Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

Hey Rad,

Another K frame for the family:

a) caliber: .357
b) bbl length 2-1/2"
c) grips shape round
d) number of shots/cylinder bores 6
e) sights adjustable
f) serial number 17K76XX
g) Model number 19-3
h) polished nickel finish

Thanks
 
bandleader:
Your Model 17-3 K22 Masterpiece was manufactured in 1972.

jshrop6004:
Your Model 19-3 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1977.
 
oneounceload:
Serial number 379160 shipped in October 1923. Serial number 4599xx shipped in 1926. That suggests roughly 26,000 guns a year produced. I would say yours dates to 1926, being less than 6000 in serial number from the 1926 shipped gun.
If a round butt then it is a .32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model. If square butt then it is a .32 Regulation Police.
 
Hi,

I just inherited this S&W revolver from my grandparent and wanted to know the model and the year of manufacture please.

It says 38 S&W Special CTG on one of the sides
When opening the barrel, it reads 6317C2 (I think its a 2, but it is not very clear)
On the butt it has 5 numbers 28490
It has 6 rounds

Any idea please? Thank you very much.
 
mrose:
You have A .38 Military & Police Model of 1902 manufactured in 1902 0r 1903 in the serial range 20907 to 33803. 6317C2 is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory. CTG is an abbreviation for cartridge, the caliber of the gun is .38 Special. The gun may have been re-barreled in the past, as these were usually marked 38 S&W Special CTG & US Service CTG.
Look on the barrel flat under the barrel, it should have a serial number with a B prefix, see if it matches the number on the butt.
This is an old weapon, I would stick to standard pressure lead only loads, no jacketed or PlusP marked ammo, as S&W did not start heat treating cylinders until 1919.
It also predates the positive internal hammer block safety introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun in WWII and used on all S&W revolvers since. I would ere on the side of caution and treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty if the gun is kept loaded.
 
Radagast,

Thank you very much for the info. i could not find anything under the barrel. I did find the same number (6317C2) on the actual cylinder, as the one I told you before, when I opened the cylinder.

After taking off the grip, I could find what looks like the image of a sun with a 4. Below that, the numbers 672. I don't know if any of these change the information you so kindly told me before. I am posting pics for you to see.

http://s8.postimg.org/dd1qgwn9h/image.jpg
http://s21.postimg.org/tt1q889cn/image_8.jpg
http://s14.postimg.org/vwoc123q9/image_6.jpg
http://s9.postimg.org/bgk5rw1sf/image_2.jpg

Thank you very much!
 
mrose:
The numbers other than the one on the bottom of the grip frame are assembly numbers, used to track parts in the factory. The number on the cylinder matches the number on the frame as they have been fitted together.
The 38 S&W Special CTG & US Service CTG marking should be on the left side of the barrel which is marked Smith & Wesson on your gun, which lead me to believe it was re-barreled. On the other hand, the guns from 1904 on used a thicker barrel shank, so unless it was turned down a later barrel would not fit.

Is the gun marked Made in the USA on the right side? Does it have a S&W trademark on the side plate?
 
S&W Identification

a. .38 spec
b. barrel length 3.550
c. square grips
d. six shoots
e. fixed sights
f. serial number 681xx
g. Number on crane 10708
h. N Frame
 
rbcardo:
You have a .38/44 Heavy Duty manufactured in 1947. Serial range for that year started at S68000. There should be an S stamp before the serial number, but more than one mis-marked gun has left the factory.
The interesting bit is the barrel length. 3.5 inches was standard on the .357 magnum N frame, the 4 inch barrel was a rare variant on the .38 Special Heavy Duty. A 3.5 inch barrel would be the proverbial hen's teeth. The barrel length is measured from inside the cylinder window at the forcing come, not from the front of the frame. If you do have a 3.5 inch barrel please post pics. You may find a buyer on the forum if you are looking to sell, member Peter M Eick collects this model.

beeenbag:
That sounds like an assembly number from under the cylinder yoke, A no dash 66 will be in the serial range K943692 to 9K99999. You may have to remove the grips to see the serial number, it will be on bottom edge of the grip frame. Post it and I'll look it up.

oneounceload:
1978-1979, with 1978 being likely. Serial range for those years was 25K0001 to 56K9999. You have good karma!
 
Model 19-3 .357 magnum, 4" blue, pinned, recessed, target trigger, minty, with Goncalo Alves grips, 7K 30442. There is a lighter stamp over the model and serial numbers, looks like "L 12".

Thanks for your help!
 
Last edited:
Oldtrader3:
Late 1997 or early 1998 for your .38 Chiefs Special Stainless. Guns in the CCExxxx range shipped November 1997 and in the CCKxxxx range in January 1998
 
.455 Hunter:
Your .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change was probably manufactured in 1931. Serial number 636389 shipped that year, but serial number 627975 shipped the following year.
Keep in mind the great depression was on and S&W were manufacturing parts and stockpiling them to keep their workers employed, so guns did not ship sequentially. So 1931 to 1933 is the probable range.
 
One more for fun...

.38 Terrier
SN# 648XX
The revolver has a half-moon front sight, standard cylinder release and no strain screw.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
.455 Hunter:
You have a .38/32 Terrier Postwar manufactured between 1953 & 1957. Postwar production began in 1948 at serial number 54474, the change to the coil spring improved I frame was in 1953, Model numbers were introduced in 1957.
To refine it further, look for the upper side plate screw in front of the hammer. If present then 1953-1955. If missing, then 1955 to 1957.
 
Thank you Radagast!

It's definitely a 5-screw, so 1953 to 1955 looks good. :)

The I-frame snubs are signifacantly smaller than the J-series, especially the current guns with .357 length cylinder windows. I have been carrying this one for a few weeks now loaded with Fiocchi 178 gr FMJs (India contract overrun)- quite the pocket thumper...
 
Just picked up a used Model 60 (GA Dept of Corrections turn-in).

a) .38 Special
b) 1 7/8''
c) round butt
d) 5-shot cylinder
e) fixed sights
f) AYV87xx
g) "60"

Thanks in advance!
 
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