Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

New to me M10

Just found , and bought a Model10-5, doesnt even look to have been fired. Has number matching box, orig manual, registration card, free NRA membership card, and cleaning brush !!
S/N # C9787xx

Any idea on the age of this one?

Thanks,
JIM

Hi, Newbie here, any info would be appreciated.
a) 38 S&W
b) 4 inch
c) square
d) 6
e) fixed (half moon?)
f) 799XXX (no letter in front) (appears to be the letter P several spaces after the numbers)
g) 35329 is stamped at two locations inside the crane/yoke

Thanks!

Hi. I'd like to know the age of the following:

a) .357 Magnum
b) 6 inches
c) square
d) six
e) adjustable rear
f) BPZ9xxx
g) 686-4

Many thanks for your trouble.

wrdwrght:
Your Model 686-4 Doistinguished Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1994. Guns in the BPKxxxx range shipped December 1993, and the BRFxxxx range shipped in August 1994.

bentleywr:
You have a .38/200 British Service Revolver manufactured in 1940 or 1941 under commercial contract for the British Empire. The .38/200 was the British Service load of the time, a 200 grain lead projectile in a .38 S&W case. This round was also known as .380 Revolver. The P stamping may be a British proof mark. 35329 is an assembly number used to track parts in the factory. It was not recorded and has no meaning after the gun was completed.
The gun is a K frame and aftermarket grips should fit it.
A lot of these had the chambers bored out to accept .38 S&W Special cartridges, its a simple test, if it fits, then its been bored out. Converted guns will bulge and possibly split brass and are only worth around $150 or so. An unmolested BSR in excellent condition should be worth twice that.
Edit: Just saw your pic. Its been refinished, the grips look like they are plastic Franzite grips, S&W did not nickel the hammer and trigger and the BSR was a blued finish gun. If it has been converted to .38 Special I suggest you stick to standard pressure lead loads only.

jim8115:
Your Model 10-5 .38 Military & Police Tapered Barrel was manufactured in 1967. Nice find!

Thanks for the info, Radagast. I appreciate the help.
The grips are a black plastic material of some kind. It appears to my untrained eye that the chambers have not been re-bored. Using my crude methods of measurement, it appears that the bored section of the chamber is roughly 3/4 of an inch long, which I think should correspond with the original 38 S&W.

Yep. Looks like its in the original caliber, so use the revolver check out thread at the top of this forum. If it passes, shoot it. Just keep in mind it lacks the positive hammer block safety developed in 1944 after a fatality with a dropped gun. Treat it as a 5 shooter and leave the chamber under the hammer empty.

Edit: Franzite were a manufacturer of plastic grips in the 50s that were popular on the refinished surplus revolvers from WWII, such as yours. Origina S&W grips would have been walnut with a S&W medallion.

RAD, Thanks !

JIM

Radagast said:

wrdwrght:
Your Model 686-4 Doistinguished Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1994. Guns in the BPKxxxx range shipped December 1993, and the BRFxxxx range shipped in August 1994.

Click to expand...

Thanks much, Rad

I have a small .22 7 shot revolver called a "Lady Smith" made sometime in the early 1900's I think. What info can y'all tell me about this?


a) 22
b) 3.5"
c) round-ish
d) 7
e) slot for rear, round at muzzle (sort of like a SAA)
f) 59XX
g) ??

DerbyDale:
You have a .22 Hand Ejector Second Model manufactured between 1906 (serial number 4576) & 1910 (serial number 13950). Known as the Ladysmith , I don't know if this was a factory designation or a popular nickname.
Marked .22 S&W CTG , caliber is .22 long, _not_ .22 long rifle. Modern .22lr should not be fired through it, there have been reports of cracked forcing cones as a result of using .22lr in these guns.
The second model was different from the first in that it did away with the frame mounted cylinder release and placed it under the barrel instead.
Yours has a round butt and hard rubber grips. In good condition it is probably worth $400 or more.

Thanks for the info Radagast! I truly appreciate it. Thought these were worth a little more, but still good having some background on it.

Value can be greater than $2500 in 'as new in box' condition. Yours is well worn with little finish remaining.

Twins

First

a) caliber: .22
b) bbl length: 6"
c) grips shape: square
d) number of shots/cylinder bores: 6
e) type of sights. ??
f) serial number: 6574XX
g) Model number: N/A

Second

a) caliber: 38
b) bbl length: 6"
c) grips shape: square
d) number of shots/cylinder bores: 6
e) type of sights. ??
f) serial number: 5412XX
g) Model number: N/A

Approximate value of both?

38 is on the top .22 is on the bottom.

effreek:
Your .38 Special is a .38 Military & Police Target Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured in 1927.
The sights are the early adjustable sights. Built on the medium K frame, modern aftermarket square butt grips will fit. The grips are period correct and are probably original.

Your .22lr is a .K-22 Outdoorsman first Model. This was S&Ws first K frame .22lr target revolver. Sights are early adjustable. It was probably manufactured between 1935 (serial number 651500) & 1940 (serial number 685000). The grips appear to be post war magna style. If you remove the grips you may find a serial number stamped or penciled on the inside panel. If original they will enhance the value to a collector.

Value is something I cannot address, they are both rare variants, with the K22 probably having strong collector interest. A fixed sight Military & Police would be a $250 - $300 gun, I don't know what premium the adjustable sights would command. The K22 runs from $400 for good condition to $1700 for as new in box.
I suggest you post at www.smith-wessonforum.com which is the wretched hive of scum and villainy inhabited by the members of Smith & Wesson Collectors Association. The level of S&W nerdery to be found there (not to mention collectors looking for rare examples) is quite phenomenal. They will require good pics from all angles though to give you an evaluation.

Thanks for the fast reply Radagast. I will check with the nerds over at www.smith-wessonforum.com. : )

Did S&W ever sanction +P in any of the model 60 stainless with a number or
with no number. I know you can take Elmer Kieth way and loaded it a little over. Done that but getting too old for trouble. Thanks ABL

any info would be greatly appreciated ... ty

a) caliber
b) bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle)
c) grips shape (round or square)
d) number of shots/cylinder bores
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.

a) s&w.357 magnum
b) 4"
c) square (walnut grips w/ gold medallion)
d) 6
e) fixed, rear notch front short blade
f) 7D661XX
g) MOD.65-2

Thank you !!

abl760:
S&W do not recommend the use of PlusP in pre-1957 non-model number marked guns.
The use of PlusP in Airweight aluminum framed revolvers that are not marked for PlusP is also not recommended due to accelerated wear.

Your Model 60 should be fine.

Chrispy65:
Your Model 65-2 .357 Magnum Military & Police Heavy Barrel Stainless was manufactured in 1981.

Thank you !!

Thank you very much for the information. I love this pistol. It was past down to me from my favorite uncle and I had no info on it.

Thanks again,
Chrispy65

I have a general idea, but wanted to see you guys can narrow it down.

27-2
Blue
6 inch
Magna grips
N1670xx



Thanks,

a) .357 Magnum
b) 4"
c) Square
d) 6
e) adjustable
f) adn0283
g) 586 no dash

FIVETWOSEVEN:
Your Model 586 Distinguished Combat Magnum was manufactured in late 1983. ADExxxx shipped in October and ADTxxxx in December of that year.

pittspilot:
The N1xxxxx serial range was used in 1973. Hope that's narrow enough.

Plenty close. Thanks,

How about this one:

a) .357 Magnum
b) 4"
c) Square
d) 6
e) adjustable rear
f) N956761
g) 28-3