ID on S&W M36
- Thread starter vvanders
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trikster
Member
That looks to be in amazing shape, those grips are very nice looking. I don't have one of the books, so I cannot tell it's age, but that sure is a beaut!
Twiki357
Member
You can try emailing S&W through the customer service link on their website. I did that for a used model 60 I bought a couple of years ago. A week or two later a got a reply of "1982" period. They will also send you a "History" of the gun for a price. I assume they mean a history of the model since they would (Presumably) have no info on an individual gun once it was shipped.
Radagast
Member
1972. S&Ws factory historian, Mr Roy Jinks, will for a $50 fee go back manually through the old paper shipping records and find your gun. He will then send you a rather nice letter giving the back ground to that model, any special features on your gun, the date it shipped and where it shipped to.
If a custom ordered gun such as a Registered Magnum or a gun potentially linked to a historically significant or person or event then this can add to the value of the gun.
If the gun has special significance through a history of family ownership, then it can help provide background/location to the story of relatives that have passed.
Other than that, it will simply satisfy the curiosity of a S&W junkie. You have to decide if its worth it for you.
If a custom ordered gun such as a Registered Magnum or a gun potentially linked to a historically significant or person or event then this can add to the value of the gun.
If the gun has special significance through a history of family ownership, then it can help provide background/location to the story of relatives that have passed.
Other than that, it will simply satisfy the curiosity of a S&W junkie. You have to decide if its worth it for you.
Another option is to go here
http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/index.php
and ask about it. An amazing amount of knowledge is available and freely shared.
The letter available from S&W will tell you the shipped from the factory date and may also give information as to where it was shipped, if it was a special order, barrel length, special finish, etc. For some, it is a crucial part of owning a S&W. For others, not so much. If I had an older S&W (pre Model Number) I might consider it, or if I thought there was a historical connection I might consider a letter. S&W has been swamped with requests for letters on the revolvers. The history dept is a one man operation, Roy Jinks, and nothing is computerized so the more requests he gets, the longer it takes.
http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/index.php
and ask about it. An amazing amount of knowledge is available and freely shared.
The letter available from S&W will tell you the shipped from the factory date and may also give information as to where it was shipped, if it was a special order, barrel length, special finish, etc. For some, it is a crucial part of owning a S&W. For others, not so much. If I had an older S&W (pre Model Number) I might consider it, or if I thought there was a historical connection I might consider a letter. S&W has been swamped with requests for letters on the revolvers. The history dept is a one man operation, Roy Jinks, and nothing is computerized so the more requests he gets, the longer it takes.
madcratebuilder
Member
The M36 no dash would be pre 67 but your posted serial number is not in the range I would expect to see.
Radagast
Member
The M36 no dash continued in production until replaced by the 36-2 in 1988. It was manufactured concurrently with the 36-1 from 1967. The -1 indicated a 3 inch heavy barrel.
As I mentioned above, the gun in question was almost certainly manufactured in 1972. S&W 'floated' the J in the serial number in 1971 & 1972, the floating serial ended at 999J99 in 1972. OPs serial number is close enough to the end of that range that 1972 is pretty much certain.
As I mentioned above, the gun in question was almost certainly manufactured in 1972. S&W 'floated' the J in the serial number in 1971 & 1972, the floating serial ended at 999J99 in 1972. OPs serial number is close enough to the end of that range that 1972 is pretty much certain.
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