Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

What's the date on this one?

a) .357 Mag
b) 3"
c) round butt
d) 6 shot
e) channel rear sight
f) 7D77xxx
g) 65-3

Thanks in advance for the info!
 
BlackJack:
Your Model 65-3 .357 Magnum Military & Police Heavy Barrel Stainless was manufactured in early 1981. Serial numbers for that year started at 7D10001 and had reached 8D00001 by March.
 
44 mag
5 7/8" barrel
Square grip
6 shot cylinder
Square leaf sights
N881xxx
629 stainless steel
Inside frame "E3"
Any info would be most appreciated, Thank you, Catpop
 
Catpop:

The Standard Catalog of S&W does not have a year to year breakdown for that serial range, but I can narrow it down.
The N800,000 to N899000 serial range was used from 1980 to 1983; the 629 was officially replaced with the 629-1 in 1982.
The production of N frames was never that fast and the high serial number probably places it in the last year of the range.
S&W never discarded parts and would continue to assemble 'superseded' models until the parts were used up.
So my guess is 1983, with a small chance for it being 1982.
 
Moderator or other experts(s)

I have 2 j-frames would appreciate any details. Thanks for this excellent thread.

Model 36
2" barrel
Nickel finish
5 shot
Serial #1J100XX
Wood Grips

Model 37
2" barrel
Blue Finish
5 shot
Serial #BBU20XX
Hogue Grips

Any information is appreciated. Thanks very much
 
NapalmMan67:
You have a Victory Model manufactured close to the start of the run, so late 1941 or early 1942. Check the chambers for two steps in it - if there are two steps then its actually a .38/200 British Service Revolver manufactured in for Great Britain and converted after the war to .38 Special.
A converted BSR has no collectors value and should only be shot with standard velocity lead loads, PlusP & JHP may lead to split or bulged cases.
An original US issue Victory Model will have collector value and should be safe with any current factory .38 special standard or PlusP load.
 
johnnycarpenter:
Your first gun is a Model 36 Chiefs Special manufactured in 1983.
Your second gun is a Model 37 Chiefs Special Airweight manufactured in Late 1988 or early 1989.
The Model 36 should be safe with any standard or PlusP pressure load. I would stick to standard pressure ammo only in the Model 37 as it has an aluminum frame and there have been reports of frame stretching and timing issues when used with PlusP in the earlier guns. IIRC S&W didn't rate the J frame Airweights for PlusP until they went to the slightly larger J-Magnum frame in 1996.
 
Ram48:
I can't give you an exact date for your Model 36 Chiefs Special, but I can give you an approximation.
It falls between 1966 (serial number) 392778 & 1969 (serial number 786544).

If the cylinder release is flat, then it is a 'flat latch' version and dates to 1966. If the cylinder release is concave it could from any year in the time period 1966-69.

If the grips are original and have an un-checkered diamond around the screws, then 1966-68.
If the grips are original and have no diamond around the screws, then 1968-69.

Unfortunately the Standard Catalog of S&W does not give a year to year breakdown for that model in the 1960s, so the above is the best I can do.
 
Here is an Old one My father has from hsi Great Grand Father..

a) 38 Special
b) 5" to 6"
c) round
d) 6
e) Non adjustable
f) 8753
g) S157

It has markings for a Patent date of October 4, 1898 on the barrel.. Any information would be fantastic.. Thanks
 
James Vidrine:
That is an oldie. If the following matches, then its a S&W .38 Military & Police 1st Model, also known as the Model of 1899 Army-Navy Revolver, manufactured in the serial range 1-20,975 between 1899 & 1902.
The barrel should be marked .38 S&W Special CTG & US Service CTG. on the left side.
There should not be a lug attached to the barrel in front of the ejector rod.
Grips will be hard rubber with a molded S&W logo or plain walnut.

Your Dad's gun falls in the period 1900-1901 (serial range 5000 - 14000), 1900 seems likely.
A few caveats: This was the first .38 special firearm, smokeless pistol powder was very new. It predates heat treatment of cylinders by 20 years and the positive internal hammer block safety by 44 years. If it is to be shot, stick to lead only standard pressure/velocity rounds. No PlusP, +P+, jacketed or jacketed hollow point ammo. Leave the chamber under the hammer empty until ready to fire, that way there is no chance of the gun firing if dropped.
 
birdshooter:
The N3xxxxx serial range was used for target N frames in 1975 & 1976. The service grade Models 28 &58 used the N2xxxxx range.
The high serial number suggests later production, so 1976 seems likely. The barrel should be 6.5 inches, the 6.0 inch barrel was standardized in 1979.
 
Thanks Radagast. The barrel on this one is 4". The 6 I noted was the number of shots. I appreciate the info.
 
That's a model that i don't have any more info on than what is given in the SCSW. Manufactured 1884 - 1895, serial range 119001-322700.
SCSW notes that American Express Co. bought guns 1892-1905, with the earliest known serial number 264116. If you take 264116 as being from 1892, then your gun falls in the date range 1884-1892.
 
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