View attachment 845705

I’ve had several like this model 686-5. It’s a hunting gun so I don’t care, but on a few others, I’ve buffed it off and carefully brought back the original finish with a gray scotchbrite pad. And no it’s not altering the serial number. The “official” serial number is still on the butt of the gun
I should have been clearer, the serial number is inside on the frame behind the crane, above where the model # is usually stamped. It appears to be factory as it's the same style, numbers made of dots, as the # on the butt.

There is another set of numbers, no relation to serial number, where yours are showing. I take those to be a police agency stock #.
 
I just added this little 36 to my collection, and would like to know its age:

A: .38spl
B: 1 & 7/8ths
C: wood service
D: 5 shot
E: fixed
F: 1J08344
G: 36

Thanks,

Mac
 
Thank you very much, ArchAngel. I thought the 36 no dash would've been older but I learn something new every day! Still, its a clean gun and looks like its been carried and shot very little, so I'm satisfied.

Thanks again,

Mac
There is a problem here. I only looked at the serial # you gave me and didn't realize it was a no-dash. The serial # goes to 1982 but a no-dash only runs to 1966. Are you sure the serial number is correct? Are you sure there is a 1 in front of the J? Please check again and post here.
 
0628191925.jpg

0628191925.jpg
Here is the serial number. Looks like the 1 is stamped deeper than the others. I can't get a good shot of the model, but all that's in the crane is MOD. 36. No dashes present and it looks to be centered in the frame. I wonder what the deal on the # is?

Mac
 
View attachment 848010

View attachment 848010
Here is the serial number. Looks like the 1 is stamped deeper than the others. I can't get a good shot of the model, but all that's in the crane is MOD. 36. No dashes present and it looks to be centered in the frame. I wonder what the deal on the # is?

Mac

It can be confusing with the 1j prefix. I agree with Arch Angel on 1982, but the Smith and Wesson Catalog 4th edition also shows a series of 1J Prefix shipped in 1971-72. Also the catalog does state that the no dash ended in 1966 but I have a no dash 36 nickel that was shipped in 1977 with a J568xxx serial number. I am almost positive that a lot 36 no dash were sold and shipped long after 1966. I just checked my records and I previously owned a model 36 no dash with a 3 letter prefix serial number that shows it shipped in 1983.
 
The barrel is not pinned. Which makes me believe it to be a newer gun, but being a no dash 36 complicates the matter. A very strange case indeed. I pulled the grips and the frame and crane #s match. There is an "E5" stamped under the grips also.

Mac
 
The barrel is not pinned. Which makes me believe it to be a newer gun, but being a no dash 36 complicates the matter. A very strange case indeed. I pulled the grips and the frame and crane #s match. There is an "E5" stamped under the grips also.

Mac
Starting 1982 the barrel was not pinned so I guess it is a 1982 gun but the dash number is confusing. It's possible the M36-1 guns are only the 3" heavy barrel revolvers and the no dash goes right up to 1988 to the M36-2.

Update, I just went into the safe and checked my 1975 M36, it is also a no dash so my speculation on the number above seems to be correct. Your M36 is indeed from 1982.
 
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The barrel is not pinned. Which makes me believe it to be a newer gun, but being a no dash 36 complicates the matter. A very strange case indeed. I pulled the grips and the frame and crane #s match. There is an "E5" stamped under the grips also.

Mac
That pretty much confirms ArchAngelICD's first date of 1982. That was the year that Smith stopped with the pinned barrel. Yours was in the 2nd phase of the 1J prefix which also matches up with what the Catalog has for number of digits. I'd bet my lunch yours is a 1982 vintage.
 
That pretty much confirms ArchAngelICD's first date of 1982. That was the year that Smith stopped with the pinned barrel. Yours was in the 2nd phase of the 1J prefix which also matches up with what the Catalog has for number of digits. I'd bet my lunch yours is a 1982 vintage.

Well, that satisfies me! I appreciate the both of you taking time to look up the info on the little gun for me. Got some El Paso leather and a BK grip heading this way for and it will now be my main carry piece.

Thanks again,

Mac
 
Could you please give me the date of manufacture for:
a: .38 Sp
b: 4"
c: square
d: 6
e: fixed
f: 642555
g: side loading ? M&P ?

Thanks.
 
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Could you please give me the date of manufacture for:
a: .38 Sp
b: 4"
c: square
d: 6
e: fixed
f: 642555
g: side loading ? M&P ?

Thanks.
My source which is the Standard Catalog of S&W 4th edition is very general with the dates of the .38 M&P Hand Ejector. I would guess without any pictures yours is pre war and the serial number range is 241704-700000 that were shipped from 1915-1942. Doing some basic math, it would appear yours was probably 1940-1941? That's as close as I can get. Maybe someone else can narrow it down a bit more.
 
Unfortunately, the SCSW 4th Edition is not specific on the dates for the 1917.

They list:
1917-1946 1 - 209791
1946-1950 209792 - 210784

The revolvers made for the military are marked "U.S. ARMY MODEL 1917" They made about 163,600 between Sept. 17, 1917 and January 1919. The military revolvers run from #1 to 169,959.

I can't even guess when your revolver left the factory because they rarely made the same a similar numbers of each revolver every year. Sorry I couldn't help more.

My Grandpa's .45 1917.
a. .45
b. 5 1/2
c. square
d. 6
e. fixed
f. 1784xx
 
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Unfortunately, the SCSW 4th Edition is not specific on the dates for the 1917.

They list:
1917-1946 1 - 209791
1946-1950 209792 - 210784

The revolvers made for the military are marked "U.S. ARMY MODEL 1917" They made about 163,600 between Sept. 17, 1917 and January 1919. The military revolvers run from #1 to 169,959.

I can't even guess when your revolver left the factory because they rarely made the same a similar numbers of each revolver every year. Sorry I couldn't help more.
Thank you. Would a good guess be early twenties?
 
With a wild guess I couldn't tell you. Over 80% of the guns were made in less than the first 2 years of production. Only around 41,000 guns were produced in the next 31 years. In 27 years to 1946 only 39,800 guns were made and one was yours. No way to guess. It's possible late 30s but who knows?

I'm sure standard pressure 45 Auto ammo is safe if the gun is in good condition.
 
With a wild guess I couldn't tell you. Over 80% of the guns were made in less than the first 2 years of production. Only around 41,000 guns were produced in the next 31 years. In 27 years to 1946 only 39,800 guns were made and one was yours. No way to guess. It's possible late 30s but who knows?

I'm sure standard pressure 45 Auto ammo is safe if the gun is in good condition.
Thanks again!
 
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