Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Radagast]

gunfighter784:
Your friend has a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured in 1919. This uses the medium K frame. Square butt grips for the modern Model 10 should fit. The current grips appear to be original.
It predates heat treatment of cylinders, so stick to standard pressure lead loads only. No PlusP, +P+ pr jacketed ammo.
It predates the modern positive internal hammer block introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun, so should be treated as a 5 shooter with the hammer down on an empty chamber.

 

[gunfighter784]

Thank you for the info, Radagast. I will pass this along to him. Thank You!

 

[Highway-08]

Old M&P

I've had this old revolver for about 40 years and now it seems to be an "antique". What can you tell me about it ?

Caliber: .38 SPL (barrel marked 38 S&W SPL CTG).
Barrel Length: 6.5" (nominal, actually measures 6 & 7/16").
Grip Shape: Rounded.
No. of shots: 6.
Type of sights: Frame "pinch" rear, fixed blade front.
Serial Number: 46776 (has star to the right but no letters).
Model: No model markings.

Thank You very much in advance.

Pictures:

 

[Gun Master]

Radagast,
I own :

S&W Airweight Bodyguard Model 683-3
2'' barrel
Serial # DCN 1334 638-3
712 on cylinder crane
SS barrel & cylinder
Shrouded hammer
Aluminum grip/frame
Large black rubber grips.

I would like to know the date of manufacture, please.
Thank you.

 

[Radagast]

Highway-08:
Not legally an antique, but getting on. You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1902 1st Change manufactured in the serial range 33804 to 62449 in 1903 or 1904. So 1903 seems likely.
This is a round butt K frame gun. The grips are hard rubber and easily cracked. The cylinder is not heat treated, so stick to standard pressure lead only loads. It lacks the positive hammer block safety introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun, so treat it as a 5 shooter with the hammer down on an empty chamber.

 

[Radagast]

Gun Master: Guns in the DCMxxxx range shipped July 2008, in the DCPxxxx range August 2008, so your gun was manufactured around that time, although it may have shipped later.

 

[Highway-08]

Thanks on the old M&P

Radagast, I appreciate the knowledge, I always figured it was made in the 20's. I am getting on but not pre-1896 myself, always go empty under the hammer even with a transfer bar "safety". Best to treat them all like there's one in the chamber and no "safety". Yes, chair arms and those grip panels don't mix well as you no doubt noted on my pictures.

Thanks again for the much improved knowledge of my gun.

 

[Radagast]

Highway-08:
The star means it went back to the factory. If the barrel (bottom flat) or cylinder (rear face) is not serialed, then it may have been replaced. Or it may have been refinished.

 

[Gun Master]

Once again, thank you Radagast.

 

[edwardyoung]

K-Frame, 5 screw, 38sp, 6 shot, 2"(1 7/8") barrel, serial on grips doesn't match gun
Serial # S91722X

Maybe you can look in your crystal ball and tell me who stamped '10' on it. Thanks

 

[Radagast]

edwardyoung:
late 1945 or early 1946. Serial number s811120 shipped September 1945. It has the prewar long action and the wartime (and still used) positive hammer block safety. It's considered a transitional gun because the long action was phased out for the modern short throw hammer in 1948.

 

[Radagast]

Oh, no clue as to who put the 10 on there. It may be an old security or police dept. gun.

 

[edwardyoung]

Thank you. Again

 

[wjwlawz]

Can you help with these two ?

A S&W J frame: Mod 60; 5 shot; .38 cal.;1&7/8" barrel; stainless steel. On the bottom of the grip is ADZ80xx. There are also several other markings on the sides of the grip. These include 7583 and a J (circled) and a D (in a triangle). I know when I purchased it new. Can this shoot +P ?

A S&W L (??) frame: Mod. 686; 6 shot; 357 Mag.; 6" barrel; stainless steel. Ser. No. ACK29xx. On the left side of the grip is 21843; on the right side of the grip is 07530 with an A (circled) and an H (in a triangle). I am not famiilar with the markings on the sides of the grip can you tell us what they mean?

and thanks for all this info

 

[Radagast]

S&W do not recommend use of PlusP in steel framed guns made before 1957. Your Model 60 .38 Chiefs Special Stainless was manufactured in 1984.

Your Model 686 .357 Distinguished Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1983. It is subject to a recall. With some magnum ammo the primer can flow back around the firing pin into the firing pin bushing, locking up the gun. S&W will pay postage both ways and install a new firing pin and bushing. If it has already been modified there will be an M stamped near the model number under the cylinder yoke.

The other markings are assembly marks, used to track partially completed / fitted parts in the factory.

 

[wjwlawz]

Thanks

Thanks for the info WJWLAWZ

 

[atexmp1522]

Bought a K frame smith..

73213. 7

I think this was a 1967 revolver.

4 inch bbl. adjustable sights.
6 shot.

I believe it to be a k frame model 15. Adjustable sites, 4 inch blue, "38 S&W special" on the barrel.

[/IMG]

 

[Radagast]

An adjustable sight K frame from that era will have a K prefix to the serial number. Check the number on the bottom of the grip frame and get back to me.

 

[atexmp1522]

It does K 288882

 

[Radagast]

Pre-Model 15 .38 Combat Masterpiece from the tail end of 1956. Renamed the Model 15 in 1957.

 

[atexmp1522]

Is +p ok in it? I'm assuming this is a standard 38 special revolver, and not the old S&W 38?

 

[Radagast]

S&W do not recommend use of PlusP in guns without model numbers ( pre 1957). This covers them for liability on guns made before heat treatment of cylinders (1919) and for .38 S&W WWII surplus that have been bored out to .38 Special.
The reality is any post war steel frame gun is safe with plusp. Yours is in the last 100 manufactured in 1956. Other than the Model 15 stamping, it is no different to an 'approved' 1957 gun.

Yes, it is a .38 Special.

 

[63Bravo]

38 special
5" barrel
6 shot
S/n 2909xx no letters
Trying to get an idea of the year.

 

[atexmp1522]

thanks for the info! When I bought it, I thought it was made in the 60's or 70's... I was wrong... prob would have still bought it, its in pretty good shape. I wanted a +p gun too.. but whatever...

 

[Radagast]

63Bravo:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured between 1917 (serial number 264644) & September 1919 (Serial number 316648. My guesstimate is 1919 as production of .45 caliber guns for the US Army would have had priority in 1917 & 1918.
It predates heat treatment of cylinders, so stick to standard pressure lead loads only, no jacketed or PlusP.
It lacks the positive internal hammer block safety introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun in WWII, so treat it as a 5 shooter and leave the chamber under the hammer empty.
The grips appear to be original, don't lose them as they are no longer made in that pattern.