Radagast
Member
marklmurray:
Your Model 60 .38 Chiefs Special Stainless was manufactured in 1987.
Your Model 60 .38 Chiefs Special Stainless was manufactured in 1987.
Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers
- Thread starter Brian Williams
- Start date
marklmurray
Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2010
- Messages
- 35
Thanks! That's the year I graduated High School.
Radagast
Member
Same here. 
FCDeputy1911
Member
Handed down to me from a Friend who is a retired State Trooper. Can you date it?
Smith and Wesson
Model 37
227J32
no dashes
Smith and Wesson
Model 37
227J32
no dashes
JJHACK
Member
First post, joined for this thread!
44 magnum
4"
round grip
6 shots/cylinder
adjustable
CCC0015
629-4
This is a Stainless Steel revolver marked Mountain Gun
Thanks for this thread!
44 magnum
4"
round grip
6 shots/cylinder
adjustable
CCC0015
629-4
This is a Stainless Steel revolver marked Mountain Gun
Thanks for this thread!
Doc Peeler
Member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2013
- Messages
- 1
.38 s&w special ctg
I got a weapon from a friend to clean for her and need to know more about it.
A. .38
b. 6 inch
c. Round grip
d. 6 shoot/cylinder
e. Fixed blade front
f. 508637
g. 62124
she said it was her grandfathers and she knows nothing besides that. Also its in poor to poor plus condition. She wants to shoot it but im not sure she should. The bore is clean and the cylinder look almost new inside but the outside is alittle rough. Any help would be great. Also the s&w logo is smaller than a dime on the rt side only and there is no logo on the grips.
I got a weapon from a friend to clean for her and need to know more about it.
A. .38
b. 6 inch
c. Round grip
d. 6 shoot/cylinder
e. Fixed blade front
f. 508637
g. 62124
she said it was her grandfathers and she knows nothing besides that. Also its in poor to poor plus condition. She wants to shoot it but im not sure she should. The bore is clean and the cylinder look almost new inside but the outside is alittle rough. Any help would be great. Also the s&w logo is smaller than a dime on the rt side only and there is no logo on the grips.
v8stang289
Member
Just picked this up today and was wondering when it was made.
a) 44 magnum
b) 8 3/8
c) square
d) 6
e) adjustable
f) AEU6960
g) 29-3
a) 44 magnum
b) 8 3/8
c) square
d) 6
e) adjustable
f) AEU6960
g) 29-3
Radagast
Member
v8stang289:
Your Model 29-3 .44 Magnum was manufactured in 1984.
Doc Peeler:
Your friend has a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured in 1927 or 1928.
It has a heat treated cylinder, so should be safe to shoot with any standard pressure .38 special ammunition. S&W does not recommend use of PlusP ammunition in guns made before 1957.
It lacks the positive hammer block safety introduced during WWII after a fatality with a dropped gun. Treating it as a five shooter and leaving the chamber under the hammer empty would be prudent. It does have a hammer block, but in that once instance it failed. Note that is one documented failure for 1.7 million guns.
62124 is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory, Model numbers were introduced in 1957.
S&W logo on the side plate is correct.
Grips usually had a gold S&W medallion, target grips may not and war time grips didn't. If you carefully remove the grips you may find a serial number on the inside of the grip. If matching then they are original.
Use this thread to check if it is mechanically safe to shoot:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=695644
JJHACK:
The 629-4 .44 Magnum Stainless Mountain Gun was manufactured in 1993 & 1994.
40 guns were made in 1997. Your serial number probably dates to 1997, If the the front sight is a pinned black ramp, the grips timber and the finish bead blasted, then its a 1997 gun.
FCDeputy1911:
Your Model 37 Chiefs Special Airweight was manufactured in 1971 or 1972, with 1971 being most likely. Stick to standard pressure lead ammo only if you plan to shoot this a lot, there have been reports of timing/frame stretching when fire strictly with PlusP ammo. The frame is an aluminum alloy, the cylinder and barrel are steel.
Your Model 29-3 .44 Magnum was manufactured in 1984.
Doc Peeler:
Your friend has a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured in 1927 or 1928.
It has a heat treated cylinder, so should be safe to shoot with any standard pressure .38 special ammunition. S&W does not recommend use of PlusP ammunition in guns made before 1957.
It lacks the positive hammer block safety introduced during WWII after a fatality with a dropped gun. Treating it as a five shooter and leaving the chamber under the hammer empty would be prudent. It does have a hammer block, but in that once instance it failed. Note that is one documented failure for 1.7 million guns.
62124 is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory, Model numbers were introduced in 1957.
S&W logo on the side plate is correct.
Grips usually had a gold S&W medallion, target grips may not and war time grips didn't. If you carefully remove the grips you may find a serial number on the inside of the grip. If matching then they are original.
Use this thread to check if it is mechanically safe to shoot:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=695644
JJHACK:
The 629-4 .44 Magnum Stainless Mountain Gun was manufactured in 1993 & 1994.
40 guns were made in 1997. Your serial number probably dates to 1997, If the the front sight is a pinned black ramp, the grips timber and the finish bead blasted, then its a 1997 gun.
