Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Radagast]

heeler:
1969-1970.

tbone3:
Probably 1984/5. The 65-3 was introduced in 1982. The use of a three letter prefix for serial numbers was introduced in 1983, although S&W continued to sell guns with the old style serial after that date. The 65-3 was discontinued in 1988. The Standard Catalog of S&W notes serial range 17D8901 to 21D0883 in 1983, with 30D9291 being the final number in the D serial ranges. All I can say with certainty is 1983 to 1988.

LunkerPike:
In 2006 the Standard Catalog of S&W gave a value of $400 in excellent condition.

 

[tbone3]

Thanks Radagast!
Kind of hoping it's an '86 as that's my birth year!

 

[Dad2Hunt]

S&W Revolver .32 Long Colt

Just purchased a S&W Long
Here are the stats on it.
A. .32 long
B. 4" barrel from end of cylinder to end of barrel
C. Square butt with serial number on it
D. 6 shot
E. fixed sights
F. Serial number 656XXX no other numbers around it on bottom of butt
G. number under the cylinder latch 314XX no dashes on both sides of the cylinder hinge.
ON the back it says
Made in USA
Marcas Registradas
Smith & Wesson
Springfield Mass
The square butt with the metal through the middle doesn't seem to match the flat thumb latch and the serial number. Would like to know the Model number for sure and age.

 

[oweno]

Hi,
I someone could tell me the year of manufacture of the following it''d be appreciated:

Model 37

Serial Number: J3758nn

Thanks in advance,

oweno

 

[Radagast]

DaD2Hunt:
The serial number dates your gun to 1956 or later. Lack of a model number means your gun is pre 1957. The serrated front sight was introduced in 1956. The upper sideplate screw was deleted in 1956, so I'm pretty confidant you have a gun made in 1956/57. It could be either a .32 Hand Ejector or .32 Regulation Police. The Standard Catalog of S&W lists both as being available in a square butt variant post war, but I think you will find at that point in time the delineation of .32 Hand Ejector = round butt and .32 Regulation Police = square butt still held.
So you have a post war .32 Regulation Police built on the square butt Improved I frame in late 1956 or early 1957. In 1957 model numbers were introduced and the Regulation Police became the Model 31.

oweno:
1976-1977. Serial range for those years was J370001 to J610000, so probably early 1976.

 

[oweno]

Thanks Radagast, I appreciate you taking the trouble to look this up and pass along the info.
best regards,
oweno

 

[Dad2Hunt]

Thank you Ragagast, I appreciate your time and knowledge.
Dad2Hunt

 

[tonkawa]

Just acquired:

Model 15-3
4 inch barrel
S# 1K4xx
38 Special Ctg.
Square Butt

It was a police trade in from J&G

Thanks......

 

[Radagast]

tonkawa:
1970.

 

[tonkawa]

Thanks Radagast.........

 

[ir3e971]

Safety Hammerless Date Request (please)

Looking for a manufacture date.

Any idea when a S&W Safety Hammerless with serial #251890 would have been manufactured?

Any help with a new Model 10 Snub I just got would also be appreciated.

Serial # is C966382

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Bob

 

[ir3e971]

Consolidate with above post

Consolidated with above post.

 

[flapjack1439]

I'm looking for any info on this revolver.

.38 special CTG
4" barrel
square grip?
6 shot
fixed sight
serial # 588826 no letter

There is a number on the frame, under the swing arm (the crane?) 63735

 

[Radagast]

ir3e971:
Your .38 Safety Hammerless 5th Model was manufactured between 1907 & 1940 in the serial range 220000 to 261493. I can't be more precise than that.

Your Model 10 was manufactured between 1966 & 1967 on the serial range C810533 to C999999, so 1967 seems most likely.

flapjack1439:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1904 4th Change manufactured between 1927 & 1930.
Your gun lacks the modern internal hammer block safety. If dropped on the hammer potentially it could fire, so it would be prudent to only load 5 chambers, with the hammer down on an empty chamber. 588826 is the serial number. 63735 is an assembly number used to track fitted parts in the factory and irrelevant once the gun is complete.

 

[ir3e971]

Radagast,

Thanks a bunch.

Bob

 

[flapjack1439]

Thanks Radagast

 

[Riss]

Need a little date help on a S&W 17-2 , 22 cal. I got to fondle the other day. Under crane is 17-2 with I think a 4 or 5 digit ser #. On the butt was a ser# that I think was K and then 5 or 6 digits. Standard square butt S&W grips. NOT large target grips. Adjustable rear and Patridge target front sight with a 5" or longer barrel, blued with a little muzzle wear. If I could have held it longer I would have more info but that is all I can get for now.

 

[evan price]

a) 38 spl
b) 6"
c) square
d) 6-shot
e) fixed, half coin front
f) 53349X
g) no help here.

Looks to be pre-WWII, due to a single-line "Made in USA" rollmark on right side, and large diameter ejector rod knob. Looks like diamond grips (Magnas?) and a 5-screw action.
That would be 1922-1948 right? Don't know if the nickle is original or not, have not picked it up yet.
I'm sure it looks worse in person.





Well, what can I say, it's a project- at least it was cheap...

 

[Radagast]

evan price:
1927-1930. Texas State Police bought guns in the serial range 500,000 to 630,000 during that period. Yours falls within that range. Nickel appears to be original, the hammer, trigger and grip screws haven't been nickled, which is usually the sign of an aftermarket refinish. If it is aftermarket it was well done. Pity about the rust, but if the bore is still good it's a shooter.

Riss:
The 17-2 was produced between 1961 & 1967.Walnut Magna grips (not target grips) were standard, they should have a small uncheckered diamond around the grip screws if original. Barrel length was normally 6 inches, 5 inch barrels
were made but are rare. The number under the crane is an assembly number used to track parts in the factory and irrelevant once the gun is complete. The Kxxxxxx serial number is correct for the 1961 to 1967 time period.

 

[heeler]

Well here's one I just bought for $450.00.
S&W Model 37
Blue
Pinned barrel
Two inch barrel
No dash
Round butt.
Serial 866xx
Super clean!!

 

[Radagast]

heeler:
1956, but there should not be a model number stamped under the cylinder yoke if the gun is that early. Did you take the number from the cylinder yoke from the bottom of the grip frame?

 

[heeler]

Radagast,I am waiting for the revolver to be shipped to my FFL.
It does not have the diamond grips.
No rust scratches or blue loss.
Probably set in someones nightstand forever.

 

[Jeff23]

Hi Radagast, another request, since I bought a CCW today. It's just a smidge unusual, since it's a 442, but not with the usual dark finish--the store clerk called it "brushed nickel." It's matte, not like shiny nickel, but not quite like stainless either. Here are the details:

Caliber: .38 special
BBL: 2"
Grips: square?
Shots: 5
Sights: fixed
Ser #: BPS3366
Model (under crane): 442

There's no lock.
Thanks as always for all that you do

 

[Radagast]

Jeff23:
Probably between December 1993 (BPKxxxx) & August 1994 (BRFxxxx). There were some out of sequence serial numbers around that time, but the above is probably correct. Satin Nickel was one of the two standard factory finishes until 1997.

 

[dbb1776]

.38 s.&w. special ctg across barrel
Made in USA Marcas Registradas
smith & wesson
springfield , mass.
c154xxx
The number 4 and the letter H is stamped inside the frame where the crane closes
below that are the numbers 86113, also 86113 is on the crane
Fixed sights with half moon front sight
found it for 150.00. Ugly but shoots great.