Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

Hello,

I have what I believe is a S & W Model 31. Here are the particulars:

a. 3 1/4 inch tapered barrel with half moon sight.

b. Rear sight groove.

c. Beautiful square grips marked June 5, 1917. Checkered with diamond at the screw hole point. These grips enclose a shorter, more rounded frame grip. Wood is rounded off at the top of the grip but has no S&W medallion.

d. caliber shown on barrel as "32 LONG CTG".

e. Serial number is shown own visible inner grip above stocks, very hard to read the first and third numbers. It is either 5954XX or 3934XX.

f. Top of barrel is inscribed immediately behind foresight "SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS.U.S.A. FEB.8,08, SEPT.14,09, DEC 29, 14" on two lines.

Thanks in advance for providing this service.

HPShooter
 
HP Shooter:
You have a pre war .32 Regulation Police manufactured between 1917 & 1942. Serial range was 260000 to 536000, so yours is likely to be 3934xx. Production resumed after the war with the grips having a S&W Medallion. In 1957 it was renamed the Model 31.
In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave a value of $335 in very good condition and $450 in excellent condition.

Wild Dog:
Your gun was manufactured between July & December 1987. The Model 38 Bodyguard Airweight was built on the small J frame between 1955 & 1999. The cylinder is steel and the frame is aluminum. In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave the following values: good $200, Very good $250, Excellent $325, As New in Box $400.00. check for completed auctions on some of the online auction sites such as auctionarms, gunbroker, armsamerica or gunbid for more up to date prices.
 
I had a NGD Wednesday, couldn't resist....never thought I'd own anything in nickel...

a) 44 Magnum
b) 4" barrel
c) Square Butt - Target Grips
d) 6 Shot
e) Target Sights
f) N785xxx
g) 29-2

In the wood presentation box (differs from most I've seen as everything goes in one spot vs each tool having it's own...spot)

While I'm at it, I dug out my first gun.

a) 357 Magnum
b) 2.5" Barrel
c) Round Butt (Magnas)
d) 6 Shot
e) Same sights as the 29-2
f) AWY49xx (bottom of grip) or S75xx (behind cylinder)
g) 66-2

Thanks a lot.

The 29-4 incorporates the endurance package introduced on the 29-3 to prevent the gun going out of time, as occurred with some of the earlier models.
Click to expand...

Every few shots, the 29-2 hammer acts up, I'll have to draw back a bit on the trigger to get the hammer all the way back. Double action is fine. Is this my problem?
 
redwallet:
Your 29-2 dates to 1980. There is a discussion of the early model 29 problems here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=394146 and probably a few other threads worth reading.
There is a neat google tool for searching THR: http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=005288657797907197482:juqp1cxyfxy

I'm not a gunsmith so I won't try and trouble shoot over the internet, I suggest you start a new thread in the gunsmithing sub forum about your problem with the 29-2.

Your 66-2 dates to between July and December 1987. AWY49xx is the serial number, S75xx is an assembly number used to track parts in the factory and is irrelevant once the gun is assembled.
 
Member from a ways back, but couldn't remember log in info or what email I used back then. Oh well, nice to be back anyway.

I picked up two great deals at the local show this weekend and was wondering birthdays for both.

First is a S&W 28-2
4"
Ser. # N4501X

Next is a pre Model 10
4"
Ser. # C40111X

I don't want to rub it in, (but I will a little bit!), but both guns are as close to 100% condition as I've seen lately. Picked up the pair from the same seasoned gentleman for a total layout of five hundred bucks. These are great additions for my collection!
 
kashtin:
Your 28-2 dates to 1969-1972. In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave a value of $375 in excellent condition.

Your .38 Military & Police dates to 1956. In 2006 SCSW gave a value of $300 in excellent condition, $500 for as new in box.

You did well with your purchases.
 