FCDeputy1911:
Your Model 37 Chiefs Special Airweight was manufactured in 1971 or 1972, with 1971 being most likely. Stick to standard pressure lead ammo only if you plan to shoot this a lot, there have been reports of timing/frame stretching when fire strictly with PlusP ammo. The frame is an aluminum alloy, the cylinder and barrel are steel.
v8stang289
Member
Thanks Radagast, that's the year I was born.
ka4pxk
Member
Model 4 hand eject
6" barrel
32-20
0930xx
98% finish also any idea what she is worth? she shoots dead on by the way to point of aim.
6" barrel
32-20
0930xx
98% finish also any idea what she is worth? she shoots dead on by the way to point of aim.
Radagast
Member
ka4pxk:
S&W did not start serial numbers with a 0. There were a few custom prize guns with the serial number 0, but the normal production did not use it.
Nor did they make a Model 4 - there was a Model 1, 1&1/2, 2 & 3, referring to frame sizes in the black powder era.
The .32-20 Hand Ejector was manufactured in the serial range 1 to 144684. The serial number is always found on the bottom edge of the grip frame. Numbers under the cylinder yoke are often assembly numbers, used to track parts in the factory and have no meaning after the gun us completed.
Get back to me with the correct serial number and I'll date it as close as I can.
S&W did not start serial numbers with a 0. There were a few custom prize guns with the serial number 0, but the normal production did not use it.
Nor did they make a Model 4 - there was a Model 1, 1&1/2, 2 & 3, referring to frame sizes in the black powder era.
The .32-20 Hand Ejector was manufactured in the serial range 1 to 144684. The serial number is always found on the bottom edge of the grip frame. Numbers under the cylinder yoke are often assembly numbers, used to track parts in the factory and have no meaning after the gun us completed.
Get back to me with the correct serial number and I'll date it as close as I can.
Badger Arms
Member
Radagast
Member
Badger Arms:
You have a .38 Double Action Model 4th Model manufactured between 1898 (serial number 382022) & 1905 (serial number 486000). Production of the Third Model averaged 18,500 a year, the 4th Model 15,500 per year. So I would guess late 1898 or early 1899 for your gun.
You have a .38 Double Action Model 4th Model manufactured between 1898 (serial number 382022) & 1905 (serial number 486000). Production of the Third Model averaged 18,500 a year, the 4th Model 15,500 per year. So I would guess late 1898 or early 1899 for your gun.
pittspilot
Member
Howdy,
Couldn't pass this up for $100.00.
Pre Model 10. 4 screw. Serial is C379xxx
Thanks,
Couldn't pass this up for $100.00.
Pre Model 10. 4 screw. Serial is C379xxx
Thanks,
Last edited:
Radagast
Member
pittspilot:
1954-1956, serial range for those years was C277555 to C402923, so probably late '55 or early '56.
1954-1956, serial range for those years was C277555 to C402923, so probably late '55 or early '56.
pittspilot
Member
Thanks,
Radagast
Member
The Doc:
Your Model 31-1 Regulation Police was manufactured in 1983.
Your Model 31-1 Regulation Police was manufactured in 1983.
mesinge2
Member
I got myself a S&W model 63 no lock unfired in box with all papers.
I checked one off of my wish list! I have been looking for this one for years!
a) .22 LR
b) 4"
c) Round Butt
d) 6
e) Adjustable
f) xxxxxxx
g) 63-3
I checked one off of my wish list! I have been looking for this one for years!
a) .22 LR
b) 4"
c) Round Butt
d) 6
e) Adjustable
f) xxxxxxx
g) 63-3
Last edited:
Radagast
Member
mesinge2:
Your Model 63-3 .22/32 Kit Gun Stainless was manufactured in 1997. That is a nice looking revolver. Congrats.
Your Model 63-3 .22/32 Kit Gun Stainless was manufactured in 1997. That is a nice looking revolver. Congrats.
mesinge2
Member
Thanks Radagast!
I was so happy to finally find one of these. I wanted the older 6 shot model not the new 3" barrel 8 shot.
I was so happy to finally find one of these. I wanted the older 6 shot model not the new 3" barrel 8 shot.
Radagast
Member
Driswalds:
Your Model 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1986 or early 1987. There is a recall on all S&W 686 & 686-1 guns. With some magnum ammo there is chance that the primer will flow back around the firing pin into the firing pin bushing. Under the terms of the recall S&W will pay shipping both ways and install a new pin and bushing. If the gun has already been modified there will be an M stamped near the Model 686 marking under the cylinder yoke cut out.
Your Model 629 .44 Magnum Stainless was manufactured between 1980 & 1982, with the N8xxxxx serial range used between 1980 & 1983. I doubt S&W turned out 50,000 N frames in 1980 & 1981, so my guess is 1982 with a possibility of late 1981.
Your Model 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in 1986 or early 1987. There is a recall on all S&W 686 & 686-1 guns. With some magnum ammo there is chance that the primer will flow back around the firing pin into the firing pin bushing. Under the terms of the recall S&W will pay shipping both ways and install a new pin and bushing. If the gun has already been modified there will be an M stamped near the Model 686 marking under the cylinder yoke cut out.
Your Model 629 .44 Magnum Stainless was manufactured between 1980 & 1982, with the N8xxxxx serial range used between 1980 & 1983. I doubt S&W turned out 50,000 N frames in 1980 & 1981, so my guess is 1982 with a possibility of late 1981.
