Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[blfuller]

Looking for DOM on the following S&W revolver...

a) caliber: .38 S&W Special
b) bbl length: 6"
c) grips shape: Square wood
d) 6 shot
e) Sights: Fixed
f) Serial number: C 424882
g) Model number: No model number, possibly pre model 10?

Also curious what model it is exactly. Thanks.

 

[Radagast]

blfuller: You have a pre-model 10, the post war .38 Military & Police.

Your serial number falls in the range for 1957-1959, being C402924 to C429740. Model numbers were introduced in 1957, so I would guess your gun dates to 1957.

 

[Florey55]

Hi -my baby...

a) caliber: .38 S&W Special
b) bbl length: 6"
c) grips shape: Square wood
d) 6 shot
e) Sights: Adjustable rear, partridge front
f) Serial number: 1N 8302
g) Model number: 14-3

Is single action only - with wide target trigger & hammer.

When was it made?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Radagast]

Florey55: The Model 14 K38 Masterpiece Single Action was manufactured between 1961 & 1982. The serial number should have a K in it, not an N, as all postwar K frame revolvers with adjustable sights up until 1982 were serial numbered with a K in or before the number. If your serial number is 1K8302 then it was made in 1971. The serial number is always on the bottom of the grip frame, sometimes it was duplicated under the yoke (cylinder hinge) but usually any number found stamped there is an assembly number, used to track fitted parts in the factory and not the serial number. If the serial number is different, post it and one of us will look it up.

 

[transatlantic]

My newest (to me) wheelgun:

a) caliber: .44 Rem Mag
b) bbl length: 3"
c) grips shape: Hogue Monogrip
d) 6 shot
e) Sights: Adjustable rear, fixed front
f) Serial number: CCT9703
g) Model number: 629-5

Sold new in Germany and imported to Sweden this summer.

Any more info on this one..?


..

 

[Radagast]

Transatlantic: The 629-5 was introduced in 1997, with the change to the frame mounted firing pin and MIM hammer & trigger. It was replaced by the 629-6 in 2001 with the internal lock. Serial number CCT9703 should date it to January 1998.

 

[transatlantic]

Thank you, Radagast!


..

 

[anraith]

DOB on Mod 36

a) .38 S&W Spl
b) 1-7/8"
c) Round butt
d) 5-shot
e) Fixed sights
f) Serial prefix 544xxx
g) Model 36

Thanks very much in advance!

 

[Radagast]

Anraith: Between 1962 & 1969 (Serial number range 295000 to 786544). If it has a flat cylinder release, rather than a curved one, it dates to 1966 or earlier. If it has walnut grips with an uncheckered diamond around the grip screws it dates to 1968 or earlier.

 

[anraith]

Mine has a curved cylinder release, checkered (non-diamond) grips. I understand that to be between 1966-1968. That was about what I was estimating. We'll call it "1967" for all intents and purposes.

Thanks very much.

 

[tmbg]

ok, new toy:

a) .38spl
b) 4"
c) square butt
d) 6 shot
e) micrometer adjustable rear
f) S/N K 279967
g) under the crane says "H", then "62596", then "9"

 

[Radagast]

tmbg:You have a K38 Combat Masterpiece dating to 1956. In 1957 it became the Model 15 with the introduction of model numbers instead of names. This was the service pistol variant of the popular K38 Target Masterpiece revolver, with a four inch barrel, adjustable rear sight and a Baughman Quick Draw ramp front sight, named after the FBI agent who suggested it. The Combat Masterpiece was produced from 1949 to 1999. It survives today in the stainless steel variant, the Model 67.

 

[tmbg]

Great, that's exactly what it was sold to me as! The grips are stamped with the same serial number and this gun is in really nice shape!

 

[tmbg]

ok, how about my buddy's new smith:

a) .38spl
b) 1-7/8"
c) square butt
d) 5 shot
e) fixed
f) S/N 4J6763
g) mod 36, 29018

 

[Radagast]

tmbg: 1971-1972.

 

[captain awesome]

hi all,
If any one can help me I would like to know the model and year of my revolver, i acquired it from my grandfather(deceased) about a year ago. All i know is it is a .357magnum, s&w six shot w/ six inch barrel, and it isn't accurate at 150 yards any help would be appreciated. I love shooting it, just want to know more about it. I apologize about the enormous pictures, I thought they would be smaller, but I want you to get a good look at the gun.

