CalebJns:
Your Model 36-7 .38 Chiefs Special dates to early 1993. Guns in the BNWxxxx range shipped in M,arch of that year. The -7 refers to a design change to a slightly narrower front sight.
Ivory grips have been available in the past on special order, I doubt that the ones on your gun were 'factory' however. I'm fairly certain that international restrictions on the ivory trade had already begun by that time.
Your Model 19-5 .357 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1987. Guns in the AVBxxxx range shipped in July of that year. The -5 refers to deletion of the pinned barrel and recessed chambers.
mississippifarmboy:
You have a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured between 1915 & May 1919 in the serial range 65701 to 81287.
The 1914 patent dates refer to internal design changes that were the 4th change to the Model of 1905.
The serial number was found on the cylinder face, under the barrel with a B prefix and on the bottom of the grip frame. The one on the grip frame is the on the ATF look for. The other numbers are assembly numbers, used to track parts in the factory, and are not recorded after the gun is shipped.
Your gun predates heat treatment of cylinders, which began at serial number 81287. It appears yours has a replacement cylinder fitted, hence the different serial number. This is probably the result of shooting high velocity rifle only rounds through the gun. I suggest you check to see if there is a ring/bulge in the barrel, as this was a common problem with jacketed high speed rounds - the jacket would strip off in the barrel and the next round would hit the jacket, bulging the barrel.
As your new cylinder is post heat treatment, any current manufacture ammo should be safe to shoot in it - the high velocity ammo is no longer made.
.32 WCF CTG refers to .32-20 Winchester Center-fire Cartridge.
Your gun predates the internal hammer block safety introduced in WWII. If dropped it could fire, so leave the chamber under the hammer empty.
3dipper:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured in 1920. It has a heat treated cylinder so modern standard velocity lead ammo should be safe to shoot through it. I would avoid any jacketed, +P or +P+ marked ammo however as going back through this thread you will find the odd report of replacement cylinders from that time period.
Your gun predates the internal hammer block safety introduced in WWII. If dropped it could fire, so leave the chamber under the hammer empty.