burrhead
Member
Thanks, Jim. This is a factory round butt 4" gun. Only one I've seen.
Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers
- Thread starter Brian Williams
- Start date
I'm trying to determine the date of manufacture and any other information available, of a Model 29 I inherited from my step father.
A: 44 Magnum
B: 8 3/8"
C: Square butt
D: 6 shot
E Adjustable sights
F: 5218760
G: Model 29 no dash
Thank You
A: 44 Magnum
B: 8 3/8"
C: Square butt
D: 6 shot
E Adjustable sights
F: 5218760
G: Model 29 no dash
Thank You
1960-1961 S207000-S219999
Supica, Jim,Nahas, Richard. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (p. 489). F+W Media. Kindle Edition.
Post 8127, I'm guessing that s/n's first digit is not a "5" but the letter "S".
Supica, Jim,Nahas, Richard. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (p. 489). F+W Media. Kindle Edition.
Post 8127, I'm guessing that s/n's first digit is not a "5" but the letter "S".
It is indeed an S. So S218760
orionengnr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
- Messages
- 5,711
a) 38/44
b) 4"
c) square
d) 6
e) fixed
f) S 72094
g) no Model number under the crane.
b) 4"
c) square
d) 6
e) fixed
f) S 72094
g) no Model number under the crane.
Your S&W Model 10-5 was probably made late 1971 or very early 1972 if the guns were made on a consistent regular basis. The only to really know exact date would be to contact S&W directly. Your gun is a post WWII M&P styled revolver, however for it to be a true Military and Police, it should have some other insignia or name on it. True Military and Police post war models would be "C" serial numbered and the name change started in 1957. You and I both have very nice S&W Model 10-5 revolvers.
Your S&W 586 revolver was made between Oct. to Dec. 1982. At that time according to my limited information, each month had a change of the last letter, I would guess yours was made in November of that year.
Based upon your provided serial number the manufacture date is between 1948 and 1949. There were only 2400 officially produced at this time and so if they were consistent in production, you may assume you have a January 1948 model.
According to the information you provided, your revolver was produced in 1980. There is a very wide range of serial numbers for 1980.
Your serial number is close to the end of those numbers so one could assume it was produced late in the fall of that year. The "XX" is not part of your Serial Number. It is some type of production code. You might want to contact Smith & Wesson for more information.
Back in late 60's The U.S. Air Force bought a number of S&W revolvers. The military had them graded. Back then "XX" was the standard grade and "XXXX" was a superior grade. Why there was a superior grade was never explained. Now S&W manufactures very large quantities of frames in a single production batch; so much that collectors do know that up to eight years of frames have been known to be on hand before being assembled.
So do you have a piece that was considered for the U.S.A.F, but not purchased and now used 14 years later after some 2,000 revolvers were sold to the military? Flukey things like this can increase a gun's value, if true. Some model 15 were sold to the air force. Additional information from S&W might be very valuable for you.
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bornintheeu
Member
I'm trying to determine the date of manufacture:
a) 22lr
b) 6"
c) 6 shot cylinder bore
d) Model 617
e) adjustable sights
f) number : CRY9341
Many thanks
a) 22lr
b) 6"
c) 6 shot cylinder bore
d) Model 617
e) adjustable sights
f) number : CRY9341
Many thanks
I believe your date is July, of 2004.
bornintheeu
Member
Thank you very much
Awesome, thank you!
Gil.
Milkmaster
Member
a) Caliber .357
b) 6" bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle)
c) Look at picture because I am not sure how to answer this question. grips shape (round or square)
d) 6 shots/cylinder bores
e) Adjustable rear / fixed front type of sights.
f) S216326 both beneath the crane and on the butt is the same. ) serial number, and if there is a letter in front of or anywhere near the s/n on the bottom of the grip
g) Model 28 - Model number if it is under the crane.
That number, if it is the s/n, should come from the butt of the grip (or under the barrel or face of the cylinder).
I know this is a model 28. but I don't know what vintage or if it is a 3 screw or four screw model. I don't know exactly how to know.
I see this same revolver idetified as -1, -2, -3 models but I don't know who to know the difference etc.
Any help is appreciated.
b) 6" bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle)
c) Look at picture because I am not sure how to answer this question. grips shape (round or square)
d) 6 shots/cylinder bores
e) Adjustable rear / fixed front type of sights.
f) S216326 both beneath the crane and on the butt is the same. ) serial number, and if there is a letter in front of or anywhere near the s/n on the bottom of the grip
g) Model 28 - Model number if it is under the crane.
That number, if it is the s/n, should come from the butt of the grip (or under the barrel or face of the cylinder).
I know this is a model 28. but I don't know what vintage or if it is a 3 screw or four screw model. I don't know exactly how to know.
