Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

larryshepard:
Your gun was manufactured in 1956 and could be one of three models.

If the gun has 'airweight' marked on the barrel, and a partially concealed hammer (hammer is concealed by a hump in the frame that covers all but the tip of the hammer spur), then it is a Bodyguard Airweight. In 1957 the Bodyguard Airweight was designated the Model 38. This gun has an aluminum frame, so it would be prudent to only shoot standard pressure ammunition through it.

Many people recommend shooting standard pressure ammunition for practise and loading PlusP (10% increased pressure) for carry, on the basis that a little use of PlusP will not harm the gun, but regular use may cause it to wear out faster.
Others recommend the Federal Nyclad round: http://jamesazacharyjr.blogspot.com/2009/01/federal-nyclad-38-special.html

There are as many opinions on suitable ammo as there are available loads, the only consistency of opinion is that the standard velocity lead round nose of full metal jacket rounds are not very effective in self defence shootings, so a hollow point is best, a semi wadcutter round is second best and the lead round nose is probably 4th preference after target wadcutter rounds.

If the gun is marked airweight on the right side of the barrel and has a fully exposed hammer, it is a Chiefs Special Airweight. In 1957 the Chiefs Special Airweight was designated the Model 37. info re ammo and age posted above also applies to this model.

If the gun is not marked airweight and has an exposed hammer then it is a Chiefs Special. In 1957 the Chiefs Special was designated the Model 36. If your gun is a Chiefs Special then it should be safe to fire with any standard or PlusP pressure ammunition. S&W does not recommend use of PlusP ammunition in guns made before 1957, but this is a fairly arbitrary cut off date - I wouldn't have a problem with PlusP myself.

Again, there are many opinions about ammunition, one of the most popular rounds through the years has been the PlusP 158 grain lead semi wadcutter hollowpoint, or you can do a search on the forum, you will find hundreds of threads discussing ammo. Personally I would find one that shoots to point of aim and is not uncomfortable to shoot and go with that.
 
I have a few too, please let me know the DOB on the following:

S&W 41 A11651

S&W 36 414895

S&W 29-2 N126671

S&W 17-2 K802646

S&W 17-3 K961509

Thanks
jspence
 
jspence:

Your Model 41 is missing a digit from the serial number, the A prefix started at A115001 in 1970, reaching 145801 in 1971.

Your Model 36 Chiefs Special dates to the period 1962 (serial 295000) to 1969 (786544). If it has walnut grips with an uncheckered diamond around the grips screws then it dates to 1968 or earlier. If the cylinder release is flat then it dates to 1966 or earlier.

Your Model 29-2 .44 Magnum dates to 1973.

Your Model 17-2 K22 Masterpiece dates to 1968.

Your Model 17-3 K22 Masterpiece dates to 1970.
 
Here is what I think is a Model 1905:

.38 Special
5" barrel
square butt
fixed sights
Barrel, cylinder & Grip butt serial #S 9101xx cylinder yoke & on frame under yoke #783xx

Top of the barrel has Feb 6.06, Sept 14.09, & Dec 29.14 patent dates.
Thanks.
 
wideym:
Not a model of 1905, you have a Post War .38 Military & Police manufactured between September 1945 (S81120) & 21st October 1947 (S924878). It should have the 4 line address on the right side of the frame. The S prefix indicates the new internal hammer block safety introduced on the Victory Model in 1944.
Your gun would be considered a transitional model as it will still have the old 'long action' with the longer hammer spur. The current short action hammer was introduced at serial 990184, April 7, 1948. In 1957 the .38 Military & Police was designated the Model 10.
 
Averageman:
Your serial number is either C753540 or D753540.

If C753540 then it was manufactured in 1965. If the grips are original they should be checkered walnut with an uncheckered diamond around the grip screws.

If D753540 then it was manufactured in 1975. If the grips are original they should be checkered right up to to the grip screws.

The .38 Military & Police / Model 10-5 was manufactured from 1962 to 1977. the -5 refers to a design change on the tapered barrel version.
 
