Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

Blizzard24:
Your Model 36 Chiefs Special falls in the period 1966 to 1969. Serial number in the 392000 range shipped in 1966, and in the 786000 range in 1969.
If the grips are original and there is an un-checkered diamond around the grip screws, then 1966-1968. If original and no diamond, then 1968-69.

Just got this highway patrolman and would really appreciate any info. Thanks!

a. 357
b. 6 inch
c. square
d. 6
e. adjustable
f. N248xxx
g. 28-2

Predator:
The N2xxxxx range was used from 1974 to 1977. I have a note stating that N2597xx shipped 23/3/76, So I would guesstimate your gun as shipping late in 1975.

Need some help with a no dash model 25, came with the smith clamp on muzzle brake.

Strike is sloppy, looks like S3989xx

"Q" stamp inside crane

Noxx:
The Model 25 (no dash) / 1955 Model .45 Target Heavy Barrel was manufactured from 1957 to 1960.
Serial ranges were as follows:
1957-58 S176000 to S175999.
1958-59 S182000 to S194499
1959-60 S194500 to S206999
1960-61 S207000 to S219999

The S serial range ended at S333454 in 1970, so S3989xx is out.
It's possible that they missed the -1 or -2.
If the serial number is S298xxx, then 1967-68, serial range for those years was S290000 to S304999.

CTG 38 Hammerless serial number

a. 38 S&W
b. 3 1/4
c. round
d. 5
e. non adjustable
f. 156015

birdman5752:
Your .38 Safety Hammerless 4th Model was manufactured between 1898 (serial number 116003) & 1904 (serial number 1684xx). My guesstimate would be 1902.
Caliber is .38 S&W, not the more common (and longer) .38 S&W Special.
Your gun was designed for Black Powder, Modern smokeless ammunition is loaded to the same pressure, but does have a different pressure curve which may see the gun wear quickly. I suggest you stick to black powder or a commercial substitute of you intend to shoot the gun regularly.

I just acquired this:

a. 357
b. 2.5"
c. round
d. 6 shot
e. adjustable
f. AWP 1966
g. model 66-2

Custom Range Toy
a.. 22LR
b. 6" aftermarket Heavy w/ Bo-Mar Rib & Sights
c. Square
d. 6 shot
e. after market
f. 26K82**
g. 17-4

Ok I got one.

a) 32-20
b) 5"
c) Square
d) Six shot
e) Standard
d) ??

sn#328XX Has a B in front of the SN on the bottom of the barrel
Same sn# on the butt but no B prefix.

AWP 1966

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I have one AWP in my s/n collection and shipped in May of 1988.

km101:
Guns in the AWW range shipped in July 1987, so your gun would have been manufactured in early 1987. As per Kernel's post it may have shipped much later.

jhwolfe:
1978 for your Model 17-4 K22 Target Masterpiece. I've no clue on the customization.

A Pause for the Coz:
Your gun is a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 1st Change made between 1906 & 1909.
The grips appear to be original, they are at least period correct.
Check the barrel for a bulge or ring distortion. High velocity jacketed rifle ammo used in these guns often caused a bulged barrel. Current commercial ammunition is loaded to safe levels for use in these old revolvers. Don't shoot off any old jacketed ammo marked high speed or high velocity.
It predates heat treatment of cylinders, so stick to standard pressure lead only loads, don't try and hot rod any hand loads.
It also predates the hammer block safety introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun in 1944. I recommend treating it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
Spare parts are either non existent or stripped from guns of a similar vintage.

Thanks for the info. Cleaned her up really nice this eve. No bulges that I can see.
Bore has a few small pits, Nothing too bad.
Not going to hot rod it at all. Will just use the same load I use in my Colt Police Positive Special in 32-20 about 3.5 gr of Unique behind 115gr RNFP lead.

Pretty amazing that this gun is about 105 years old and still usable.

I have a AWW84XX in my collection that shipped Feb 24, 1988.

That's why I started my own s/n database, I just saw so many discrepancies with the SCSW. Thing is there are a lot of outliers, dates are all over the place, out of sequence, especially in the "A's".

I'd be the first to admit km101's gun could of shipped in 1987. That's why I'm more inclined to say "I have.... so and so, and it shipped ... such and such."

I don't think S&W were doing Just In Time manufacturing in the 80s. They were sequentially numbering all frames in the same range, or at least assigning serial number blocks to roughly match expected production of each model in a given year.
S&W don't track the day a gun is completed, they track the day it shipped. My guess is that some guns started to fall out of favor during that time, for example the Model 66 would have lost orders to the Model 686, both with police departments and target shooters. So it would be possible for a gun to sit in storage for some time before shipping.

IIRC in the earlier days of this thread there is a long barreled Model 29 that shipped two years after the serial number suggests it was manufactured. Which makes sense to me, as outside of the Metallic Silhouette game, there wasn't much call for them.

Hello, If you could give me the DOB on my model 66-1 ( P&R ) 4" Combat magnum S/N 60K0XXX , thank you.

Snake Plisskin:
1980.

Got Two Rada--could use your help.

First--Stainless revolver 5-shot, Not sure if it is a 38 or 357--J frame, Ser # R110699


Second--

38 Cal. 6 shot, K Frame Ser # 603868

As always--Thanks in advance

Not sure if it is a 38 or 357

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if it is in fact a S&W it will clearly say what caliber it is on the right side of the barrel.

So, what does it say?

rc

f it is in fact a S&W it will clearly say what caliber it is on the right side of the barrel.

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Sorry, no barrel, hence why I need the help. I could mic, the cylinder. I was born in the night, but not last night

No barrel?
Wow!

So, do you have a .357 round, or an empty case?
They won't go all the way in a .38 Spl. Chamber.

rc

knee-dragger777:
Serial number R110xxx makes your J frame gun a Model 60 in .38 Special from 1974/5. You will need a pinned barrel and pin to get it working.

Serial number 603868 makes your K frame gun a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905, 4th Change manufactured between 1927 (serial number 570,000) & 1932 (Serial number 624509).
There was a change in the end of the ejector rod in 1930, if you are seeking a barrel you will need to ensure the barrel is cut correctly for the ejector rod you have.

So, do you have a .357 round, or an empty case?
They won't go all the way in a .38 Spl. Chamber.

Click to expand...

I wish I did. Only, .380, 40, and 45 on hand.

If I may be so rude to ask?

How did you get a S&W revolver without a barrel on it?

Rc

Thank you

Serial number R110xxx makes your J frame gun a Model 60 in .38 Special from 1974/5. You will need a pinned barrel and pin to get it working.

Serial number 603868 makes your K frame gun a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905, 4th Change manufactured between 1927 (serial number 570,000) & 1932 (Serial number 624509).
There was a change in the end of the ejector rod in 1930, if you are seeking a barrel you will need to ensure the barrel is cut correctly for the ejector rod you have.

Click to expand...

Thanks Rada!! for the help.-- I have a barrel for the 1905, but need an ejector rod!!

The 60 should be easy to locate.