Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers
- Thread starter Brian Williams
- Start date
crashdummy
Member
Model 19-5
blued, 6" barrel
AYM6631
Thank you sir
blued, 6" barrel
AYM6631
Thank you sir
Squall67584
Member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2014
- Messages
- 8
a) .357 magnum
b) 2 1/2"
c) round butt
d) 6
e) adjustable
f) 5K92981
g) 19-3
Thanks!
b) 2 1/2"
c) round butt
d) 6
e) adjustable
f) 5K92981
g) 19-3
Thanks!
Deltaspecialforce
Member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2016
- Messages
- 2
S&W .38 Special Date Requested
Hey everyone. I heard a rumor that I may learn more about this firearm by coming here. I have what I believe to be a pretty early model 10 from maybe the 1920s but I really am unsure. It's a 6 shooter with SN: 329XXX
Oddly, the cylinder seems to have worn differently over time compared to the rest of the metal.
Any info is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hey everyone. I heard a rumor that I may learn more about this firearm by coming here. I have what I believe to be a pretty early model 10 from maybe the 1920s but I really am unsure. It's a 6 shooter with SN: 329XXX
Oddly, the cylinder seems to have worn differently over time compared to the rest of the metal.
Any info is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Attachments
Radagast
Member
Deltaspecialforce:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change, manufactured 1919/1920.
Heat treatment of cylinders began in September 1919 at serial number 316648, serial number 358xxx shipped in December 1920. so late 1919 seems likely.
It is the predecessor to the Model 10, but most parts will not interchange.
The change in color of the cylinder bluing is referred to as going 'plum'.
Various reasons have been given on gun forums, including poor bluing salts, poor temperature control on the bluing bath and too much nickel in the steel.
The grips are not original, they are post war Magna grips.
The gun predates the positive internal hammer block introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun in WWII. Treat it as a five shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change, manufactured 1919/1920.
Heat treatment of cylinders began in September 1919 at serial number 316648, serial number 358xxx shipped in December 1920. so late 1919 seems likely.
It is the predecessor to the Model 10, but most parts will not interchange.
The change in color of the cylinder bluing is referred to as going 'plum'.
Various reasons have been given on gun forums, including poor bluing salts, poor temperature control on the bluing bath and too much nickel in the steel.
The grips are not original, they are post war Magna grips.
The gun predates the positive internal hammer block introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun in WWII. Treat it as a five shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
Radagast
Member
Squall67584: Your Model 19-3 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1974.
Radagast
Member
crashdummy: Your Model 19-5 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1987.
Anodyzed
Member
Military and Police Model (10?)
I'm told they didn't have numbers when this was made, just the name: Military & Police. But asking is better than guessing, so...
a) Caliber: .38 Spl
b) Barrel Length: 4"
c) Grip shape: Square Butt (with lanyard ring)
d) # of Shots: 6
e) type sights: Fixed (blade as port of barrel in front, notch cut in topstrap in back)
f) serno: On bottom of barrel and on Butt: V 247345 and in the cylinder hinge area, both on frame and on cylinder hinge: 89610
I inherited this gun through my grandfather from my uncle who was an AAC P-38 pilot. Was told it was his issued flight crew gun.
Would really like to know more about it, starting with the date of manufacture.
Thank you in advance if you can help, and in general for the website!
John
I'm told they didn't have numbers when this was made, just the name: Military & Police. But asking is better than guessing, so...
a) Caliber: .38 Spl
b) Barrel Length: 4"
c) Grip shape: Square Butt (with lanyard ring)
d) # of Shots: 6
e) type sights: Fixed (blade as port of barrel in front, notch cut in topstrap in back)
f) serno: On bottom of barrel and on Butt: V 247345 and in the cylinder hinge area, both on frame and on cylinder hinge: 89610
I inherited this gun through my grandfather from my uncle who was an AAC P-38 pilot. Was told it was his issued flight crew gun.
Would really like to know more about it, starting with the date of manufacture.
Thank you in advance if you can help, and in general for the website!
John
Jim Watson
Member
Your pictures don't show here, but you describe a S&W Military & Police "Victory Model" made for US and allied forces during the last half of WWII. They hit 999999 and started over with a V prefix in 1942 or 1943 and continued until the end of the war.
I am sure somebody will come along to pin it down more closely.
I am sure somebody will come along to pin it down more closely.
Deltaspecialforce
Member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2016
- Messages
- 2
Radagast, thank you so much for the explanation! It's a shame the grips aren't original to the revolver but it's no surprise. Very great info and truly appreciated.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Anodized
Your Victory model V 247345 would date to mid-year 1942.
My records indicate 176608 shipped 4-8-42.
399678 shipped 2-4-43.
As noted, it doesn't have a reliable hammer block drop safety, so carry it with an empty chamber under the hammer.
(Or do like I do. NEVER DROP IT 40 feet onto a steel ship's deck!)
rc
Your Victory model V 247345 would date to mid-year 1942.
