litman252:
8101x is the serial number. The other markings are assembly numbers used to track parts in the factory. They have no meaning once the gun is assembled.
If there is no model number stamped under the crane then the gun predates 1957, when model numbers were introduced.
Your gun is either a pre model 37 Chiefs Special airweight (exposed hammer) or a pre model 38 Bodyguard Airweight (only the tip of the hammer is exposed). In either case the gun dates to between 1955(serial number 75000) & 1957 (serial number 117770). So 1956 seems likely.
joelblevins:
You have a .38 Military & Police Modle 0f 1905 4th Change manufactured between December 1920 (serial number 358xxx) & 1927 (serial numbers in the 500xxxx range).
Your gun was manufactured after heat treatmentof cylinders was introduced, so it should be fine to shoot with any non +P+ pressure ammunition. S&W don't recommend use of PlusP in guns made before 1957, but THR member SaxonPig has fired 1200 rounds pf PlusP through a pre war gun with no ill effects.
Your gun is fitted with an internal hammer safety, but in WWII a similar gun was dropped on a naval vessel and fired with fatal consequences, leading to the development of the modern hammer block safety in 1944. it may be prudent to leave the chamber under the hammer empty if you keep your gun loaded.
Unfortunately I can't give you a more accurate date as the Standard Catalog of S&W doesn't give any more info on that particular period of time. If you would like an exact shipping date and address, for a fee of $50 the S&W historian Mr Roy Jinks will look up the original factory records and send you a letter detailing his findings. You will need to contact S&W if you wish to go down this path.
Value is not great, in 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave a value of $335.00 in excellent condition. A period holster would add to that.
The number under the cylinder crane is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory. It ihas no meaning after the gun is assembled.
thefresh2o:
Your Model 19-5 Combat Magnum dates to around November 1984. Th Standard catalog of S&W notes guns in the range AEVxxxx to AFJxxxx shipping that month. Potentially your gun sat on the shelf for a while, but it was probably manufactured in or prior to that month.
duns:
Your Model 64-5 .38 Military & Police Stainless heavy barrel was manufactured between August 1994 (serial number BRFxxxx) & January 1996 (serial number CAMxxxx). If the grips are original to the gun then 1994, as that was the last year that wooden grips were standard.
bushrod2:
Your .38 Military & Police (Postwar) was manufactured between September 1945 (serial number S811120) & 21st october 1947 (serial number S924878).
Your gun is considered a transitional model between the Pre-war Model of 1905 4th Change and the Model 10, as it has the pre war 'long action' which was replaced by the current 'short action' in 1950 combined with the modern hammer block safety introduced in 1944. FWIW long actions tend to be very smooth, and although they don't have the huge collectors value of the early .357 magnums, they are still fine guns to shoot.