Recently got...

a) 32 long ctg
b) 6 inch
c) 6 shot
d) grove and half moon
e) 2604xx

it does have the S&W medals on the upper grips, gun is in good mechanical condition but finish is worn.
 
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WVMountainBoy: The groove and half moon are fixed sights. Adjustable sights have a separate rear blade with screws to adjust for elevation and windage.

Your gun is a .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 5th change manufactured between 1910 & 1917 in the serial range 102501 to around 263000, so 1917 is quite likely. Frame size is the I frame, which is slightly smaller than the current J frame. After WWII the .32 Hand Ejector was designated the model 30.
 
My mystery S&W is a top break
5 shot
nickel plate
3 1/2” barrel
There is no caliber stamp but I think it is 32 short
S/N 144739 on bottom of grip frame
Pined front blade sight
Rear non adjustable sight is integral to the break open latch

Top of barrel stamped Springfield Mass with several pat dates from jan '65.


Can you confirm caliber and give DOB for this oldster? TIA
 
Top Break 38 S&W revolver

I have a Smith and Wesson hammerless 5 shot, double action, top break revolver with a nickel finish. The revolver has round black hard rubber grips, a grip safety (like the model 40) and a 3 1/4" barrel.

The top rib has the following patent information: springfield mass USA patent October 2, 1880; August 4, 1885; April 2, 1889

It is stamped on barrel 38 S&W CTG

The serial number, located on the butt of the revolver is 1708xx

I would love to know when it was made. It was my grandfather's. I was told he had this revolver with him in Alaska in 1902.

Thanks in advance
 
Bru88:
the caliber is .32 S&W also known as .32 S&W centerfire and colloquially as .32 S&W short, but you won't find ammo boxes labeled that way.
If your gun has an exposed hammer then it is a .32 Double Action 4th Model manufactured between 1883 & 1909. Your serial number is earlier than the 1898 cut off for antique firearms under BATFE rules which adds a little collectors value. 1883 to 1909 is as close as I can give you.
If it is hammerless (enclosed hammer) then it is a .32 Safety Hammerless 2nd Model manufactured between 1902 & 1909 in the serial range 91418 to 170000.

platinker:
You have a .38 Safety Hammerless 4th Model, manufactured between 1898 & 1907 in the serial number range 116003 to 220000. It's quite possible that he purchased in 1902 or earlier. For a fee of $50 Roy Jinks the S&W historian will look up the original shipping records and send you a factory letter stating when it was shipped, where and who it was shipped to and what options if any it had when it left the factory.
In excellent condition the gun is only worth around $400 and value drops steeply if the finish is worn or the timing is out, so the letter should not be considered an investment in raising the guns value, but more a way to satisfy your curiosity. Call S&W for details if you want to follow this up.
 
Thanks for the info regarding my new pistol, trying to track down some info on it as it is supposed to have at one time belonged to my department. Will probably be doing the S&W letter and trying to track through our archive to verify this. Thanks for your assistance, I've only had it for 3 days and you've already accellerated the process :)
 
DA .45 ACP revolver - it's a 1930's made model 1917,

it has the Brazilian crest sideplate, but no other military marks at all, and has the WWI frame/sights. I believe it was an unsold commercial model that got sent with the new-made contract revolvers (Or a commercial model with a later added sideplate.)

SN is 1429xx. It is a really excellent revolver, despite the well-worn appearance. It became my all time favorite S&W revolver. I have enjoyed them for over 30 years now, but this one is very special.
I think it was made around 1934-36, but I'd like to be sure.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks

mark
 
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dogngun:
The Standard Catalog of S&W doesn't give a year by year break down on these, so I can't give you a definite answer.

Per SCSW the earliest known Brazilian contract gun was serial number 16974x, so yours predates this, with the majority of a 1938 shipment being in the range 181983 to 207043.

Per SCSW roughly 163,600 guns were made for the US Army between September 17 1917 & January 1919. in the serial range 1 to 169959. Yours falls into that range. Note that the earliest Brazillian gun also fall in that range and there were roughly 6000 guns that may have been Brazilian or commercial models in that same range. It would appear that S&W had an oversupply of frames or guns at the end of the war.

