Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers
- Thread starter Brian Williams
- Start date
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Well isn't that Special!
Did you have a question as to model, date, age, or condition??
Or did you just post it in the wrong thread??
rc
Did you have a question as to model, date, age, or condition??
Or did you just post it in the wrong thread??
rc
Fuzzball
Member
S&W .38 Spl of some kind
I will be getting a .38 Spl six shot S&W in the next month or so.
Former Sacramento, California LEO gun, 4 in barrel, serial #865546.
Cant tell you anything more as my brother, owner for now, has no clue as to what model it is. Blueing is good with a few holster wear spots. Has not been shot in over twenty years, kept oiled and locked up.
Any info will be helpful as I plan for it to be my EDC gun.
Fuzzball
I will be getting a .38 Spl six shot S&W in the next month or so.
Former Sacramento, California LEO gun, 4 in barrel, serial #865546.
Cant tell you anything more as my brother, owner for now, has no clue as to what model it is. Blueing is good with a few holster wear spots. Has not been shot in over twenty years, kept oiled and locked up.
Any info will be helpful as I plan for it to be my EDC gun.
Fuzzball
Radagast
Member
Fuzzball:
Assuming no letter prefix to the serial number, then it is a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured in 1941. It lacks a positive internal hammer block safety and should be treated as a 5 shooter, with the chamber under the hammer left empty. If there is a letter prefix (V, SV, S, C, D or K) then it is a later variant. If so post the prefix and I'll give you a date.
missyoak:
Confirmed for a transitional model - has the long action hammer, post war front sight, pre-war made in USA stamping instead of 4 line address. The grips are probably fake mother of pearl. If they are real mother of pearl then they are worth something in their own right.
smkummer:
A factory letter will give you the specification of the gun when it left the factory, the date it was shipped and where or whom it was shipped to. if a special order, a custom piece such as a registered magnum or a presentation gun for a famous person, then the letter will add value and prove (or disprove) the stories behind it. For the average gun, not so much.
Lanyard rings were available from the factory beginning with the Military & Police Model of 1899. if the serial number is defaced by the lanyard then I doubt it is a factory part. if it is stamped to either side then it should be factory and was probably a special order.
4dragans:
Jacketed ammo takes longer to deform into the forcing cone and rifling than lead. This means the pressure spike is maintained for a longer period. In 999 out of 1000 guns I doubt there will be an issue. But why risk it? The load at the time was the 158 grain lead round nose. Any load that duplicates that or the 148 grain wad cutter load should be safe. As for how much powder to put in? I suggest you go to the reloading sub forum and ask there:
http://www.thehighroad.org/forumdisplay.php?f=15
Its not a matter of how much powder, so much as which powder, how much of it, which bullet weight, what overall length, whether it is crimped, etc.
I do not reload, nor will I give advice on how to do so.
Assuming no letter prefix to the serial number, then it is a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured in 1941. It lacks a positive internal hammer block safety and should be treated as a 5 shooter, with the chamber under the hammer left empty. If there is a letter prefix (V, SV, S, C, D or K) then it is a later variant. If so post the prefix and I'll give you a date.
missyoak:
Confirmed for a transitional model - has the long action hammer, post war front sight, pre-war made in USA stamping instead of 4 line address. The grips are probably fake mother of pearl. If they are real mother of pearl then they are worth something in their own right.
smkummer:
A factory letter will give you the specification of the gun when it left the factory, the date it was shipped and where or whom it was shipped to. if a special order, a custom piece such as a registered magnum or a presentation gun for a famous person, then the letter will add value and prove (or disprove) the stories behind it. For the average gun, not so much.
Lanyard rings were available from the factory beginning with the Military & Police Model of 1899. if the serial number is defaced by the lanyard then I doubt it is a factory part. if it is stamped to either side then it should be factory and was probably a special order.