My records indicate 176608 shipped 4-8-42.
399678 shipped 2-4-43.
As noted, it doesn't have a reliable hammer block drop safety, so carry it with an empty chamber under the hammer.
(Or do like I do. NEVER DROP IT 40 feet onto a steel ship's deck!)
rc
Anodyzed
Member
Thank you
Jim Watson, rcmodel, thank you both very much for the replies!
Jim Watson, rcmodel, thank you both very much for the replies!
Edcnh
Member
22lr Model 17-4
a. caliber 22lr
B. barrel 6"
c. butt: round
d. type 6 shot
e. sights adjustable target
f. serial no. 33K5720
g. model 17-4
Just picked this up in the spring. Curious as to when it was made.
a. caliber 22lr
B. barrel 6"
c. butt: round
d. type 6 shot
e. sights adjustable target
f. serial no. 33K5720
g. model 17-4
Just picked this up in the spring. Curious as to when it was made.
Radagast
Member
Edcnh: 1978 or 1979, with 1978 more likely.
Looks like i'm next
a. 32 long
b. 4.25
c. Square wood grips. Stamped on bottom of wood is Pat. June 5, 1917
d. 6 rounds
e. fixed
f. 20805 on crane
g. 378381 stamped on handle enclosed in wood grips
Thanks Gun appears to be chrome with brown wooden grips
a. 32 long
b. 4.25
c. Square wood grips. Stamped on bottom of wood is Pat. June 5, 1917
d. 6 rounds
e. fixed
f. 20805 on crane
g. 378381 stamped on handle enclosed in wood grips
Thanks Gun appears to be chrome with brown wooden grips
Last edited:
Edcnh
Member
Thanks for the info!
Radagast
Member
twhorse:
Your first gun is a .32 Regulation Police, built on the small I frame. Serial number 389xxx shipped 10th December 1923, so 1923 or 1924 is likely.
The grips are unique to the gun, which is a round butt frame with a step in the back strap. The square butt conversion grips fit to the step.
It predates the positive hammer block safety introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun in WWII so treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
Your Model 36 Chiefs Special is a J frame, in 1966. That was the last year for the flat latch.
Your first gun is a .32 Regulation Police, built on the small I frame. Serial number 389xxx shipped 10th December 1923, so 1923 or 1924 is likely.
The grips are unique to the gun, which is a round butt frame with a step in the back strap. The square butt conversion grips fit to the step.
It predates the positive hammer block safety introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun in WWII so treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
Your Model 36 Chiefs Special is a J frame, in 1966. That was the last year for the flat latch.
Thanks so much for the information. I had no idea the .32 long was so old. I inherited it from my dad. He bought it some where around 1958-1962. He bought it from a man that operated a small grocery store. Some guy came in to rob him. He got the gun from under the counter and shot the guy dead. The owner no longer wanted the gun so he sold it to my dad for $35.00. The last time it was shot was prior to 1962 when i came home from college and shot it in the back yard. Thanks again.
Twhorse.
Twhorse.
Radagast
Member
Santjim:
That is a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change, an early ancestor of the Model 10. It uses the pre-war Long action, so parts are not interchangable with the post war Short action. Its a square butt K frame and modern grips should fit.
S&W do not recommend the use of Plus P rated ammo in guns made before 1957. The cylinder is heat treated, so it should be safe. +p+ and unknown handloads are definitely out.
It lacks the positive hammer block safety introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun during WWII, so treat it as a five shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty. That gun falls into the period 1927-1930. Serial range for those years was 570000 to 630000.
That is a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change, an early ancestor of the Model 10. It uses the pre-war Long action, so parts are not interchangable with the post war Short action. Its a square butt K frame and modern grips should fit.
S&W do not recommend the use of Plus P rated ammo in guns made before 1957. The cylinder is heat treated, so it should be safe. +p+ and unknown handloads are definitely out.
It lacks the positive hammer block safety introduced after a fatality with a dropped gun during WWII, so treat it as a five shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty. That gun falls into the period 1927-1930. Serial range for those years was 570000 to 630000.
1KPerDay
Member
Gentlemen, my Model 15 is very definitely a -2 and not a -3... can anyone provide more insight as to whether this is an anomaly or any other info? Thank you.
Model 15-2 Square butt 2" (engraved) K8002XX
bullseye308
Member
Radagast
Member
Bullseye308:
Model 67 Combat Masterpiece Stainless manufactured in 1974.
Model 67 Combat Masterpiece Stainless manufactured in 1974.
Radagast
Member
1KperDay:
The Model 15-3 was introduced in 1967, the change was to the rear sight leaf screw.
My guess is someone found an old sight assembly and it was used, with the frame stamped accordingly.
The Model 15-3 was introduced in 1967, the change was to the rear sight leaf screw.
My guess is someone found an old sight assembly and it was used, with the frame stamped accordingly.
