Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

I took a shot at cipherin' the dates myself from the SCoSW but extrapolating the 3 letter prefix stuff in the appendix on serial numbers appears dicey - BFS and AUZ don't appear to be listed. Maybe I'm just not doing it right.

Anyhow:
57-3, 6" Blue. BFS631x. The 57-3 didn't run for very long and '91 looks like a good guess. Close?

57-1, 4" Blue AUZ534x. Slightly longer run - around 82 to 89. My guess is around '87.

So, how'd the new owner of the Standard Catalog do? Close? No cigar? And what reference are y'all using to home in the dates? Or are they hiding in Standard Catalog and I'm having comprehension issues?

TIA
 
Yeesh, I take a couple of days off and get behind again. What happened to my help in here? :p

hoochburn: Your Model 38 was born somewhere in the mid-60s.

Magnuumpwr: Your Model 15-4 was born 1978-79. Your Model 629-1 in early '85.

Kestral: I am very jealous. A 547 is at the very top of my list. Your 547s are very desireable guns. Produced 1980-85, they are one of (I believe) two regular production model 9mm revolvers produced by S&W. Both of your revolvers were made in 1981.

Hawk: Serial numbers with three letters, which began in 1980 with AAAxxxx, are fairly consistent, although there are some examples of out-of-time letters showing up late in a production run. If you turn your SC to page 400, you will find the best way to approximate these alphanumeric serials. Your 57-3, with serial BFS631x, falls around late 1990. Although SC does not specifically tell us that, notice that BFNxxxx showed up in August 1990, with BFWxxxx in Jan. 1991. BFS falls in there somewhere. Using the same logic for your 57-1, looks like we've got an early- to mid-1987.
 
Yup, page 400 is where I was trying to pound the round pegs into the square holes - thanks.

I guess, depending on when in '87, my meager accumulation of 57s might be one each of Bangor Punta (an N-prefix), Lear Siegler and Tompkins. Doesn't look like Lear Siegler was there for long.
 
I'm no S&W historian nor a big N-frame buff, but it sounds like you have quite a nice set of 57s, no matter who built them. Although I am personally leary of later S&Ws (as evidenced by the fact that I just bought my first non-pinned gun), I can say for certain that if I found one of those fine Model 57s that checked out I would be all over it. We see a few .44s here and yon and your usual array of .357s and .38s, but to see such a beast as a .41 would be unusual, to say the least.
 
Local anamoly no doubt - I've been looking for an older model 29 forever, at least from before I stumbled across the first 57.

Actually, my first revolver since I was a young'un was a 29-2 from November of 2003. I crowed about it here. Ah, memories are made of this.

Regrettably, the guy that sold it to me lost his job and requested that I sell it back for the low price he'd put on it. As these things sometimes go, I'm still waiting for the 500.00. It would be into 2007 before I got another (DA) revolver and that was the first of the 57s. There's been two since and still no 29s.

The 29-2 was so slick from Magnaport that I thought something was wrong with the 57. Me whining. I wouldn't have believed I'd miss that 29-2 as much as I do - I hate porting but could nearly overlook it due to the redeeming virtues.

Not that anyone would be interested in my travails with DA revolvers but I was digging up the links out of curiousity. Except for a couple Rugers from decades back my entire revolver history is posted on THR - that's unh... weird. Interesting (to me), most of my posts have a drive-by by Old Fuff setting me straight on one thing or another.

There's an Anaconda that's scratching the .44 itch until the holy grail 29 comes along. Is Fuff watching this thread? If not I should probably fess up to actually buying that pre-17 he pointed out. There's a couple spots with the finish missing that didn't show up in the auction pics (actually, one looked like flash reflection) so I'm guessing my shooting it won't cause any collectors to have apoplexy - shiva knows I paid enough for it. :eek:

Youse guys (that's New York for "y'all") are a bad influence. Dang rotational things are addictive. Sorry about the rambling reminiscinces.
 
There's an Anaconda that's scratching the .44 itch until the holy grail 29 comes along. Is Fuff watching this thread? If not I should probably fess up to actually buying that pre-17 he pointed out. There's a couple spots with the finish missing that didn't show up in the auction pics (actually, one looked like flash reflection) so I'm guessing my shooting it won't cause any collectors to have apoplexy - shiva knows I paid enough for it.
Click to expand...

Anaconda's have been catching on, and nice examples are going up. My only objection is that if you break a firing pin (which is unlikely) replacing it is a factory job. This is one place they could have used a better design.

That said, if you see a good one at a fair price I would suggest that you don't let grass grow under your feet. Do check to be sure that a former owner didn't do a trigger pull job and/or switch out the springs. Replacing the springs though, is easy too do and not expensive. Also the internal lockwork is entirely different then the older revolvers, such as the Detective Special or Python, and don't require a specialist to do normal servicing or repairs - and repairs are seldom necessary.

I'm glad you got the pre-17, and there is no good reason not to shoot one unless it is absolutely mint or brand new. Then you might think about it, particularly if a box and accessories is included. I wouldn't worry too much about the cost, before too long the value will catch up. As they say, they don't make them that way anymore...
 
Hi! My Chiefs special just arrived, happy happy. I have a problem finding out when it was made. It has a pinned barrle but a very late # 9J26xx, according to my book, SCSW 3rd edition, they eliminated the pinned barrel 1982 and started putting a number before the J 1983, since my seriel number starts with 9J u would think that it was made alot l8er......help :)

wtf4.jpg


I know this stamp looks like mod . 38 but it's 36.

DSC_0266.jpg
 
a) .357mag model 19-3
b) 4" bbl length
c) square grips
d) 6 slot cylinder
e) adjustable rear, fixed front (ramp)
f) 4K914xx
g) K Frame

I had the wrong serial # before...:(

Bflobill_69
 
bflobill 69: About 1974.

Fuff, I saw an Anaconda locally the other day (another unusual sight) for about $750. I haven't been keeping track of these guys, but it was $750 with the box. I didn't have $750, but seemed like a good deal for a pristine example. I just can't see myself shooting .44.
 
Model 13

I'd like to know the DOB on a Model 13

4" barrel
square butt
Serial # 6D66900

Thank you!
 
Darn!

How am I ever going to take you to the cleaners now that you have "THE BOOK!"

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing you know... :evil:
 
Got what looks to be a pre-27. Serial # is 10384, with a 7 underneath the serial number on the frame.

It's a 5-screw, which has had the hammer and trigger jeweled. The rest of the gun was Parkerized. Previous owner reports it was carried in Vietnam.

Curious as to date. Thanks!
 
I suspect that you are looking at an assembly number, not the serial number. The serial number is likely stamped on the bottom of the butt, and it may be covered by oversized target stocks. If so, carefully remove them so that you can see the number. The serial number will likely have an "S" or "N" prefix.
 
Help With Two Revolvers

Thanks for your help!
Model 34-1
22 LR
4 Inch Barrel
6 Shot
Ser. # M198531

Model 28-2
.357 mag
4 inch Barrel
6 shot
Ser.#M253313
 
Last edited:
357 Mag, 6" barrel, think its a sq butt, 6 shots, currently scoped, Ser# S23494X model 28-2 Highway Patrolman, still have to pick it up at the dealer
 
Model 37

Model 37,
No dash,
Blue,
serial number: 603,XXX

I should add that it is in great shape, and has the orginal checkered grips. What else am I supposed to mention?

Thank you all!
 
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