Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

Rada-- looking for your assistance again.

S&W 38 Caliber, K or L Frame square butt, 6 shot, with a 4 screw side plate. SN- C 161995.

Can you tell me what model it is, and what the "c" represents? Thanks!!
 
Last edited:
.38 S&W, or .38 S&W Special???

It is either a Model 10, 11, 12, 45, or Aircrewman K-Frame, made between 1948 and 1951.

Unfortunately, you didn't give enough information to tell you which.
But it is most likely a .38 Special M&P, (Military & Police) which later became the Model 10.

The C serial number prefix was used between 1948 and 1967, when they ran out of room on the grip at C999999, and started over with D1 in 1968.

Rc
 
Last edited:
No Laynard loop and no "us property"., if it makes any difference!
Serial # covers most of bottom of butt.
Thanks for your rresponse.
NavahoJoe
 
Well, it has a V serial number, it had a laynard loop at one time.

Look for a plug, or a weld in the center of the bottom of the butt.

U.S. Markings were likely all polished off before it was polished & plated.
They aren't very deep marks to start with.

rc
 
Mfg by year

I have two S&W .44 Magnums with no model numbers. #1 is a 6 1/2 bbl Serial Number 171567 and #2 is a 4" bbl Serial Number 178362. Any help with year of mfg would be appreciated
 
Is there an S in front of the serial numbers you gave? If so 1956-57 for the first and 1957-58 for the other.
 
Last edited:
There is a Sticky thread in the revolver forum to answer questions like yours here.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=372213

But, since you are here already.

The serial numbers you posted are incomplete.

Your Serial numbers had either an S or N serial number prefix.

It would help to have the complete serial numbers posted.

However, I will have to assume your two guns have S serial numbers.
Otherwise, if they had N prefixes, they would have the Model numbers stamped inside the crane cuts.

So:
S-171567 = 1956-57.
S-178362 = 1957-58.

rc
 
Okladave, I've merged your thread in Handguns: General into this thread in Handguns: Revolvers.
 
okladave:
I'm guessing you copied that number from the cylinder yoke cut and that your guns have target grips that cover the bottom of the frame.
Remove the grips, on the bottom edge of the grip frame will be the serial number, if a pre-model number gun there will be an S prefix. Post that number and we will get back to you.
Additionally, the grips may be numbered to the gun and if early 'coke bottle' targets, are worth a bit by themselves. So don't chip them when removing them.
 
Last edited:
NavahoJoe:
A little more info. most of the cut down and polished WWII surplus guns started out chambered for .38 S&W for the British govt. These were bored out to .38 Special for the US market. The chambers are oversize near the rim and prone to splitting brass.
If there is no lug under the barrel at the end of the cylinder lug then stick to standard pressure lead loads only. The lug helps keep the gun locked up and many of the cut down guns don't have one. I sprang the crane on a similar gun with 5 rounds of 110 grain +P .38 special.
 
Last edited:
knee-dragger777:
Not a Model 11, as that was marked .38 S&W CTG.
Serial number falls between 1948 & 1952, with 1950/51 more likely.
So not an Aircrewman or a Model 12 / Military & Police Airweight (introduced 1953 around serial number 247000.

So. .38 Military & Police Postwar, also knows as the Pre-Model 10, from around 1950/51.
 
Radagast , if you would be so kind ...

a) 357 magnum
b) 6" barrel
c) square butt
d) 6 shot
e) front ramp , adjustable rear (elevation & windage)
f) ADD9172
g) 586 , no dash
... Nickel finish

Thank you in advance , 'Ski
 

Attachments

  • 20160214_094627.jpg
    20160214_094627.jpg
    182.4 KB · Views: 6
Waveski:
Your Model 586 Distinguished Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1983.
It is subject to a recall. With some magnum ammo the primer can flow back into the firing pin bushing, locking up the gun. Under the recall S&W will pay shipping both ways and install a new firing pin and bushing. If the gun has already been modified there should be an M stamped near the model number.

ljnowell:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured Between December 1920 (serial number 358xxx) & 1927 (serial number 561xxx).
If there is a Made in U.S.A. stamp on the right side of the frame, then 1922-27. If no stamp then 1921-22.
It predates the positive hammer block safety introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun in 1944. Treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
It has a heat treated cylinder, so is theoretically safe with commercial .38 Special ammo, but S&W do not recommend use of PlusP ammo in these earlier guns.
 
Radagast said:
Waveski:
Your Model 586 Distinguished Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1983.
It is subject to a recall. With some magnum ammo the primer can flow back into the firing pin bushing, locking up the gun. Under the recall S&W will pay shipping both ways and install a new firing pin and bushing. If the gun has already been modified there should be an M stamped near the model number.

ljnowell:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured Between December 1920 (serial number 358xxx) & 1927 (serial number 561xxx).
If there is a Made in U.S.A. stamp on the right side of the frame, then 1922-27. If no stamp then 1921-22.
It predates the positive hammer block safety introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun in 1944. Treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
It has a heat treated cylinder, so is theoretically safe with commercial .38 Special ammo, but S&W do not recommend use of PlusP ammo in these earlier guns.
Click to expand...


Interesting, I thought a gun that early would have the fourth side plate screw? I was just told there was a c in front of the serial number
 
Well, the C changes everything.

Your gun was made around 1958.
And would be a three-screw for sure.

And it should have the model number stamped inside the crane cut in the frame.

That started in 1957.

Forth screw ended in 1955.

rc
 
rcmodel said:
Well, the C changes everything.

Your gun was made around 1958.
And would be a three-screw for sure.

And it should have the model number stamped inside the crane cut in the frame.

That started in 1957.

Forth screw ended in 1955.

rc
Click to expand...


That's why I'm trying to figure this out. It has three side plate screws, screw in front of the trigger guard and no model number. It's actually my uncles gun.
 
Military & Police serial numbers for 1957 started at C402924. Your uncles gun is in the first 5000 .38 Military & Police manufactured that year. My guess is they weren't geared up to stamp model numbers on the first production of the year, or the frame was actually manufactured in 1956.
 
Radagast if you can please...

S&W Model #60 (no-dash), SS
.38 spl
2" pinned-barrel
5-shot
ser# R1394XX

Thank You
 
GZOh:
Your Model 60 Chiefs Special Stainless was manufactured during the period 1974-77.
Serial range for those years was R100000 to R190000.
Assuming a fairly constant rate of production, your gun was probably made in 1975.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
S&W 38 special identification help
Replies
5
Views
374
DPris
D
B
  • Locked
S&W Model 29-3 markings
Replies
3
Views
1K
belercous
B
Dudemeister
  • Locked
S&W Model 57
2
Replies
48
Views
3K
vmr357
vmr357
T
  • Locked
Questions about S&W Model 10-6
Replies
9
Views
729
GaryP
G
S
  • Locked
S&W Model 36 Manufacture Date:
Replies
4
Views
447
Brian Williams
Brian Williams
Back
Top