I see this same revolver idetified as -1, -2, -3 models but I don't know who to know the difference etc.
Any help is appreciated.
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You have a S&W Model 28-1, reason being you still have a screw in the front of your trigger guard which was removed as an update soon after your gun was produced. Your grip is square, a round one would look like an upside down parrot head. If one believes S&W made guns equally between the years of 1960 - 61. You gun would have been produced in August of 1961. Older models also in 1961 had a screw up by the hammer on the right side. That would be a 4 screw model which is not yours. You have another screw on your gun under the grip on the right side. Therefore you have a three screw model. Your gun would be called a Highway Patrolman. The are a few U-tube videos on the care, disassembly and lubrication of S&W revolver models you should watch, even if it is not your exact model.
Jim Watson
Member
Disagree.
The cylinder stop screw counts, and there are three side plate screws remaining (one under the right side grip) therefore a Four Screw gun.
SCSW serial number lists are strange, it shows S207000 - S219999 for 1960-1961
but then S22000-227999 for 1961-1962 so that does not get down to a single year.
It does not have the reduced band behind the knurling on the extractor rod that indicates the left hand thread of the 28-1 and later.
Stamp is MOD 28, not 28-1
I think it is a Model 28 likely made in 1960 right before the extractor rod change.
And it isn't just "called" a Highway Patrolman, it IS a Highway Patrolman, so marked, even after numbers were assigned.
Lots of discussions at
The cylinder stop screw counts, and there are three side plate screws remaining (one under the right side grip) therefore a Four Screw gun.
SCSW serial number lists are strange, it shows S207000 - S219999 for 1960-1961
but then S22000-227999 for 1961-1962 so that does not get down to a single year.
It does not have the reduced band behind the knurling on the extractor rod that indicates the left hand thread of the 28-1 and later.
Stamp is MOD 28, not 28-1
I think it is a Model 28 likely made in 1960 right before the extractor rod change.
And it isn't just "called" a Highway Patrolman, it IS a Highway Patrolman, so marked, even after numbers were assigned.
Lots of discussions at
S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961
S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 - All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos
smith-wessonforum.com
Milkmaster
Member
Is there anything further I can post here in the way of pictures to help?
Not really, the images posted were quite good. In focus images make it a lot easier to identify things. Your Highway Patrolman is clearly stamped “Model 28”. Model numbers were introduced in mid 1957 to make them easier to enter into the computer system in use by the factory. By 1958, it was in use on the majority of revolvers leaving the factory, with some very few made without the stamp.
Jim Watson has id’d everything of importance from your images. Little nuances, like the lack of the smooth band on the extractor rod, help determine age and engineering change (dash number).
The above is the mark you would see for a dash 2 (-2) version of the Model 28. There are some -1 specimens out there but very few.
Round butt or square butt is easily seen without target stocks, as in this image. These are both Model 25-2 revolvers, the bottom is a custom one with the butt converting to round.
The best way to learn about these is to study them and ask questions. Most of us are more than happy to help you learn.
Kevin
I disagree with your disagree.
Milkmaster's picture #3 only shows two (2) screws on the right side plate and we know there is a third under the grip, THEREFORE 3 SCREW GUN.
I said that if one wants to ASSUME guns were made with x numbers per month, then one can Assume Milkmasters gun would be a later model based on updates.
Model numbers were not stamped the day of production. They would have been stamped ahead of time in lots. YOUR assumption
suggests that some 6000 guns were made early in 1960 and the remaining 1600 were produce in the next year and a half. -nonsense.
The model 28 had several names and I referred to the name used closest to the date this gun was produced. Other names include "Patrol", "Patrolman", "Highway Patrol", and "Highway Patrolman". It also could have been special issue gun to a specific police department. Many were stamped with names and many were not. I believe Milkmaster has a transition firearm that would lead to be assembled over a much longer time. At any rate I think for value sake he should spend the money and receive a letter from S&W.
Jim Watson
Member
As I said, the cylinder stop screw in front of the trigger guard is included in the count. Four screw. That screw was omitted in the -2 change, leading to the three screw guns. The -2s are highly regarded these days because they are the last of the "pinned and recessed" revolvers, but when I was coming up they were disdained in favor of the 4 and 5 screw variants.
It has "Mod 28" stamped on the gun, it has "Highway Patrolman" stamped on the gun.
It lacks the indication of a left hand thread extractor rod which was the -1 change.
Apportioning out serial numbers is a wild goose chase, S&W did not necessarily complete and ship guns in numerical order.
I provided a link to a S&W board where he can show it to serious students of the brand.
The company does not provide identifying letters any more, you have to go through the S&W Historical Foundation, charge is $100 unless you are a member of the Historical Foundation or/and the Collectors Association.
