A handy guide to S&W model numbers

[AZAndy]

Here's a spreadsheet with S&W revolver model numbers, with year of first production as a numbered model, year for each dash revision, and year of discontinuation where applicable. The PDF version is attached to this post-- if you'd like to be able to sort by whatever criteria you like, you are welcome to download whichever spreadsheet format is best for you:

Excel
OpenOffice/LibreOffice
Mac/iOS Numbers

I didn't include models that were Performance Center only, like the 929, although PC versions are there if associated with a dash number.

The source for the information is the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 4th Edition, by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas. If you'd like to know the history of any particular model, or details on what each engineering change entailed, it's all available in the book.

If you spot any errors, including typos, please let me know and I'll get it straightened out!

I'll get started on the earlier non-numbered models next week, and will post the information when complete.

 

[il.bill]

Thanks, Andy!

The Excel spreadsheet looks like it will be very useful, making a GREAT starting point for an individual to flesh out S&W Revolver Model information however he / she chooses. I will have to resist the urge to add a column with a little "x" marking models I have owned!

I never realized there were so many -dash numbered Model 10s to be listed ...

 

[AZAndy]

Thanks, Andy!

The Excel spreadsheet looks like it will be very useful, making a GREAT starting point for an individual to flesh out S&W Revolver Model information however he / she chooses. I will have to resist the urge to add a column with a little "x" marking models I have owned!

I never realized there were so many -dash numbered Model 10s to be listed ...

The version on my computer does have that column. That way, the unmarked lines provide me with a convenient shopping list.

 

[TarDevil]

Thanks!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Well that must have taken quite a while to put together.

The only suggestion I will make is for the heading of column E, how about Previously Known As instead of Also Known As, since those are the Pre-1957 names of the various models.

 

[AZAndy]

Howdy

Well that must have taken quite a while to put together.

The only suggestion I will make is for the heading of column E, how about Previously Known As instead of Also Known As, since those are the Pre-1957 names of the various models.

I thought about that, but the recent models also have actual names, not that people use them much.

Maybe “formal name”?

 

[Pelo801]

Very handy. Must've been some work. So thanks for that.
Quick question, model 73, what is a "C" frame?

 

[AZAndy]

Very handy. Must've been some work. So thanks for that.
Quick question, model 73, what is a "C" frame?

That was going to be a competitor to the Colt Detective Special-- a 6-shot .38 Special. There was some sort of problem with the offset cylinder stop, and most were destroyed. From what I've read about it, there appear to only be maybe 20 left in existence.

 

[USSR]

AZAndy,

You might want to look further into the Model 25 data. You have all Model 25's listed as .45ACP or .45LC. Actually, most of the specific revisions were exclusively one of the 2 cartridges. For example, all 25-2's were .45ACP and all 25-5's were .45LC.

Don

 

[AZAndy]

AZAndy,

You might want to look further into the Model 25 data. You have all Model 25's listed as .45ACP or .45LC. Actually, most of the specific revisions were exclusively one of the 2 cartridges. For example, all 25-2's were .45ACP and all 25-5's were .45LC.

Don

Thank you!

 

[cfullgraf]

Nice collection of information.

Another correction, the Model 16-4 was chambered in 32 H&R Magnum not 32 S&W Long.

 

[Pelo801]

That was going to be a competitor to the Colt Detective Special-- a 6-shot .38 Special. There was some sort of problem with the offset cylinder stop, and most were destroyed. From what I've read about it, there appear to only be maybe 20 left in existence.

Thanks for the info. Im guessing the ones still floating around are worth a pretty penny.

 

[Sistema1927]

Very nice, thank you. I have the 4th edition of SCSW, but it is sometime a bit daunting to use due to the fact that there is so much data spread out over so many pages.