Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

I'd appreciate that.

Hello: In being an executor for an estate, I am tracking down info on various items, one being this SW 38S Model 14. Been scouring the net and finally found you!!! Besides dating this shooter, would like a rough estimate of its value.

38
6
square
6
back/adj. front/non-adj
K 76078 on stock bottom
15979 by cylinder--also above this number is what looks like a ladle and then a pseudo stickman shape with a 4 next to it.

Wanted to send pic but kept getting invalid file, even sizing down to 94KB
Thanks for any info--John

quaymas:
That serial number makes the gun a K38 Masterpiece from 1949. K76078 is the serial number, the other numbers and markings under the cylinder yoke are called assembly numbers, used to track parts in the factory. Only the serial number is recorded.
The K38 Masterpiece was designated the Model 14 in 1957, after that date they had model numbers stamped under the yoke. In 1949 there was a change to a heavy barrel to match the companion K32 & K22 in weight. If the gun in question has the earlier barrel then it may have added value to a collector.
The gun in question is also a '5 screw', the 5th or upper side plate screw in the frame was deleted in 1955. Again 5 screw guns are more interesting to collectors.
In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave the following values:
As new in box $650, excellent $450, very good $350, good $275, fair $185, poor $100.

I just purchased a K22

I just purchased a K22. I've been reading about them and wanting one for quite some time. They seem to only last a day before someone snatches it up and then you have to wait six months for the next one. This has a six inch barrel, wooden grips with a diamond shape , square butt. There are 2 screws visible on the side and one on the front bottom of the trigger guard. The cylinder holds six cartridges. The serial number on the back of the cylinder matches the serial number on the butt, except the butt has a K on one end and then the serial number on the far opposite end. The number is 1958XX. (I'm thinking that maybe it was manufactured in 1958?) I'm not sure how to determine the type of sights, but the rear has a flat screw so maybe it's adjustable. There are a series of parrallel lines (maybe 5 or 6) running from the rear sight to the front sight and similarly on the back of the butt. It appears to have normal wear of the blueing and cylinder. I love it.

Am I correct in that it was made in 1958. I'll try and post a picture tonight when I get home.

Divaythsarmour:
Your K22 Masterpiece dates to 1953. Serial range for that year was K175638 to K210095.
It was common on earlier S&Ws to duplicate the serial number on other parts of the gun, a lot of them have it on the underside of the barrel with a B prefix. Just remember that legally the serial number includes the K, so K1958xx is the number you record. Any other unrelated number you find stamped on the the gun, for example under the cylinder yoke or under the grips is called an assembly number. These are used to track parts in the factory and have no meaning once they dare completed.
The serrations in the barrel rib are to help with your sight picture, they help reduce glare off the gun in bright light.
The rear sight should be adjustable, the K prefix was only used for adjustable sight guns. the fixed sight models have no adjustment as the rear sight was a channel in the top strap. The front sight on guns from this era was only adjustable with a file. To adjust for windage (left-right) there is a screw in the side of the sight blade. To adjust for elevation you loosen or tighten the screw holding the sight to the top strap located just in front of the rear sight.
A 1953 gun should be a five screw gun, meaning there are four screws in the side plate, and one in front of the trigger guard. In 1955 S&W deleted the side plate screw at the top of the side plate near the rear sight. As a 1953 gun yours should still have that screw. You may have to take the grips off to see the other screws. If your gun lacks the upper side plate screw the only reason I can think of is the frame was made in 1953 but the gun was not assembled till 1955 or later.

Radagast,
Thank you. I appreciate your response. The guy at the gun shop said it was an old one. It's nice to know that it's 1953. That helps account for the more "worn" look of it. I'll post a picture as soon as I can get some good light. It's been raining steadily for several days.

ok, curiosity killed the cat, someone asked me how old my pistol was and I'm not sure, if I ever knew I have forgot. Guess I need to put a post it note in the box. Serial number 5K271XX

anyone who could tell me Thanks!

