Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Radagast]

4X4 YETI:
You have a .38 Double Action 3rd Model manufactured between 1884 & 1892. Serial range over that period was roughly 119001 to 264116. So closer to 1884 than 1892.
This is a blackpowder only firearm, use of modern smokless ammo will accelerate wear. the cylinders were not heat treated and smokeless ammo although having the same maximum pressure, has a much faster pressure peak, putting strain on the metal.
If you choose to keep it loaded leave the chamber under the hammer empty as it lacks a positive firing pin block. If fully loaded and then dropped it could fire.

 

[iamlyingtoyou]

I recently purchased a model 28 (no dash?) Highway Patrol with a serial number s1894xx

Two screws visible on the frame, haven't taken off the grips to see if there is another.

6" barrel. 6 shot cylinder.

 

[purepmd]

a) .38 Special
b) 3" barrel, pinned
c) square diamond grips
d) 6
e) fixed sights.
f) 4241xx

Thanks for your help

 

[Radagast]

iamlyingtoyou:
1958 or 1959. Aerial range for those years was S182000 to S194499. The grips are post '68 target grips.

purepmd:
A serial number in the 424xxxx range dates your gun to between 1920 & 1927, making it a .38 Military & Police model of 1905 4th Change.
Three inches was not a standard barrel length at that time, measured from the muzzle to the cylinder it should be 4 inches long.

 

[.45Guy]

A. .32 s&w
B. 6"
C. Round
D. 5
E. Fixed rear on latch, half moon front
F. 229908
G. 32 DA?

 

[Geezer Glide]

I picked up a Victory Model. The barrel is marked 38 S&W CTG but a .38 Special will fit into the chambers.

a) .38 S&W
b)5" barrel, pinned
c) square butt
e) fixed sights.
f) V4202XX

 

[Sealevel]

DOB Model 48

A. .22 Mag.
B. 6"
C. Square
D. 6
E. Adjustable
F. 48
G. 6K32XX

Thanks Radagast!

 

[chico80x]

I just purchased a 686-4 and would like to know when it was made.

a) .357
b) 2.5"
c) round butt
d) adj sights
e) CAN67XX

Thanks!

 

[Spartan2112]

Yet another 686-4

Excellent Thread!

Caliber: .357 Mag
Barrel: 4" - not ported
Grip: Rubber
#Shots: 6
Sights: Target Adjustable
Serial # AVE41XX

Thanks!

 

[Radagast]

Spartan2112:
1987.

chico80x:
January 1996 for your Model 686-4 Combat Masterpiece Stainless.

Sealevel:
1974 for that K22 Masterpiece Magnum Rimfire.

Geezerglide:
You have a British Service Revolver manufactured between late 1941 & late 1944, with 1943 being likely. These were made concurrently with the Victory Model for the British Commonwealth, originally as a commercial contract but then under Lend Lease. After the war a lot of them were converted to .38 special for resale as surplus to the US civilian market. The conversion was very basic, with the cylinder being bored out to chamber the .38 special. Because the .38 S&W has a wider case head than the .38 special the .38 specials are a loose fit and may bulge or split brass. Stick to standard pressure lead only loads.
It also predates the positive internal hammer block safety and may fire if dropped so leave the chamber under the hammer empty.

 

[Radagast]

.45Guy:
Your .32 Double Action 4th Model was manufactured between 1998 & 1909 in the serial range 209301 to 282999. The six inch barrel is rather scarce.
It's not a legal antique but its still a blackpowder firearm, use of modern smokeless ammo may cause more rapid wear.

 

[iamlyingtoyou]

Thank you Radagast. I thought maybe a 70's model. Considering the amount of wear it is in good shape. Took it out and ran some speer gold dot 158 grain mags through and it was pure fun. I didn't care as much for the 125 grain remington mags, though.

 

[machinecraig]

model 10-11

Thanks for running this thread - it's fantastic. Can you help me with my new (to me) model 10?

S&W Model 10-11
a) 38 special
b) barrel: 4 inches
c) round grip
d) 5 shots
e) fixed sights, front is a ramp
f) serial number: CDS4xxx
g) model: 10-11

Thanks!