4dragans:
Jacketed ammo takes longer to deform into the forcing cone and rifling than lead. This means the pressure spike is maintained for a longer period. In 999 out of 1000 guns I doubt there will be an issue. But why risk it? The load at the time was the 158 grain lead round nose. Any load that duplicates that or the 148 grain wad cutter load should be safe. As for how much powder to put in? I suggest you go to the reloading sub forum and ask there:
http://www.thehighroad.org/forumdisplay.php?f=15
Its not a matter of how much powder, so much as which powder, how much of it, which bullet weight, what overall length, whether it is crimped, etc.
I do not reload, nor will I give advice on how to do so.
Radagast
Member
RJTravel:
1970 or 1971. Serial range for those years was A115001 to A156801, so 1970 seems likely.
1970 or 1971. Serial range for those years was A115001 to A156801, so 1970 seems likely.
Radagast
Member
jbish123:
Your gun dates to 1940 or 1941. If period correct then the finish is nickel.
If .38 special and unaltered, then it is a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change. the two inch barrel round butt is quite rare, so the gun will have some value to a collector.
If the gun has been altered (lack of a locking lug under the barrel is often evidence of this) then it is a .38 S&W British Service Revolver. The chambers may have been bored out to accept .38 special after it was sold as surplus, in which case there will be an obvious change in the taper of the chamber walls.
Value will be around $150.
Either way, the gun lacks a positive hammer block safety and should be considered a 5 shooter, with the chamber under the hammer left empty.
If a modified BSR, then stick to standard pressure lead loads only - split cases are not unknown in the oversize chambers.
Pete 47:
Your Model 317. 22lr Airweight was manufactured early in 1997, the first year of production. The hammer has a different profile to most S&Ws because it was taken from the shrouded hammer Bodyguard models. Finished in satin alloy with a clear cote coating. The Clear coating, IIRC, does not stand up well to abrasives or solvents.
ruger1228:
Your Model 66-2 Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1988. The -2 refers to a design change deleting the barrel retaining pin and recessed cylinder to enclose the cartridge heads that was common on all S&W magnums up until the 1980s.
Your gun dates to 1940 or 1941. If period correct then the finish is nickel.
If .38 special and unaltered, then it is a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change. the two inch barrel round butt is quite rare, so the gun will have some value to a collector.
If the gun has been altered (lack of a locking lug under the barrel is often evidence of this) then it is a .38 S&W British Service Revolver. The chambers may have been bored out to accept .38 special after it was sold as surplus, in which case there will be an obvious change in the taper of the chamber walls.
Value will be around $150.
Either way, the gun lacks a positive hammer block safety and should be considered a 5 shooter, with the chamber under the hammer left empty.
If a modified BSR, then stick to standard pressure lead loads only - split cases are not unknown in the oversize chambers.
Pete 47:
Your Model 317. 22lr Airweight was manufactured early in 1997, the first year of production. The hammer has a different profile to most S&Ws because it was taken from the shrouded hammer Bodyguard models. Finished in satin alloy with a clear cote coating. The Clear coating, IIRC, does not stand up well to abrasives or solvents.
ruger1228:
Your Model 66-2 Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1988. The -2 refers to a design change deleting the barrel retaining pin and recessed cylinder to enclose the cartridge heads that was common on all S&W magnums up until the 1980s.
Got a S&W model 15-3 I just picked up,
.38 Special
6 shot,
2" barrel,
blued,
square butt,
adj. sights
sn. 6K455**
I figure it's an early 70's production, but wouldn't mind knowing the year of manufacture.
.38 Special
6 shot,
2" barrel,
blued,
square butt,
adj. sights
sn. 6K455**
I figure it's an early 70's production, but wouldn't mind knowing the year of manufacture.
Radagast
Member
Kudu:
Your Model 15-3 Combat Masterpiece was manufactured in 1974.
