Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

Date Of Birth for S&W revolvers

Any help would be appreciated.
a= .38 Special
b=4"
c=square bottom-wood Factory logo. Target ??
d=6 shot
e=target adjustable
f=K 267324on butt and cyl. On frame in front of cyl.= 38946 with a "D" above and the number "8" below.

One other thing. The ejector rod is right hand threaded.
Many thanks, Henry Brigham
 
hbrigiii: Assuming your gun has a ramped front sight, then it is a K38 Combat Masterpiece from 1956. In 1957 model numbers were introduced and the Combat Masterpiece became the Model 15. The Combat Masterpiece was produced from 1949 to 1999, it continues in production today as the stainless steel Model 67.
Specs as follows:
K target square butt frame, 6 shot .38 special, adjustable rear sight, Baughman quick draw front sight, grooved forestrap and backstrap, S&W Monogram on the side plate, standard or target hammer, blue or nickel finish, checkered walnut grips with an uncheckered diamond around the grip screws. Four inch pinned and ribbed barrel. Large S&W Monogram on the side plate. In 2006 The Standard Catalog of S&W gave a value of $375 in excellent condition.

k267324 is the serial number, the rest are assembly numbers used to track parts in the factory and have no relevance once the gun is assembled.
 
Calaverasslim: 1979-1980. The Model 57 .41 Magnum Target was introduced in February 1964 and continued in production until 1993 through various engineering changes. There was a limited production run of the 57-5 Mountain G7un in 2005.
 
Radagast, many thanks for the help. Yes the front sight is ramped so that makes it official. I appreciate your trouble as well as the PM reminding me where I left off. Henry
 
Any help on my Model 58 I just got yesterday would be much appreciated.

Model 58 no dash
4" barrel
Nickel
61221 on the crane with D15 below it.

Thank you!
 
.45FMJoe: The model 58 .41 Magnum Military & Police was introduced in 1964 & discontinued in 1969. The number you have quoted is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory. The serial number will be on the bottom of the grip frame, you may need to remove the grips to see it. If you give me the serial number I'll be able to give you the year.
 
Thanks! Sorry about that, didn't realize that wasn't the serial number! Somebody replaced the nice stock grips with crappy Pachmyers.Need to hunt down a decent looking set of original wood grips.


Anyway, it is N2605xx.
 
.45FMJoe: A screw up there, the Model 58 was discontinued in 1977, not 1969. Yours was made between 1974 & 1977. To get a precise shipping date you would need to spend $50 for a factory letter from S&W. Sorry I can't be more precise.

Husker_Fan: 1951. Serial number range for that year was K104048 to K136690.
 
Joel Steinbach: S&W Military & Police Model of 1905, 4th Change. Manufactured between 1940 & 1942. Precursor to the modern day Model 10.
 
Radagast,



Did the early Model 58 Revolvers have an 'S' prefix?



Oh...bye-the-way, I sent off and got 'America's Right Arm' and have been reading it...thanks again for remembering it to me a while ago.


Phil
Lv
 
Oyeboten: Per SCSW, the original introduction of the Model 58 at serial number range S256500 to S260632. I'll probably buy the M&P book for my Christmas present to myself.
 
airweight 38 spl.

airweight 38 spl. ctg.
a - 38 spl.
b - 2"
c - grips replaced with CTC laser sight grips
d - 5 shots
e - fixed sights
f - 420xxx
g - mod-38 56647
 
TRS: Your gun was made between 1962 & 1969 (serial range 295000 to 786544).

If it has a flat cylinder release, then it was made in 1966 or earlier. If it has a dished thumb release it was made in 1966 or later. If the grips are walnut with an un-checkered diamond around the grip screws then it was made in 1968 or earlier.
Prior to 1957 your gun would have been known as the Bodyguard Airweight, the model 38 designation dates from 1957. the number 56647 is an assembly number used to track parts in the factory and is not part of the model or serial number.

The model 38 has an aluminum J frame with a steel cylinder. It was produced from 1955 to 1999.
 
Here's what I just got in trade for my Taurus 85 ultra-lite:

S&W Model 10:

a: .38 special
b: 4" barrel
c: square butt, original wood grips.
d: six shot
e: fixed sights
f: serial # 186161; Theres a "C" on the left side of the butt and CPD in a circle in the center of the butt. Serial # is on the right. GUy I got it from mentioned Chicago P.D.?
g: There's a 9, and under that a 9630 under the crane. The 9630 is on the crane itself too.

No pictures yet, but can take some if needed.
 
Hi friends and neighbors, just purchased a S&W model 586 DCM: 357 :6" barrel : 6 shot : square butt: adjustable sight: target hammer: unpinned: no diamond grips: serial number ACJ1227 :under the serial number reads MOD. 586. I have looked at the great info here but still do not know if this needs the recall work or even the year of manufacture. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also will the 586 fire if dropped on hammer?
 
Last edited:
content: All S&W revolvers since late 1944 have been fitted with a hammer block safety. It should not fire if dropped on the hammer. As a matter of policy, don't handle a firearm in a way that may cause it to be dropped!

AJC1227 falls between January 1986 (AHCxxxx) & July 1987 (AVBxxxx). The 586-1 replaced the 586 in 1986, so we can safely say 1986 was the year of manufacture.

The recall effects all model 586 & 586-1 revolvers. If your gun has been modified then there should be an M stamped after the serial number.

You can contact S&W about the recall to see if they will still change the firing pin and bushing, I understand they are no longer modifying these guns under recall.
 
halfded: Pics will be needed I think. If the serial number is C186161 then it is a postwar .38 Military & Police (Pre-model 10) manufactured between 1948 & 1951.

If the serial number is 186161 then it is a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 3rd Change manufactured between 1909 & 1915. If this is the case then it should only be fired with standard velocity lead ammunition. No jacketed and no plus P ammo, as heat treating of cylinders was not introduced until 1920.

The 9 & 9630 will be assembly numbers used to track parts in the factory. The CPD is possibly a departmental marking, but I don't know of a way of verifying this.
 
Here's the pics that were sent to me from the guy I got it from. Haven't taken any of my own yet.

THe pic of the butt shows the "C" on the left, the CPD in a circle in the center, and the digits of the serial number on the right.

2.gif
3.gif
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Hopefully it's ok to shoot jacketed bullets out of it, just put 10 downrange for a function test.
 
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