Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

A couple recently acquired-

#1
a-.357 Magnum
b-5 7/8"
c-Square
d-6 shot
e-Adjustable rear
f-N5499xx
g- Mod. 28-2 (Highway Patrolman)

#2
a-.38 S&W Special
b-5 15/16"
c-Square
d-6 shot
e-Adjustable rear
f-K 1460xx
g-K38 Masterpiece (Model 14)

Thanks for any info,
Wyman
 
JWF III:

Your Highway Patrolman was made between 1978 & 1980. Serial number range for that period was N500000 to N600000.

Your K38 Masterpiece was made in 1952. Serial number range for that year was K136691 to K175637.
 
I just picked this one up. It is a fourth change M&P in 38S&W. The number is 7759xx. From what little I know, this appears to have been made about 1940, with the intent of it being a lend / lease gun. It does have some British proofs, but is lacking in the normal BNP and ton proofs. With the exception of the grips, the gun is completely matching. The barrel and cylinder are serial numbered to the frame. The grips are from a later Victory model.

The side plate is marked with the same assembly number as the frame and crane. There is a B at the bottom of the grip frame area on one side and a F4 on the other. The hammer is marked on the top surface with a stamp saying reg us pat off.

If you can shed any light on this gun, I would be most appreciative.
 

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How about a...
S&W .357
6"
wood with diamond inlayed pattern
six shot
fixed
2K8xx 19-3

thank u
 
Last edited:
Gary Vale: 1970 for your model 19. The sights should be adjustable, it requires a screw driver to adjust them though. The 19-3 was introduced in 1967 and replaced by the 19-4 in 1977. The diamond grips probably aren't original to the gun as they were deleted in 1968.
 
Camp Gunner, I can't give you much more info than you already know, other than that it was probably a gun manufactured for Great Britain prior to the implementation of Lend Lease, which explains the lack of US Property and US acceptance marks.
If Old Fuff doesn't reply to this thread I suggest giving him a PM or starting a new thread to see if he has more info.
 
Thank you Oro and Radagast for the quick replys.

And Oro, I'm glad to know where that list of manufacture dates is. Maybe next time I won't have to trouble anyone for a DOB.

BTW, it looks as if the 28-2 HP is a very late 78.

Thanks again,
Wyman
 
Thanks Radagast

The fun thing about this gun is the lack of the normal markings and proofs. It would be nice to know why the gun is so lacking in markings. I may have to bite the bullet and spend the 50 bucks to have S&W do a letter.

As to the thing about running down the road in a kilt, that does work, but I usually take my little Claymore with me. The one question is, what has the state line to do with anything?
 
The fun thing about this gun is the lack of the normal markings and proofs.
Click to expand...

It has all of the normal factory markings and foreign "acceptance" marks. Nothing's missing. What you don't see is the proof marks stamped when the gun was re-sold and exported from the UK. This would imply it was either a "take home" or non-British (meaning Canadian, Aussie, or other) service piece. Since that gun has the Canadian cross penants on the frame, it would be a Canadian service gun. I don't see a reason to spend the $50 - probably all it will tell you is the date it shipped to the lend-lease office in Boston (I think that's where it was).

This is why lots of detailed photos help with this stuff - smart of you to post them. I think the arrow at the knuckle is the British acceptance stamp, so my guess is that it was UK accepted, then assigned to the Canadians and the pennants stamped. What the marks are below the UK broad arrow is, I do not know. They may be a code for the UK acceptance - I do not know that level of detail.

Lastly, I think the "correct" grips for that gun would be regular commercial ones, that's how the early "victories" shipped, along with that commercial blue finish, which is original. The correct grips would be diamond centered checkered service grips, with a silver medallion in the top 1/2 circle. Some early ones shipped with these, and it's not clear when the smooth type went on exactly (so the smooth ones may be correct - this might be the one thing a factory letter would certainly clear up).
 
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And Oro, I'm glad to know where that list of manufacture dates is. Maybe next time I won't have to trouble anyone for a DOB.
Click to expand...