Your Model 15-3 Combat Masterpiece was manufactured in 1974.
osteodoc08
Member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2005
- Messages
- 1,261
686 dating
686
8-3/8" barrel
357 mag 6 shot cylinder
TTT
Serial AHU80**
I'm guessing 80-85 since its a no dash model
686
8-3/8" barrel
357 mag 6 shot cylinder
TTT
Serial AHU80**
I'm guessing 80-85 since its a no dash model
Radagast
Member
osteodoc09:
Your Model 686 was manufactured in the first half of 1985. There is a recall on this and the -1, with some magnum ammo the primer can flow back into the firing pin bushing, locking up the gun. Under the recall S&W will pay shipping and install a new firing pin and bushing. If the gun has already been modified there will be an M stamped near the model number in the cylinder yoke cut out.
If the front sight is red ramp and the rear white outline, then the product code was 104210. If the front sight is a low profile design then the product code was 104209
Your Model 686 was manufactured in the first half of 1985. There is a recall on this and the -1, with some magnum ammo the primer can flow back into the firing pin bushing, locking up the gun. Under the recall S&W will pay shipping and install a new firing pin and bushing. If the gun has already been modified there will be an M stamped near the model number in the cylinder yoke cut out.
If the front sight is red ramp and the rear white outline, then the product code was 104210. If the front sight is a low profile design then the product code was 104209
osteodoc08
Member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2005
- Messages
- 1,261
No M stamped. Thanks for the info! The sights are plain black. No red ramped sight. Any idea of the rareness of this particular model? Value?
Radagast
Member
osteodoc08:
That particular variant was made 1984-1986, Guns with an 8 & 3/8 inch barrel and red ramp or adjustable front sight were cataloged from 1984 to 2001, but not many seem to be found in the wild.
I've no clue as to actual production numbers and value? No clue. I'm in Australia and don't track American prices.
That particular variant was made 1984-1986, Guns with an 8 & 3/8 inch barrel and red ramp or adjustable front sight were cataloged from 1984 to 2001, but not many seem to be found in the wild.
I've no clue as to actual production numbers and value? No clue. I'm in Australia and don't track American prices.
osteodoc08
Member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2005
- Messages
- 1,261
Thanks for the info.
banjoman2255
Member
S&W model 19-4 snub. .357 nickel. Serial number 31k8791
Radagast
Member
banjoman2255:
Your Model 19-4 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1978 or 1979. Serial range for those years was 25K0001 to 56K9999, so 1978 is my bet.
Your Model 19-4 Combat Magnum was manufactured in 1978 or 1979. Serial range for those years was 25K0001 to 56K9999, so 1978 is my bet.
banjoman2255
Member
Thank you sir. It's on the way to me now. Ill post pics when she arrives.
DCoroville
Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Messages
- 1
Radagast
Member
DCoroville:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change Target. It is a square butt, target sight version of the fixed sight service revolver of the day, in effect a post war predecessor to the Model 14 as the fixed sight Military & Police was the predecessor to the Model 10.
The grips are not original, which is a pity, as they would help bring a premium price from a collector.
The serial number is 652xxx, the B prefix was only used for the barrel which was serial numbered to the gun.
During the great depression S&W manufactured and stockpiled frames, so I can't guarantee a year of manufacture, but serial numbers in the 646xxx to 6439xxx range shipped in 1934 & serial number 651500 shipped in 1935, so 1935 seems likely.
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change Target. It is a square butt, target sight version of the fixed sight service revolver of the day, in effect a post war predecessor to the Model 14 as the fixed sight Military & Police was the predecessor to the Model 10.
The grips are not original, which is a pity, as they would help bring a premium price from a collector.
The serial number is 652xxx, the B prefix was only used for the barrel which was serial numbered to the gun.
During the great depression S&W manufactured and stockpiled frames, so I can't guarantee a year of manufacture, but serial numbers in the 646xxx to 6439xxx range shipped in 1934 & serial number 651500 shipped in 1935, so 1935 seems likely.
