38 S&W safety hammerless

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Tom gearhart

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I was given a very nice blued safety hammer less by my brother this weekend and I’m researching the manufacturing date the bluing is very nice and the boar bright and sharp. First post not sure how to send photo any way the serial number is 256xxx if anyone can help
 
It's a Fifth Model, made sometime after 1907.
Therefore "modern" for sale and transfer, and "rated" for smokeless powder.
Maybe somebody on the S&W board could get close to a year.
 
So if I do the math right and the end serial number is 260,000 and my number is 256,000 then
26000
25600
= 400 units from the end prductikn
220000 ( first serial number 1907 )
260000-220000=40000 total units / 30 years =1333.33 units a year
So
260000-1333.33=258666-1333.33=257333-1333.33=256000,
So three years production from the end of production 1937-1940
My gun was made between 1934-1937
I think

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Probably older. Production was not consistent and by the mid 30s, the demand was down in favor of Hand Ejectors and cheaper brands if a top break was wanted.
Ask on the Smith board, somebody will probably have one close in number. Even that is not 100%, they did not ship in serial number order, just whatever got picked off the shelf when an order came in.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-antiques/
 
So if I do the math right and the end serial number is 260,000 and my number is 256,000 then
26000
25600
= 400 units from the end prductikn
220000 ( first serial number 1907 )
260000-220000=40000 total units / 30 years =1333.33 units a year
So
260000-1333.33=258666-1333.33=257333-1333.33=256000,
So three years production from the end of production 1937-1940
My gun was made between 1934-1937
I think

-
Thanks I post there a few days ago. Ut no reply
 
Pretty gun and I like the wood grips. I have it’s older brother made in 1898 and it’s a shooter. My only piece of advice on it is to shoot it but don’t jerk the trigger. The “bolt” or cylinder stop is somewhat of a weak link and are a hand fitted part. They are tiny thus not easy to make because they are not easy to clamp up either.
 
Was the 5 th model the last revision? This is such a finely built gun.
Yes, it was. The top-break style lost its popularity in general, and the .38 Special won out over the .38 S&W. I agree that they're admirable-- I have a 3rd model from 1895, black powder cartridge, and it's well-made and shoots just fine. Not as pretty as yours, and yours can handle smokeless cartridges too, which is a plus. I like the way the extractor mechanism works; it's really clever. If all I had for carry purposes was one like yours, it would be good enough for me, though the grip safety does take some getting used to.
 
Yes, it was. The top-break style lost its popularity in general, and the .38 Special won out over the .38 S&W. I agree that they're admirable-- I have a 3rd model from 1895, black powder cartridge, and it's well-made and shoots just fine. Not as pretty as yours, and yours can handle smokeless cartridges too, which is a plus. I like the way the extractor mechanism works; it's really clever. If all I had for carry purposes was one like yours, it would be good enough for me, though the grip safety does take some getting used to.
As for the grip safety I carry a Kimber Classic Stainless Gold Match so.......
Yes, it was. The top-break style lost its popularity in general, and the .38 Special won out over the .38 S&W. I agree that they're admirable-- I have a 3rd model from 1895, black powder cartridge, and it's well-made and shoots just fine. Not as pretty as yours, and yours can handle smokeless cartridges too, which is a plus. I like the way the extractor mechanism works; it's really clever. If all I had for carry purposes was one like yours, it would be good enough for me, though the grip safety does take some getting used to.
so the 5 th model was made for 30 + years (1937-1940 I see different dates used ) and mine is roughly 4000 units from the end of production. It must be from the 30’s. Man if this thin could talk.
 
I found once source that suggests production stopped in 1937, but was a cataloged item through 1940. Only one source tho.
 
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