I inherited 32 long, 5 shot model 30-1 ser H52686. It's kinda rough, but its a neat old gun. Anything you could tell me? I'd appreciate it! Thanks

Hi there all;I'm new to this forum but would like some advice.just bought a S/W 14-3 with a serial #8210XX .Does anyone know when this was manufactured?

~SG~:
Your gun dates to 1973. I can't read the caliber designation on the barrel in the pic. If it's a .38 Special then you have a Model 15-3 Combat Masterpiece. If it a .22 long rifle then you have a Model 18-3 K22 Combat Masterpiece.

Reel-1:
Your Model 30-1 .32 Hand Ejector dates to the period 1971 to 1972. Serial rnage for those years was H30002 to H60000. The .32 Hand Ejector was first manufactured in 1896. It was S&Ws first swing out cylinder gun, introducing the .32 S&W long cartridge. The Hand Ejector part of the name refers to the fact that you eject the cartridges by hand, with S&Ws earlier top break gun the ejection was automatic when the gun was broken open.
The .32 Hand Ejector was originally built on the small round butt I frame, with a companion gun, the .32 Regulation Police having a square butt and longer barrel introduced in 1917. In In 1957 the .32 Hand Ejector was designated the Model 30 and the .32 Regulation Police was designated the Model 31. In 1961 production was switched to the slightly larger J frame, the -1 in the model number refers to the change to the J frame. In 1976 the .32 Hand Ejector was discontinued.
In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave a value of $275 in excellent condition. $185 in good condition and $135 in fair condition. Ammunition is still available but sometimes hard to find.

mr.e moose:
Your Model 14-3 K38 Target Masterpiece if the serial number is K8210xx dates to 1968. If there is no K in front of the number then it is not the serial number, it is an assembly number used to track parts in the factory. The serial number can be found on the bottom of the grip frame, if you have target grips then you may need to remove them to see the serial number.

Thanks Radagast, i've wondered about this gun since it was given to me. Thank you for your help! John

Thank you very much!! It's a K22 by the way.

and I love your signature line!

I found a nice .22 S&W last week in very good condition.

63-3
4", half shroud
stainless

ser# BPS520x

Thanks for your help

mrjefe2u:
Your Model 66-3 Stainless Combat Magnum dates to around December 1993. Guns in the BPKxxxx serial range shipped that month, with the BDYxxxx range shipping in January.

I just found another snubbie if someone could help with DOB I would greatly appreciate it.....This one is a model 60 Chiefs Special stainless steel,2" barrel 5 shot, round butt, fixed sights...serial # ANP8XXX ...also does anyone know if Smith & Wesson still makes the model 60, this one looks fairly new but it could be that it has not seen that much use...I gave $375.00 for it,and that may have been a little high but I dont see that many around in good shape...And I like the snubs..Thanks for any help any one can offer.

Workhorse:
APNxxxx dates your gun to between November 1985 (ALCxxxx) & July 1987 (AWWxxxx). The Model 60 is definitely still in production, but on the slightly larger J-magnum frame, chambered in .357 magnum with a full underlug barrel. Per the Standard Catalog of S&W $375 was right on the money for an excellent condition gun in 2006.

Thanks once again Radagast, I really appreciate your help.

I am having some trouble with this one:

a) .38 s&w special ctg
b) 4" bbl length
c) square
d) 6 shot
e) fixed sights
f) 1D70XXX
g) 64-3

Are the 1D smiths anything different/special/ I have the 3rd revision of the book, and it seems like only model 64 and 65's got this S/N range, and only for 4 years.

