Help dating a mod 36 and 66-2

[mgraziano1975]

Hi all,

I have two S&W revolvers. One was my father's nightstand pistol, and the other I recently picked up from a friend. It was her father's gun, and his alzheimers is too severe to learn its history.

My father's is:

1. Mod 36 J Frame
2. 1 3/4" snub nose
3. blued
4. .38 Special 5 shot
5. pinned barrel
6. non-recessed cylinder
7. Serial number is J779XXX.
8. fixed sights

The other is a:

1. Mod 66-2 k frame
2. 2.5" snub nose
3. SS
4. .357 Mag 6 shot
5. non-pinned barrel
6. non-recessed cylinder
7. serial number AER64XX
8. Adjustable sights (red/orangefront with white outlin rear)


Very little wear on either gun. The Mod 66-2 looks unfired, although I'm sure it was.

Can anyone offer dating on these pieces, and offer any description or links to photos of the boxes that they would have originally come with?

Thanks in advance,

Michael

 

[Hondo 60]

The 36 is from 1981
The 66 is from 1984

Not sure on the boxes, someone more knowledgeable will have to help you with that.

 

[Radagast]

The standard S&W box from 1966 to 1985 was a blue two piece cardboard box with a silver border around the top, a large S&W logo in the top left corner, two silver lines diagonally across the bottom right corner, with:

Smith & Wesson
A Bangor Punta Company

Printed between the diagonal lines. There was normally a printed label with the model number, finish and barrel length stuck on the end of the box. The serial number was normally written on the bottom of the box in grease pencil.

In 1983 a new box began to be used, this was a blued one piece cardboard box with the word "Revolver" in bold repeating vertically across the middle of the box with a single printing of "DOUBLE ACTION" to the left.
There was also a cardboard insert with a rubber trigger mount.
For the small K frames such as the model 66 the part number 3394 was stamped on the right side flap of the box, part number 3393 for the J frame models. The box had a printed end label with serial number, model, barrel length, finish and any other info the fatory felt like putting there.

The first style box would be correct for your model 36, the second one is probably the style your Model 66 shipped in.