's early 90s. Did this still have recessed cylinders for the rims of the cartridges?

Q

[Radagast]

Quoheleth:
The Model 17-6 K22 Masterpiece was manufactured from 1990 to 1994. The Standard Catalog of S&W notes that the 17-6 had a full lug barrel, with some early guns having a half lug.
The Standard Catalog of S&W notes that serial numbers in the AWWxxxx to AYWxxxx range shipped between July 1987 & January 1988. By 1990 S&W were shipping guns in the BFNxxxx serial range.
My guess is that your frame was manufactured a few years before it was shipped but wasn't completed due to poor demand. Being out of sequence with the serial ranges in the SCSW I can't give you a date. My guesstimate would be 1990 to 1992, but that is just a guess.

[MostlySurly]

a.) .22LR
b.) 6"
c.) square
d.) 6 shot
e.) target sights
f.) ser # 612xx from the crane
g.) mod 17-4 from the crane also looks like F23 from the crane, but I wouldn't swear on the 'F' part.
The barrel also has CTG on it.

I love this revolver, as did my Dad. It is a terrific little shooter.

Thanks for your help, Guys!
Doug

[thefresh2o]

Radagast, again - many thanks for your assistance in this. I appreciate your work (and others who contribute), as do the wider community - I have no doubt.

[Radagast]

MostlySurly:
The Model 17-4 K22 Masterpiece was manufactured between 1977 & 1988.
The numbers you have quoted are assembly numbers, used to track parts in the factory. The actual serial number (and the only one recorded by the factory) is on the bottom of the grip frame. If you have target grips that cover the frame you will need to remove them to see the serial number. The serial number will either have a K in it or it will have three letters followed by four numerals.
If you post the serial number I'll give you the year of manufacture. I'm out of town for the next 5 days, so I won't be able to reply before Monday.

[MostlySurly]

Oops, my bad, Rad. I have the grips off.
Ser # 248K0xx

Incidentally, I am out for a few days also, AND I am actually 6'4" 360.

[Radagast]

MostlySurly:
Caught this just as I ran out the door. Your Model 17 was manufactured in 1982.
Got a sledge hammer?

[Workhorse]

I added a couple more.....
(a).38 (a).357
(b) 1 7/8 (b) 2.5
(c)round butt (c)round butt
(d)5 (d) 6
(e)fixed (e) adjustable target
(f)R259XXX (f)ABJ8XXX
(g)model 60 (g) model 66

[MostlySurly]

Originally Posted by Radagast

MostlySurly:
Caught this just as I ran out the door. Your Model 17 was manufactured in 1982.
Got a sledge hammer?

HA! Got the hammer, just missing the plaids.
Thanks for the research on my revolver, Radagast!

[CajunBass]

Once again, my local gun shope twisted my arm. This time with a near mint condition (I say "near" but I can't find anything wrong with this gun, it looks like it just came out of the box.) Smith & Wesson.

Model 10-5
finish blue
Barrel length 4" (pencil)
Cal 38 special
Grip Square butt
S/N D255967
Sights Fixed.

Hope that helps. The gun is on layaway now, so I don't have any pictures.

[Radagast]

Workhorse:
Your Model 60 Chiefs Special Stainless was manufactured in 1979 or 1980. Serial range for those years was R220001 to R280000.
Your Model 66 Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1982. If it has a pinned barrel the cylinder recessed to enclose the cartridge rim it is a 66-1. If no pin and the rims are exposed it is a 66-2.

[Radagast]

CajunBass:
Your Model 10-5 .38 Military & Police was manufactured in the period 1969 to 1970. Serial range for those years was D90001 to D330000.