It also seems to have more numerical and letter stampings on the frame than my other smiths (I am used to seeing only one).
C1
C20
C7

bigred0383:
We are working from the same reference, so let's narrow it down.
1D70xxx dates to 1979-1980. Serial range for those years was 1D45001 to 1D99999. The 1Dxxxxx serial range was used for the Model 64 & 65. (See Page 399 SCSW).
The Model 64-3 was introduced in 1977 and continued in production until 1988. The pinned barrel was deleted in 1982. (See Page 225 SCSW).
So if your gun is a Model 64-3 with pinned barrel then it is correct for a gun produced from 1977 to 1982, which means it is correct for the period 1979-1980.

There isn't anything special about the 1D serial range, it was just a case of S&W running out of Dxxxxx serial numbers. Again looking at page 399 of the SCSW, you will see the progression of serial numbers for the fixes sight K frames, starting with C1 in 1948 & running up to C999999 in 1967. They then moved up a letter to D1 in 1968 & continued through to D999999 in 1977.
It appears that In 1977 for some reason instead of using an E1 prefix they split production with a 1Dxxxxx for stainless guns and 2Dxxxxx for blued guns. In 1981 they remerged the serial ranges as the 1D range had been used up. This is probably why there is no 3Dxxxxx serial range, it was reserved for the stainless guns but not used as the stainless serial range merged back into the blued serial range, which by 1980 had already worked its way through the 2Dxxxxx, 4Dxxxxx, 5Dxxxxx & 6Dxxxxx serial ranges and was starting on the 7Dxxxxx range.

As for the C1, C20 & C70 stampings, they are all assembly numbers, used to track parts in the factory. If you take the grips off you may find more on the flats of the grip frame. None of them are relevant once the gun is completed.

TL,DR: Your gun is not a special run gun, it's a normal production run firearm from 1979 or 1980. Enjoy shooting it.

Rad, this:

It appears that In 1977 for some reason instead of using an E1 prefix they split production with a 1Dxxxxx for stainless guns and 2Dxxxxx for blued guns. In 1981 they remerged the serial ranges as the 1D range had been used up. This is probably why there is no 3Dxxxxx serial range, it was reserved for the stainless guns but not used as the stainless serial range merged back into the blued serial range, which by 1980 had already worked its way through the 2Dxxxxx, 4Dxxxxx, 5Dxxxxx & 6Dxxxxx serial ranges and was starting on the 7Dxxxxx range.

Is exactly the sort of info I couldn't figure out and was looking for. Thank you very much!

This is my 6th Smith and it has the tightest lockup yet. Even s/n grip panels. I could get used to these older guns!

Here's mine. Recently acquired.

.38 special
1 7/8" barrel (maybe 2")
Round
5 shots
Fixed sights
BPM0XXX
442 (no dash)
There is also the letter N on the face of the cylinder and the gun is stainless

I really appreciate your help!

birdshooter:
The Model 442 .38 Special Centennial Airweight was introduced in 1993 & replaced by the Model 442-1 in 1996. A BPMxxxx serial number should date your gun to around December 1993 (BPKxxxx) or January 1994 (BDYxxxx). If "Airweight" is stamped on the barrel then it is an early 1993 gun, If there is no "Airweight" stamping then a late 1993 gun, if "Airweight" is laser engraved on the side plate then a 1994 gun.

Thanks Radagast! There is no mention of Airweight anywhere on the gun so it must be late 1993. I've got two more for if you don't mind.

.44 Magnum
6 1/2 Full underlug
Round
6
Adjustable
CDL1XXX
629-5 Classic and the gun is stainless


.38 Special
4 Tapered
Square
6
Fixed
4D44XXX
10-7
Gun is blued

Thanks!

birdshooter:
Your 629-5 Classic should date to around March 1999. The 629-5 was produced between 1997 & 2001. Per the Standard Catalog of S&W, serial numbers in the CDHxxxx & CDJxxxx ranges shipped in March of 1999.

Your Model 10-7 .38 Military & Police Tapered Barrel dates to 1979.

a) 32-20
b) 6"
c) square
d) 6 shot
e) fixed
f) 67025
g) prewar 5 screw k frame

Thanks Much!