 

[Radagast]

machinecraig:
Your Model 10-11 .38 Miltary & Police Tapered Barrel was manufactured late 1999. Guns in the CDRxxxx range shipped in November of that year, and in the CDWxxxx range in January 2000.

 

[machinecraig]

Thanks for the info, Radagast. This one is a heavy barreled model, from Bud's recent police trade-in sale. I'm surprised that a police department might have been buying Model 10's as late as '99!

 

[Radagast]

It's been mis-stamped then, the -11 was the tapered barrel, -12 heavy barrel. It won't bring you any extra money from a collector though.

 

[forindooruseonly]

model 10s

Hey Radagast, I've picked up these two model 10s recently and would like to know when they were made. Thanks again!

S&W Model 10-5
a) .38 special
b) 5" pencil barrel
c) Square butt
d) 6 shot
e) Fixed sights
f) s/n D1393xx
g) 10-5

S&W Model 10-8
a) .38 special
b) 3" heavy barrel
c) Round butt
d) 6 shot
e) Fixed sights
f) s/n 9D296xx
g) 10-8

 

[no_agenda]

Just picked up this model 15 from my dad, fist s&w!
S&W Model 15-4
a) .38 special
b) 2" barrel
c) Square butt
d) 6 shot
e) Rear adjustable sights
f) 94K8328
g) 15-4

 

[Radagast]

no_agenda:
Your Model 15-5 Combat Masterpiece was manufactured in 1981.

forindooruseonly:
Your Model 10-5 .38 Military & Police Tapered Barrel was manufactured in 1969 or 1970. Serial rangge for those years was D90001 to D330000 so 1969 seems likely.

Your Model 10-8 .38 Military & Police Heavy Barrel was manufactured in 1981. I wouldn't be surprised if it is one of the recent Australian trade ins as the three inch barrel was a pretty standard item with several Australian state police forces.

 

[no_agenda]

Thank you!

 

[forindooruseonly]

Hey Radagast, if it was an Australian police gun, would it have import or agency markings on it or some way to tell where it came from?

 

[Spartan2112]

@ Radagast

Thank you. That's a bit older than I thought - I was thinking mid to late-90s given the condition and the previous owner said they shot it fairly often. Obviously - they took good care of it.

 

[cateye7]

.38 special unknown date

I just inherited my Grandad's old .38 special. I don't know much about it other than I was told that it was my great grandad's gun first. It is a five screw. Here's the rest of the info.

A).38 S/W Special
B)6.5 in Barrel
C)Round grips
D)6 cylinders
E)Fixed Sights
F)the only number I can find on the entire gun is on the butt and the cylinder face and they match 131146
G)There are no letters on the entire gun other than what's printed on the barrel.

Another bit of info is that on the barrel there are a bunch of pat'd dates starting with Mar 27 94 being the oldest and Feb 6 06 being the most recent. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[Radagast]

cateye7:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 1st Change manufactured between 1906 & 1909 in the serial range 73251 to 146899.
The serial number may be stamped on the underside of the barrel, covered by the ejector rod.
This gun predates the positive internal hammer block safet introduced during WWII. If dropped it could fire, so leave the chamber under the hammer empty.
It also predates heat treatment of cylinders, so stick to standard pressure lead ammo only, no +P, +P+, jacketed or semi jacketed.
It predates model numbers by roughly 50 years, which is why there is no model number stamped under the cylinder yoke.

forindooruseonly:
The New South Wales Police guns had a police emblem on the sideplate. AFAIK the other states didn't.
Victoria & South Australia traded in their guns last year, IIRC. Vic had a number of Model 10 three inch guns, South Australia was mainly Model 66s.
NSW traded in their guns in the 90s, again they had the three inch Model 10. I think Western Australia used the three inch Model 10 as well, their guns were traded in for Glocks about 8 years ago.
I guess a Factory Letter from S&W would be the only way to tell.

 

[cateye7]

Thanks Radagast. I appreciate the info.