Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Blowingsky]

4" bbl
6 shot
.38 S&W special
K 104xxx
square butt
adj rear sight

 

[Radagast]

Blowingsky: Your K38 Combat Masterpiece was manufactured in late 1950 or early 1951.

 

[Blowingsky]

Thanks! My dad won some money playing poker while he was waiting to ship out to Korea, having been reactivated in the Marines. I was 2 years old. He had been married for 3 1/2 years. He bought this gun with the poker winnings. I think it was the last new gun he bought until the '70's.

 

[bwsmith2850]

Coke bottle grips are a variant from the 1950s of the large target grip with a palm swell added so when viewed from the rear it appeared similar to the curve of a traditional Coca Cola bottle.

OOPS. Thanks for the info Radagast. Somehow I managed to get 'Coke bottle grips' attached to the thin service (open front & backstrap) grips that extend toward the cylinder latch. (Magna grips?) These:




Maybe because I could see the curve on those, Maybe that term was too close to a picture of the other. Now I'll know.

 

[hatchetbearer]

1. .357
2. 4"
3. Square Butt
4. 6 shot
5. Fixed sights
7. 2D60xxx
8. Model 13-1

 

[Radagast]

bwsmith2860:
The attached picture is of magna grips. The basic difference between the original grips and magnas is the horn of timber that comes up along the back edge of the frame, allowing a more comfortable high grip. Magnas came in round and square butt configuration. Introduced in 1935 on the Registered Magnum as an option, they became available on the K frame in 1936. They became the standard grip for hand ejectors after WWII.

hatchetbearer:
1977.

 

[charliemopic]

I picked up a Smith model 686 and an H&R model 905 which is a 9-shot nickle revolver with 4" bull barrel. Both in excellent condition for $600.

The Smith
1. Model 686 no dash, .357 mag.
2. 6 inch barrel,
3. 6-shot,
4. Square Butt, wood grips,
5. Adjustable rear sight,
6. serial # A AR20xx,
I don't know what frame these are, maybe N ?

Inside of the original wood grips theres a 1982 ink stamp.

Thank You

 

[mesinge2]

I was asking because I read that the gun has to be manufactered after 1957 to safely use +P ammunition, and I purchased the weapon used, and I know the model 67 says .38 Special +P on the weapon and mine simply says .38 Special.

a) .38 SPL
b) 3"
c) round
d) 6
e) Fixed, front blade and notch
f) ANB2xxx
g) Model 64

View attachment 108751

 

[Radagast]

charliemopic:
AAR20xx dates to between October and December 1982. There is a recall in existence for all S&W no dash guns. Some could suffer primer flow back when fired with magnum loads, locking up the gun. If the gun has been modified there should be an M stamped after the model number. If you are inclined S&W will pay shipping and fit a new firing pin and firing pin bushing to prevent this from happening. The frame is the L Frame, slightly larger than the K and smaller than the N. It was introduced to allow constant use of magnum ammunition without the forcing cone cracking, as could occur on K frame guns.

mesinge2:
Your gun dates to somewhere between November 1985 & July 1987. There is a big gap in the serial ranges in the Standard Catalog of S&W between those dates. Your gun should be fine for use with limited amounts of Plus P ammo. Constant use will see early wear. Use of Plus P Plus ammo I would avoid. There is no pressure standard for plus P Plus so you may potentially be getting .357 magnum pressures.

 

[mesinge2]

Thanks, Radagast

 

[Dr. Unclear]

I have a stainless model 640, wood grips. I'm curious about the age, other details.

a) .38 spl
b) 2"
c) round
d) 5
e) notch, fixed, "snagless"
f) BKK91xx
g) 640

Thanks guys!

 

[rcmodel]

Mid-1991.

rc

 

[Dr. Unclear]

rc: thanks, that helps!

 

[twice barrel]

a) .22LR
b) 6"
c) Sq
d) 6
e) Fixed front, adj rear
f) K392XXX
g) Model 17

 

[ky40601]

Model 60

2" Barrell
.38 Spl
Fixed sights
SN: R202146
Round Butt

Thank you,

Jackie

 

[Cosmose]

my buddy was wanting info on his smith-wesson 32. i don't know the serial number but if anybody could give me a rough ideal i would be thankful.


32 S&W long
model 31-1
4 inch barrel
round butt
6-shooter
old style cylinder latch

also it's in 70-75% condition any idea on the price range for it?

thanks for any info

 

[Radagast]

twice barrel:
Your Model 17 K22 Target Masterpiece was manufactured in 1960.

ky40601:
Your Model 60 Chiefs Special Stainless was manufactured in 1977 or 1978.

Cosmose: The Model 31-1 Regulation Police was manufactured on the .38 special sized J frame. The earlier Model 31 was manufactured on the slightly smaller I frame. Assuming it has a flat cylinder latch, then it was manufactured between 1961 and 1966. In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave a value of $185 in good condition.

 

[Cosmose]

Radagast thanks for the info.

 

[exdetsgt]

I have a blue steel J frame Model 36 no dash Chiefs Special #J800612 LNIB with original yellow paper, a cleaning brush, a warranty card, and a brochure for Smith&Wesson ammo.

Any idea regarding manufacture date and value?

 

[Radagast]

exdetsgt: 1981. In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave a value for ANIB of $425. If it haas been fired it will be considered to be in Excellent condition which was valued at $375 in 2006.

 

[exdetsgt]

Thanks, Radagast. Very helpful. I've been carrying a Kimber UCII for CCW, but have just recently begun to carry the Model 36 as it's smaller and conceals better. That means holster wear soon, and thus no longer LNIB. However, it's not worth much and certainly not collectible, so I'm going to use it for its intended use: concealed carry!

Thanks again.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Saw this one in the gun shop today...

M&P .38 Special, 6" Barrel, Blued, Square Butt, Serial #504XXX (on butt).

Any ideas on a rough DOB?

Just curious- The numbers on the cylinder and butt matched, but there were different matching numbers on the crane and crane cut-out in the frame. Is that normal?

Thanks!

 

[Radagast]

.455_Hunter:
You are considering a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured between 1927 & 1930.
The numbers under the crane cut out and on the crane will be assembly numbers, used to track fitted parts in the factory and irrelevant once the gun is shipped. The serial number may be duplicated under the barrel as well.

The gun in question has a heat treated cylinder so any modern standard velocity ammo should be fine. It lacks the hammer block safety introduced during WWII and should only be carried or kept loaded with the hammer down on an empty chamber.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Thanks Radagast! Gotta love these old Smith's!

 

[want2bfast]

a) 32 s&w ctge
b) maybe 2"
c) round
d) 5
e) fixed
f) 121903
g) ?


some one was telling me I could only use one type of rounds/powder is he correct? and what type would that be?