Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

ljnowell;
The Model 19-4 Combat Magnum was manufactured from 1977 to 1982. It was the last pinned and recessed variant. Yours dates to 1978 or 1979. Serial range for those years was 25k0001 to 56k9999, so 1979 seems certain.
 
ATTN. Radagast...help.

Ok Radagast, you have helped many times... I have 1 more for you ...
a model 60, j frame square butt
3'' barrel (not pinned) fixed sight
aew 19xx
I think this one is unfired....
 
chunk:
Interesting. AEWxxxx dates it to around November 1984.
The Standard Catalog of S&W gives the three inch barrel square butt variant as 171 guns in 1972, then a series of round butt 3 inch barreled guns from 1989 on.

I think I would leave it unfired and post pics on the Smith & Wesson forum to get a positive ID. It may be worth more to a collector than what you paid.

Edit to add, the 1972 guns were pinned, heavy barreled, marked as Model 60-1.
 
Snake Plisskin:
Your Model 629-1 .44 Magnum Stainless was manufactured around November 1984. The -1 refers to a design change that deleted the cylinder pin and the recesses for the cartridge rims.
It may not stand up well to constant use of .44 magnum ammo, in 1989 the design was changed again with hardened yoke and frame, longer cylinder stop notch, a bolt block and a fixed hand. Basically the cylinder movement and frame were beefed up to prevent frame stretching and the gun going out of time.
I wouldn't fuss about it for normal range use, but if I was intent on developing carpal tunnel syndrome through shooting large round counts of .44 magnums, then I would buy a later gun.
TL,DR: Made 1984, good gun, don't beat it to death. Hope that helps.
 
J Frame Mfg. date

How about this one:

Model 642-2 (J-Frame)
.38 spl +p
2" barrel
serial no. has CSD prefix
 
rushbo56:
The 642-2 .38 Centennial Airweight Stainless was introduced in 2002, the -2 refers to the introduction of the internal key lock.
The Standard Catalog of S&W only gives serial numbers up to 2004, in the CHMxxx range. Based on the rate of production in the years leading up to that, I would say your gun is quite new. As it is recent a call to S&W customer service will give you the year shipped - it will be on their computerized records.
 
I need some help ID'ing a revolver.....

a) 38 Special
b) 4in Barrel
c) Custom Hogue Monogrip
d) 6 shots
e) Black ironsights closest to shooter connecting to a silvered point at the tip of the barrel
f) 6072## | MOD. | 15-2
g) Model Number alongside of the barrel is 38 S&W Special CTG

Edit: If it helps it looks like this http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/15-4_Combat_Magnum.jpg (aside from having a custom grip)

You're doing god's work Radaghast!
 
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Here's one I just picked up at a gun show:

model 10-2
38 special
4" barrel
square butt
fixed sights
6 shots
s/n C5511xx

Looks pretty well-loved, I'll give it some TLC to pretty it up some.
 
bearfoot:
Your Model 10-2 .38 Military & Police tapered barrel dates to 1961 or 1962. Serial range for those years was C474149 to C622699, so 1961 seems likely.

jdarga:
You have a Model 15-2 .38 combat Masterpiece. the 15-2 variant was manufactured from 1961 to 1967.
Serial range for those years was K429985 to K779162. To see the serial number you will need to remove the grip, it will be on the bottom edge of the grip frame.
Sometimes the serial number is also duplicated on the cylinder yoke cut out.
If the serial number is K6072xx, then the gun dates to early 1965.
If there is no K prefix then the number you have quoted is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory and it has no meaning after the gun was completed. In that case get back to me with the correct number (it will have a K prefix) and I'll date it for you.
38 S&W Special CTG on the barrel is simply the caliber designation. It takes .38 Special, which was originally known as the .,38 S&W special. For obvious reasons Colt didn't like to stamp S&W on their guns, so they abbreviated it to .38 Special and that's what it became known as.
 
Radagast,

I'm not home and can't look it up myself, and it's not in the sticky from Xavier Breath.

Chief's Special (j) .38, five screw s/n 39,38x

Got it at a gun show today w/box and cleaning kit, I'm thrilled. Literally spent years looking for one of these affordably, box or not. I think it is '56 or '57. I appreciate your effort.
 
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date and model

I need some help with Model and date for a S&W revolver with some family history but prior owners have passed on.

a) 38 S&W CTG
b) 4in Barrel
c) non diamond wood grips
d) 5 shots
e) Black integral flush sights closest to shooter connecting to a black integral ramp site at the tip of the barrel
f) Serial No.: 817XX
g) Model Number alongside of the barrel is 38 S&W CTG
h) 3 screws on R side

It seems to shoot very well and the recoil is very pleasantly lighter than my .44 Super Redhawk.
 
I need your help determining the date of manufacture/shipping on the following old M&P:

a) .38 S&W Special
b) 6.5" barrel
c) grips shape round
d) 6 shot
e) fixed sights
f) s/n 83319 (no prefix)

Pictures are attached.

Thanks much.

Ken
 

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callken:
You have a S&W .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 1st Change or 2nd Change. The 2nd change will have two pins to locate the extractor in the cylinder.
Both variants were manufactured between 1906 & 1909 in the serial range 73251 to 146899, averaging the production over those years I would guesstimate 1907 for your gun.
Safety issues:
Your gun predates heat treatment of cylinders, so don't shoot jacketed, semi jacketed, PlusP, +P or +P+ rounds through it. These may lead to a bulged cylinder. Lead standard velocity loads should be safe as long as it passes the revolver check out thread stickied in this sub-forum.
It predates the positive internal hammer block safety introduced in WWII after a fatality with a dropped gun. I would treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
The above out of the way, it should be a fine shooter. S&Ws guns were handcrafted back then with high qualities of fit and finish.
 
charlyjack1:
You have a .38 S&W Regulation Police Post War.

The markings on the side of the barrel are just the caliber markings for the .38 S&W cartridge. This was originally a black powder loading and the current factory loads are reduced to be safe in old iron framed guns. Your S&W is fairly modern steel and should be perfectly safe to shoot.
The Model number, if any, will be found on the frame under the cylinder yoke. If there is a model number it will be 'Model 33'.

Assuming your gun lacks a model number, then it was manufactured in 1956. The upper side plate screw was deleted in 1956, leaving the three screws you can see. Model numbers were introduced in 1957.
 
Radagast said:
callken:
You have a S&W .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 1st Change or 2nd Change. The 2nd change will have two pins to locate the extractor in the cylinder.
Both variants were manufactured between 1906 & 1909 in the serial range 73251 to 146899, averaging the production over those years I would guesstimate 1907 for your gun.
Safety issues:
Your gun predates heat treatment of cylinders, so don't shoot jacketed, semi jacketed, PlusP, +P or +P+ rounds through it. These may lead to a bulged cylinder. Lead standard velocity loads should be safe as long as it passes the revolver check out thread stickied in this sub-forum.
It predates the positive internal hammer block safety introduced in WWII after a fatality with a dropped gun. I would treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
The above out of the way, it should be a fine shooter. S&Ws guns were handcrafted back then with high qualities of fit and finish.
Click to expand...
Thank you, Radagast, for the quick reply and the information.
 
lostbird:
Your Model 36 Chiefs Special dates to the late 1960s. The Standard Catalog of S&W does not give a year by year breakdown for that model. I do know that serial number 392778 shipped in 1966, & serial number 786544 shipped in 1969.
So 1966-1969.
If the grips are original and have a diamond shape around the grips screws, then 1966-1968. If the grips are original and lack the diamond, then 1968-1969.
 
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