Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

Model: 686 no dash

Serial: AFE 71XX

Barrel: 4"

I'm looking for the date it was made for estate valuation purposes. Thanks in advance for your help.
 
A) 38s&w B) 5" C) square D) 6 shots E) fixed F) V917XX , It has Canadian proofs on it. just wondering when it was made and if I should try to get it lettered. everything matches including the grips (I sure do wish this thing could talk) :D --------next firearm A) 455 B) 6 3/8 C) square D) 6 shots E) fixed F) 615XX , this is a lend lease with british proofs, all matching :D
 
Last edited:
rjheff: Between November 1984 & January 1985.

kanook: Your first gun is a .38/200 British Service Revolver. Correct caliber is .38 S&W, some were bored out after WWII to accept .38 Special. With that serial number it should date to 1942. Personally I would invest the $50 in a factory letter just to satisfy my own curiosity.

Your second gun is a .455 Mark II Hand Ejector 2nd Model, manufactured between 1915 & 1917. These were manufactured for Canada (14,500) & England (59150).

the .455 wouldn't have been lend lease, as that was a WWII programme to allow the USA to resupply Britain. Your .38/200 may have been lend lease, or purchased by the British military purchasing commission or ordered directly by Canada.
 
thanks for the input. I wondred about the 455 and was told it was a lend lease, but I could never find the lend lease marks and the fact that it isn't marked us property I always thought that it wasn't. it does have the crossed flags on it (British?) not the C with arrow in it (Canadian). I guess that I will get both of them lettered. :D
 
holy crap :what: dude I love you. you have no Idea on how happy to know that makes me. :D
 
Hi Radagast,


Smith & Wesson Model 58
.41 Magnum
Blue
4 inch Barrel
Square Butt
Serial Number N178XXX


Weren't these usually an "S" prefix?


Phil
 
Oyeboten, they were in both S and N serial numbers, and I am envious of you I would love a 58.
I am not home so I don't have my book with me, but Radagast will be by soon.
 
Oyeboten: The S series was implemented for N frames (not including the .45ACP Double Action Army) in 1946, and continued until 1970. The N series began to replace the S series in 1969 and continued until 1986.

Your model 58 .41 Magnum Military & Police should date to 1973, when the S1xxxxx series was used. Interestingly the SCSW says that the Model 58 was introduced in 1964 & discontinued in 1969, with 20,287 manufactured between 1964 & 1977. I can only assume that either a) it was still available on special order until 1977 or b) all the frames were manufactured prior to 1970 with later assembly or c) Supica & Nahass made a mistake. If they did I forgive them. :p
 
I am been looking over and researching about the best type of bear defense gun/hiking/outdoor gun to purchase for the summer. I am planning to spend a lot of time in the forest doing hiking through trails and camping.
 
infomerchialscams: I suggest you start a new thread to discuss your question, or use the search function as the topic gets done to death every other week. This thread is for researching the date of manufacture of old S&W revolvers.
 
MMCSRET:
Your 57-1was made between 1982 & 1986, probably closer to 1986, the highest N series number listed in the Standard Catalog of S&W was N97xxxx in 1986.

Your 10-6 was made between 1976 & 1977, probably early in 1976 as the serial number range for that year starts at D870001.
 
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