If your gun is a commercial product it should have a small S&W logo on the left side of the frame. If a Brazilian gun the logo on the left and made in the USA on the right side of the frame. The Brazilian crest should have a date of 1937.
If a US Army gun the frame should be stamped US ARMY MODEL OF 1917 on the butt and UNITED STATES PROPERTY on the bottom of the barrel. There is no S&W trademark on the US Army frames.

Commercial models came with checkered walnut grips with an un-checkered diamond around the grip screws and a S&W monogram. These are the old style grips with the rounded top, not the Magna style with the horn of timber that rose to the top of the frame. Magnas were supplied after 1938.

Both US & Brazilian military guns had smooth walnut grips. US grips will be so marked on the inside of the grip.

With the above you should be able to figure out if you have a commercial, US or Brazilian gun. It appears your gun was made between 1917 & 1919, but potentially it was not shipped until years later.
 
Thank you!

There is the small S&W logo on the left frame, made in USA on the right. There are NO Army markings , no stamp on the butt other than the SN, and no acceptance or arsenal marks anywhere - I have owned this gun for a few years, and have checked it over well. The crest dated 1937 is there, but I'm thinking the original plate may have been replaced. I had no idea the gun was that old - I thought maybe from the early 1930's.

I love this revolver - I owned a M&P from 1917, and this revolver has a similar silk smooth feel to it - it was really built by a gunsmith who knew his craft. It is certainly worth the $50 for a letter from Smith.

Thank you very much - I have been looking for good information on this gun for about 3 years.

mark
 
I've got a couple Smiths I'd love to know the birthdates of.

First is an M1917. I know exact dates on this aren't easy to pin down, but the configuration is a bit unique. The barrel and frame serials match but it does not have a US PROPERTY mark on the underside of the barrel.
Barrel has S&W patent date stamps on top, 'SMITH & WESSON' on the left, and 'S&W D.A. .45' on the right. It has the 'US ARMY MODEL 1917' stamp on the butt above the lanyard loop and serial number. It has a serrated ramp front sight instead of the traditional half-moon. No measurable endshake and perfect timing.
It has a S&W crest on the right side along with the 'MADE IN USA/Marcas Registrada' stamps.
Attached is a photo of this revolver. Is this possibly a factory rework as the barrel is serialed to the frame but lacks the property stamp and also bears the commercial S&W crest along with the US Army model number? Finish is parkerized, I'm certain it's a much more recent refinish. Serial is 816xx.

Second is a 19-6 4" with blued finish. Serial is BHE71xx.
 

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DrakeGmbh:
Interesting conundrum. You have a gun with a serial number that should mean 1918 or there about. It has the address markings for a .45 Hand Ejector Model of 1950, the side plate has the logo as per the 1950, the ejector rod is from a model 1917, the grips are from a model 1917, the front sight is similar to a 1950s .38 military & police, but appears to be forged, as were the Model of 1917 sights, where as the model of 1950 had a pinned sight. The US army model of 1917 is correct on the butt for a model 1917.

At the end of WWII S&W bought back a large quantity of parts & frames manufactured in the 1930s from the US Govt. and started assembling new guns with them, which they continued to sell into the 50s.

My guess is someone tried to create a Model 1917 out of a Model 1950 with period parts, or it is a transitional model between the Postwar 1917 Army and the Model of 1950. Hence the logo and address stampings along with the US markings.
The lack of an S before the serial number is an issue, but per the SCSW some Postwar model 1917s have been found without the S prefix. The Model of 1950 is supposed to have started around serial no S85000, so yours could be one of the transitional models without an S prefix.

If it was a factory refinish then there should be a star stamped after the serial number.

I'm sorry I can't give you more information than that.

Your model 19-6 dates to around March 1991.
 
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