stonecutter2
Member
Thanks for the info, Radagast 
Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers
- Thread starter Brian Williams
- Start date
Hoot Gibson
Member
RE: Post #454
Thanks Brian for answering my post #434 It is what I expected. The weapon along with an IJ .38 were used in a shoot out in Van Wert County Ohio back in 1907 where the Outlaw Marvin Kuhns was shot by the Sheriff Posse led by Sheriff Hott of that country in west central Ohio. My dad purchased both guns from Sherriff Hott'sson about 40 years ago...I have the various Newspaper stories from the time, and have other documentation as well...The IJ belonged to Kuhns(not in as good of shape), the SW to the Sheriff.
Just wanted to share the cleaned up 100+ year old SW..5 shot/5".....a thing of beauty in my own humble opinion. Now to work on the IJ.....
The Classic S&W .38 and the man who was done in by it and Sheriff Hott, The Outlaw Marvin Kuhns June 1907
Thanks Brian for answering my post #434 It is what I expected. The weapon along with an IJ .38 were used in a shoot out in Van Wert County Ohio back in 1907 where the Outlaw Marvin Kuhns was shot by the Sheriff Posse led by Sheriff Hott of that country in west central Ohio. My dad purchased both guns from Sherriff Hott'sson about 40 years ago...I have the various Newspaper stories from the time, and have other documentation as well...The IJ belonged to Kuhns(not in as good of shape), the SW to the Sheriff.
Just wanted to share the cleaned up 100+ year old SW..5 shot/5".....a thing of beauty in my own humble opinion. Now to work on the IJ.....
The Classic S&W .38 and the man who was done in by it and Sheriff Hott, The Outlaw Marvin Kuhns June 1907
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Last edited:
fourstroke
Member
Year and Model-.38 S&W Airweight SPL. CTG
I have a .38 S&W with the following:
Airweight
.38 SPL. CTG
Made In USA
Marcas Registradas
Smith & Wesson
Springfield, Mass.
SN# J 998389
Barrell Length 1 7/8"
Chrome Plated
5 shot, opens from left
never fired
Purchase new
Would like to know the following:
year
model
Apx value
I have a .38 S&W with the following:
Airweight
.38 SPL. CTG
Made In USA
Marcas Registradas
Smith & Wesson
Springfield, Mass.
SN# J 998389
Barrell Length 1 7/8"
Chrome Plated
5 shot, opens from left
never fired
Purchase new
Would like to know the following:
year
model
Apx value
Radagast
Member
fourstroke your Serial number matches the range for 1982.
If your gun has an exposed hammer then it is a model 37 Chiefs Special Airweight.
If it has sideplates that cover all but the tip of the hammer, giving a distinct humpback look then it is is a model 38 Bodyguard Airweight.
The model number should be stamped inside the frame, visible only when the cylinder is open.
Value should be around $400 if new in the box, check gunbroker.com, auctionarms.com and gunsamerica.com for a better idea of value.
If your gun has an exposed hammer then it is a model 37 Chiefs Special Airweight.
If it has sideplates that cover all but the tip of the hammer, giving a distinct humpback look then it is is a model 38 Bodyguard Airweight.
The model number should be stamped inside the frame, visible only when the cylinder is open.
Value should be around $400 if new in the box, check gunbroker.com, auctionarms.com and gunsamerica.com for a better idea of value.
Looking for any data on these->
Mainly date of manufacture and approximate value.
Thanks!
First one
a) 38spl
b) 4"
c) square butt
d) 6rds
e) adjustable sights.
f) No letter 1399XX
g) No model I believe it's a Pre 15 combat masterpiece?
Second one
a) 38spl
b) 1 7/8"
c) square butt
d) 6rds
3) fixed
f) No letter 3998XX
g) Mod36
Mainly date of manufacture and approximate value.
Thanks!
First one
a) 38spl
b) 4"
c) square butt
d) 6rds
e) adjustable sights.
f) No letter 1399XX
g) No model I believe it's a Pre 15 combat masterpiece?
Second one
a) 38spl
b) 1 7/8"
c) square butt
d) 6rds
3) fixed
f) No letter 3998XX
g) Mod36
Radagast
Member
PJ150, your first gun appears to be a Combat Masterpiece, if it had a K prefix then it would have been manufactured in 1952. The serial number range 1299xx was assigned during the period 1906-1909. I can't give you more data than that, it might be worth while asking in the firearms research subforum, or start a new thread in the revolver forum to see if anyone can ID it. it may be an early gun that has been rebarreled or a Pre model 15 with a serial number that doesn't match the SCSW3 list.
Your model 36 is a flat latch, so it was made before 1966, and after 1962, when the serial numbers started at 295000. Value is somewhere around $250-$300.