 

[Radagast]

captain awesome:

Your revolver is a S&W 586 Distinguished Combat Magnum. These are built on the reinforced medium 'L frame'. Introduced in 1981 and discontinued in 1999, these addressed the problems that occurred with the earlier and slightly smaller K frame Combat Magnum, which occasionally suffered from cracking of the forcing cone and flame cutting of the top strap. The 586 has a larger cylinder and larger forcing cone, so it should be safe to shoot with any commercial .357 magnum ammunition.

Yours predates 1993 as it has timber rather than synthetic grips. For a more precise date you will need to post the serial number. This will be three letters followed by four numbers. It will be stamped on the bottom of the grip frame, you will need to take off the grips to check there. It may also be duplicated under the yoke (cylinder hinge). The exact model number (586, 586-1, 586-2 or 586-3) will be stamped under the yoke as well.

 

[captain awesome]

Thank you Radagast, the serial # is ADD2114. I also noticed some other numbers while I had the grip off, going right to left; E18 563 x5 , R, 7, 35 - the 35 was located above the "7". On the other side was an r inside a circle, 04706, then an A inside a triangle. Sorry i don't know anything about these #'s and letters, if anyone would tell me what they mean I appreciate it also it just says 586 under the yoke, no-#

 

[Radagast]

captain awesome: ADD2114 dates to between January 1983 (ABLxxxx) & October 1983 (ADExxxx).
The lack of a _x after the model numbermeans that your gun is one of the first variant, before any engineering changes, which would have been marked by a _1, _2, etc.

The other numbers are assembly numbers, used to track parts in the factory. The only relevant number legally is the serial number.

There is a recall out for all 586 and 586-1 revolvers. If your gun had been modified under the recall the model number would have been stamped with an M at the end. Specifically, some of the first 586 & 686 revolvers were reported to lock up when fired with some .357 ammunition as the primer flowed back into the firing pin bushing. This stopped the cylinder from turning. The guns modified under the recall had a new firing pin and bushing fitted.

According to gun forum gossip S&W are no longer worried about this due to the relevant primer manufacturers changing their primers, but you can get it modified if you insist. Personally, if the gun has worked fine for the last 26 years I would leave it alone.

 

[uvausmc]

a) .44 Mag
b) 8 3/8"
c) square
d) 6
e) ramp front, adjustable rear
f) AVV75xx
g) 629-1

Bought it used from a guy who traded me a taurus tracker .44 mag + $50. I think i made out pretty well.

 

[captain awesome]

Thank you very much Radagast! I have never had problems with it, as far as I know my grandfather didn't either, but its good to know if I need it they will fix it. Thank you again.

 

[Radagast]

uvausmc: July 1987. And I think you did very well!

 

[oak1971]

This is a great thread! Here we go.

.44 mag
8 3/8" barrel
square butt
6 shot
ramp front
adjustable rear
pinned barrel
recessed cylinder
mod 629 no- dash
n8690xx

.44 mag
6.5" barrel
round butt
6 shot
ramp front
adjustable rear
one large port forward of front sight
mod 629-4
caj70xx

.44 mag
3" barrel
round butt
6 shot
ramp front
adjustable rear
2 ports total. one port on each side of front sight
mod 629-4
RSR 71xx
Trail Boss
non original grips?

 

[Radagast]

Oak1971:

N8690xx: Serial number range was 1980-1983.The 8 & 3/8 inch barrel was introduced in 1981, the 629-1 was introduced in 1982, so your gun was probably made in 1981 or early 1982.

CAJ70xx: Serial range BRFxxxx to CAMxxxx was used between August 1994 & January 1996. It appears to match the following: Model 629 Classic Powerport; .44 magnum, 6.5 inch barrel with power port, target hammer, smooth combat trigger, pinned black partridge front sight set back from the port, adjustable rear, black hogues grips on a round butt. Product code 103624. Manufactured 1996 to date. This suggests your gun is one of the first in this configuration and was manufactured late in 1995 or very early in 1996.

RSR71xx: The Magnum Hunter Trail Boss was manufactured from 1996 to 1999, for a total of 500 units. The original grips were Hogue rubber with a lanyard loop. The 629-4 was replaced with the 629-5 in in 1997, so your gun is probably from 1996 or early 1997. Later versions of the Trail Boss had the internal lock.

 

[oak1971]

You are the man Radagast! Thanks a bunch! Can't wait to take the Trail Boss out to the range. The others shoot like a dream.