Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

Rail Driver: I had to go look it up. So we can both go and stand in the corner. :p

Mykal101:
Your Model 64-1 .38 Military & Police Heavy barrel Stainless was manufactured in 1974 or 1975. Serial range for those years was D659902 to D750000, so 1974 seems likely.

Added: The .357 Magnum variant 64-1 was introduced in 1972 for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and quickly renamed the Model 65. That you have a model 64 marked gun made after 1972 is an oddity.
 
I have a "new" issue duty revolver that I'd appreciate finding out the DOB. It has the Hillary hole and MIM parts, but the barrel appears to be one piece.

A) 357 Mag
B) 4" bbl
C) Round
D) 6 Shot
E) Adjustable
F) CMK19**
G) 686-6

Yeah, life is good when the local chief of police notices you're carrying a revolver and asks about it.

ECS
 
Elm Creek Smith:
Your Model 686-6 Distinguished Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured after 2004. The Standard Catalog of S&W serial range goes up to CHMxxxx in July 2004. As yours is of recent manufacture a call to S&W should give you the month shipped-the more modern records are computerised.
 
Thanks for the info Radagast! I have what looks to be the original box that is marked model 65 But the gun shows model 64. Thought that was odd but kind of makes sense with your info. Thanks!

Also, the story I got on the gun was that the guy that owned it, bought it new, had it tuned then never shot it. That was apparently what he did with most the guns in his collection. This gun appears to be unfired...there is no rings on the cylinder and no marks around the forcing cone. My question is, should I even shoot this gun? Or is it more of a collectors item? Should I shoot 357 mag? Or only 38's?

Thanks!
 
Elm Creek Smith:
Forgot to mention, AFAIK the 686 was never manufactured with a two piece barrel, the -6 introduced the internal lock in 2001.

Mykal101:
It was shot at the factory as a test, so its probably been cleaned up. I doubt it will ever have any real collectors value, although you may be able to find a buyer at the smith & wesson forum. www.smith-wessonforum.com Miss marked guns are not that uncommon. A genuine OHC .357 magnum Model 64 would probably be desirable, one that is a couple of years later and most likely a mis-stamping? Probably not.
The Model 64/65 is a K frame and may suffer cracking of the forcing cone when fired with 125 grain .357 magnums. Assuming your gun is chambered for .357 magnum ( it may be a .38 special with a wrong caliber marking) if you wish to shoot magnums stick with the slightly slower 158 grain rounds.
 
Thanks, Radagast! I knew the 619/620 had 2 piece barrels and thought they might have gone to a 2 piece barrel on the 686. This is the newest S&W I've ever used. (All of mine are from 1982 and earlier!)

ECS
 
S&W 586 no-dash

Hi Radagast, I found a very nice 586 no-dash I'm considering, serial # AUB2414.

I know some of the 686 models had a firing pin recall, not sure if that affected the 586 as well. If it was made post recall there'd be no reason to consider sending it to Smith.
 
bikemutt:
As a no dash it should date to 1981-1986. Problem is that serial number was probably assigned in early 1987. Either its the last of the no dash run or S&W used up some old parts and shipped a no dash configuration gun in 1987.
1987 is also when the firing pin & bushing replacement recall began, a modified gun should have an M stamp or a -2 marking.

If you are only going to shoot .38s then I wouldn't worry. If you plan to shoot magnums a call to S&W will get you a shipping label. They'll pay freight both ways, so that wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if I liked the gun.
 
birdshooter:
Your Model 586 was manufactured in 1983. It is subject to a recall. With some magnum ammo its possible for the primer to flow back into the firing pin bushing, locking up the gun. Under the recall S&W will pay shipping both ways and install a new firing pin and bushing. If your gun has been modified it will have an M stamped after the model number under the cylinder yoke.
If you want to have your gun modified give S&W a call and they will send you a shipping label.
 
Thanks Radagast! I am considering the modification. I cherish the birthdates you have provided me on my Smiths!
 
wwace:
Both your guns were produced between 1959 (serial number 163051) & 1962 (serial number 295000). Unfortunately the Standard Catalog of S&W does not have a year by year breakdown of that models serial range. Based on roughly 40000 guns produced each year over that period, my guesstimate would be late 1960 or early 1961.
 
A friend of mine has what he believes to be a pre-model 10 and it looks like it to me too. I don't have a photo, but could get one in a day or so if it's needed. Here's the requested info in the hopes that someone here can come up with the year it was manufactured.

.38
5" barrel
square butt
6 shot
fixed sights with a 1/2 nickel front sight
serial # is 147XXX and has a "C" about half an inch before it

Thanks very much for anything you can come up with.
 
BinRat:
Serial number C147xxx would make it a .38 Military & Police Postwar manufactured between 1948 & 1951. Serial number 147xxx would make it a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 Third Change manufactured in 1909. Pics are needed.

7th CavScout:
Your Model 10-7 .38 Military & Police was manufactured in 1981.
 
Thanks very much Radagast. Wow, you know your stuff.

He said he believed it was made around the time of the war, but didn't know whether it was pre or post. I'll see if I can take some decent photos and then try and figure out how to post them. I don't think there's any way it could be from 1909. It's in great shape.
 
If it has made in the USA or the S&W address stamped on the right side of the frame under the cylinder then it is a post WWII gun.
 
pittspilot:
Your Model 17 K22 Masterpiece was manufactured in 1958. The serial range for that year was K350547, so late in 1958 seems likely.
 
DOB Please

A. .357 mag
B. 4"
C. Square
D. 6 shot
E. Fixed
F. 6D04***
G. Mod. 13-2

Thanks Radagast!
 
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