Your model 36 is a flat latch, so it was made before 1966, and after 1962, when the serial numbers started at 295000. Value is somewhere around $250-$300.
clockman999
Member
S & W Model 640
a-.38 S & W Special
b-about 2"
c-round butt
d-BKK0915
e-640
I hope I got the data in the right order !
a-.38 S & W Special
b-about 2"
c-round butt
d-BKK0915
e-640
I hope I got the data in the right order !
clockman999
Member
Corrections to post
I forgot to add the fact that it is a 5 shot with fixed sights.
sorry...
I forgot to add the fact that it is a 5 shot with fixed sights.
sorry...
Radagast
Member
Clockman999 Your 640 was made between January 1992 & February 1993, the serial number range during this time ran from BHT 7337 to BKZ1014. At a guess I would say it was manufactured late in 1992.
GregButler
Member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2009
- Messages
- 2
ID
Guys, my father-in law just passed and left me a 38 S&W. I have no idea what it is and the guy at the local gun shop said he hadn't seen one like this before. He looked through a book for a while and gave me a few guesses but still no ID. Could you help me out please? SN on all the parts match.
A) 38
B) 1 7/8
C) Square
D) Fixed
E) V123xxx
F) 77893
It's double action - 6 shot.
Thanks for the help.
Guys, my father-in law just passed and left me a 38 S&W. I have no idea what it is and the guy at the local gun shop said he hadn't seen one like this before. He looked through a book for a while and gave me a few guesses but still no ID. Could you help me out please? SN on all the parts match.
A) 38
B) 1 7/8
C) Square
D) Fixed
E) V123xxx
F) 77893
It's double action - 6 shot.
Thanks for the help.
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Radagast
Member
You have a S&W Victory model, manufactured between 1942 & 1945.
The Victory model was a military variant of the S&W Military & Police model of 1905 4th change, basically an early variant of the current model 10 K frame revolver.
At some point the barrel has been cut down and the front sight re-installed. If the barrel is original then it is a fairly rare 2 inch barreled variant. I can't tell from the pictures if it is nickeled or has had the bluing (and rust) polished off leaving bare steel. Some nickel guns were made, but in a different serial number range with an SV prefix. If it is nickeled then this is an aftermarket finish. One thing to check with these old revolvers is if it is a .38 S&W gun that has had the cylinder bored out to chamber .38 S&W special. These may not be safe to fire with .38 special ammunition as the base of the .38 S&W cartridge was wider than the .38 special cartridge, leaving the case unsupported. Check before shooting it, if it has been bored out only use standard pressure loads and don't use reloaded brass.
The Victory model was a military variant of the S&W Military & Police model of 1905 4th change, basically an early variant of the current model 10 K frame revolver.
At some point the barrel has been cut down and the front sight re-installed. If the barrel is original then it is a fairly rare 2 inch barreled variant. I can't tell from the pictures if it is nickeled or has had the bluing (and rust) polished off leaving bare steel. Some nickel guns were made, but in a different serial number range with an SV prefix. If it is nickeled then this is an aftermarket finish. One thing to check with these old revolvers is if it is a .38 S&W gun that has had the cylinder bored out to chamber .38 S&W special. These may not be safe to fire with .38 special ammunition as the base of the .38 S&W cartridge was wider than the .38 special cartridge, leaving the case unsupported. Check before shooting it, if it has been bored out only use standard pressure loads and don't use reloaded brass.
GregButler
Member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2009
- Messages
- 2
Thanks for the info. The barrel looks original. It has the serial on the bottom side. I can't tell if it is nickeled or not but the emblems and engravings are still very sharp so I don't believe it's been altered much.
It is not a factory barrel - there is no locking lug in front of the ejector rod. This is the first sign of a cut-down barrel.
It's been altered a fair amount. Careful sanding can leave the marks unaltered, but among the alterations to that are gun are 1) it's been cut down, 2) the barrel markings sanded off, 3) the lanyard loop removed and the who filled (look carefully on the grip bottom, you can see the marks), 4) It was stripped and refinished, 5) grips replaced, and, very likely, 6) the caliber was changed. These are the typical mods of a 38/200 to convert it to US market and export it from Britain. The large majority of "Victory" revolvers were 38/200 (over 2/3s of them), and not .38 Special.
The thing to be careful of is that it was very likely a 38/200 caliber to start with and not a .38 Special. The alteration leaves the chamber oversize, though that's not often too much of a problem. Shooting .38 S&W in it is the wisest choice, though, if that is what the chamber is reamed for (drop one in to check).
SouthSideDiablo
Member
Radagast
Member
SouthSideDiablo: your gun was made in 1975.
Radagast
Member
Tmg57: 1978-1979.
Radagast
Member
birdman:1977-1978
austinco2
Member
Radagast
Member
Austinco2: July 2004
austinco2
Member
Thanks Alot!