Alright, got this gun quite a while ago from my grandpa after he passed away.

a) .357 Magnum
b) 4" Cylinder to Barrel
c) Round
d) 6 shots
e) Target Adjustable (No white dots)
f) K7154xx (The K could be an R) Then stamped on the piece that lets the cylinder slide out is 68088 with a big R, and G, and F scattered, with some other markings and letters I can't read
g) Model 19-2
 

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Rhyno37: Your Model 19-2 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1966, the serial number range ended at K715996 for that year. The Letter Prefix is K, it indicates an adjustable sight K frame model. The letter R was used as a serial number prefix, but only for the Model 60 & 651.
The other markings are assembly numbers used to track parts in the factory, they are irrelevant once the gun is assembled.
 
Thank you very much, that's good to know. Could this have been a service revolver? My grandpa had quite alot of firearms, and was a Police officer/chief his whole life, and this particular handgun looks like it has alot of wear from a holster. Also if possible, an estimate of how much it's worth? (Though I would never sell it)
 
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This is my first revolver:
100_4950-1.jpg

100_4953-1.jpg

a) .357 Magnum
b) 6"
c) Square, non diamond
d) 6 shots
e) Target Adjustable (orange)
f) AHV06XX
g) Model 586 (no M)

Thank you in advance.
 
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Brian Per your directions am sending info about a S&W 38 Spcl,2" barrel,round but ,5 shot.groved rear sight,square cylinder realease,serial# 100045,blue steele.There's no model # any where on this gun.Pawn Shop said it was made in the 1960's.Any info is appericated.
Larry
 
Model 10

Hi, This is my first post as a member! I just picked up a Model 10-2 today and by looking around there doesn't seem to be a lot out there. I see a lot of 10-5 and 6's, are they rareish? Well anyway,

a) .38 Special
b) 4"
c) Sq-non diamond
d) 6 shot
e) fixed
f) C5792xx
g) 10-2

And one more question, how do you tell the number of screws and what does that mean. Thank you for the help.
 
Rhyno37: Potentially it was a service revolver, the Model 19 was developed by S&W at the request of Bill Jordan of the Border Patrol to combine the power of the .357 magnum, till then only manufactured on the large N frame, with the handiness of the K frame Military & Police revolver.

If you are willing to spend the cash, a payment of $50 to S&W will get the factory historian Mr Roy Jinks to research the shipping records and write you a letter including the shipping date and where it shipped to. This may give you the address of a police department or police supply. Or it may turn out to have shipped to a gun shop with no other data available.

Very good condition Model 19s seem to be going for around $450 or so these days. Condition does matter though, if heavily worn it wouldn't be worth as much.
 
pake:

The Model 629-1 was produced from 1982 to 1988. The standard Catalog of S&W notes serial numbers in the AHAxxxx range shipped in January 1985, AHSxxxx in July 1985. There were some out of sequence serial numbers around that time, so early 1986 would be the latest time frame, with 1985 being more likely.
 
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BearAZ737:
Your Model 10-2 .38 Military & Police dates to the period 1961-1962 (serial range C474149 to C622699). The 10-2 was introduced in 1961, the -2 denotes a change in the thread direction on the ejector rod of the tapered barrel version. It was superseded by the 10-4 and then the 10-5, both released in 1962. The 10-5 and 10-6 (heavy barrel version) were both produced from 1962 to 1977, so there are a lot more of them around.

The grips on your gun are not original, diamond grips shipped until 1968.
 
larryshepard:
The gun you are looking at is quite early, dating to 1956.
If it has a steel frame and exposed hammer then it is a Chiefs Special. In 1957 this was designated the Model 36.
If the hammer is exposed and the barrel is marked Airweight then it is a Chiefs Special Airweight, the barrel and cylinder will be steel but the frame aluminum. In 1957 this was designated the Model 37.
If the hammer is partially enclosed so only the tip is visible and the barrel is marked Airweight then it is a Bodyguard Airweight, the frame will be aluminum.

Any of the above will still work well as defensive firearms, but the aluminum guns should only be shot with standard pressure rounds, leave the PlusP ammo for all steel guns.

They may have some interest to a collector as well, being fairly early examples. In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave a value of $385, $425 & $450 respectively for examples in excellent condition. Values drop rapidly for less well maintained guns.
 
kenno:

Your Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman dates to the period 1978 to 1980. The N5xxxxx serial range was used during that period, so 1978 or early 1979 seems likely.
 
blackrussian:
Your Model 586 Distinguished Combat Magnum probably dates to between July 1985 (AHTxxxx) & November 1985 (ALAxxxx). There were some serial numbers out of sequence, but as the 586-1 was introduced in 1986 1985 is the right time frame.
 
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