Glad to - just trying to get the word out that some of the info can be found in the forum stickies and save Radagast some effort. He charges by the hour and it is seriously starting to add up!;)
 
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Hi Radagast, Oro, I have another one that I would like to know the DOB:

S&W model 10-5
serial # 51351
six shot
fixed
square butt

thanks
 
G.C. - I think you are reading the wrong numbers. Look at the ones on the grip frame bottom. At a minimum, the correct s/n will start with a C or D. Once you find that, you can look at the post on this page by SaxonPig and find your date (about 2/3 the way down the page):

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=356710

If you cannot find it there, post the s/n and we'll help you decode it to the right year.
 
GeneralCanas:
The 10-5 was manufactured from 1962 to 1977, it was a tapered barrel variant of the model 10 that in various configurations has been in production since 1899.
If manufactured between 1962 & 1967 it should have a serial number in the range C474149 to C999999.
If manufactured after that the serial number should have a D prefix, in the serial number range D1 to D999999.

If the grips have an uncheckered diamond around the grip screws then it dates from before 1968, assuming the grips are original to the gun.

I think you are quoting an assembly number, this was a number stamped on parts that had been fitted together during the manufacturing process to keep track of them as they moved through the factory, but was not the serial number of the finished gun. The serial number is always found on the bottom of the grip frame, you may have to remove the grips to see it.
 
The 10-5 was manufactured from 1962 to 1977, it was a tapered barrel variant of the model 10 that in various configurations has been in production since 1899.
If manufactured between 1962 & 1967 it should have a serial number in the range C474149 to C999999.
If manufactured after that the serial number should have a D prefix, in the serial number range D1 to D999999.
Click to expand...

I recently picked up a Model 10-5, with the S/N D2875xx. Would this be an early '70s vintage?
 
Blue .45: According to the Standard Catalog of S&W the serial number range D90001 to D330000 was used during 1969 & 1970, so you gun was made during that period. At a guess I would place it in 1970, but a letter from Roy Jinks at S&W would be the only way to find out for sure.
 
I just picked up a...

S&W model 15-4
# 20K69XX
six shot
adjustable
square butt
4" barrel

Any idea on the year of manufacture?
 
Radagast wrote:

Blue .45: According to the Standard Catalog of S&W the serial number range D90001 to D330000 was used during 1969 & 1970, so you gun was made during that period. At a guess I would place it in 1970, but a letter from Roy Jinks at S&W would be the only way to find out for sure.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the information. I appreciate it. Maybe I'll pick up another one soon. :D
 
redneckdan: 1977. Serial number range for that year was 10K0001 to 24K9999.

The 15-4 was introduced in 1977 and replaced by the 15-5 in 1982 when the pinned barrel was deleted. The model 15 in all it's variations was produced from 1949 to 1999.
 
I've got a Model 686 no dash, serial number AFE 71XX. I think I bought it when I lived in Texas, sometime around 1980-81; I think this was also around the time that they first came out. Does my memory serve me well or am I off by a few years? Thanks for the help in advance.
 
bannockburn:
The 686 was introduced in 1980, The serial number range AEVxxxx to AFJxxxx was used during November 1984. The 686-1 replaced the 686 in 1986. There is a recall on all 686 & 686-1, there should be an M stamped after the model number if it has been modified.
 
Radagast

Thanks for the info; I have the "M" stamp on the crane for the modification involving the firing pin bushing in the frame.
 
Randy 1911: 1961. Serial range for that year was K429895 to K468098.
The model 14-1 was introduced in 1959 and replaced by the 14-2 in 1962.
The model 14 was originally introduced as the K38 Target Masterpiece in 1947 and production ended in 1982.

A full underlugged variant was produced from 1991 to 1999 and a run of Classic Model 14s has recently been produced.
 
a. .357
b. 4"
c. SB
d. 6
e. adjustable
f. ABF365*
g. 586 no dash

There is no M stamp anywhere so it hasn't been sent back for the recall. Thanks.
 
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