Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

[Radagast]

I'm a bit of a nerd. I like to find out all there is to know on a subject that interests me and I like S&Ws.
there is a brilliant book called Standard Catalog of S&W by Supica & Nahas. I bought it to learn about my personal gun and fell down the rabbit hole. I highly recommend it.

M&P Snubbie is what most people will call it. It was the S&W Military & Police from 1899 to 1957, when S&W replaced the rather cool names with bland model numbers. S&W don't really define them by barrel length, its a Model 10-5 two inch barrel. M&P Snubbies sounds better.
Prior to WWII S&W stamped the underside of the barrel with the serial number and a B prefix.
During WWII S&W's stamping machine hit 999999 and rolled back over to 1. So they added a letter prefix. Originally V for Victory, so V1, to V744000 or there about.

Then they introduced a positive internal hammer block or 'drop safety', so SV744xxxx etc.

After the war was won, victory had been achieved, so they dropped the V and it was S860xxxx, etc.
In the early 1950s S&W introduced their range of semi auto pistols. These were given an A prefix. A1, A2, etc.
Around the same time the revolver S serial range was quickly running out of numbers, but the B prefix had already been used on barrels, so S&W went with a C prefix for its fixed sight K frame guns, then a million guns later, a D prefix.

I said I was a nerd.

 

[Geezer Glide]

What can you tell me about my:

S&W Model 28-2
4" barrel
.357 Magnum
Serial # N508XXX

Thank you.

 

[JediNinja]

Hope you can help.

Model 10-6
4" barrel
38 S&W Special CTG
Serial # D3352**

My father left me a mass amount of guns, this being one, and would like to know date of manufacturing, worth and what ever info you could include.

Thanks for your time and service to the community here.

 

[JediNinja]

Sorry for the double post...

 

[Radagast]

Geezer Glide:
The N5xxxxx serial range was used from 1978 to 1980. Being so low in the range I think 1978 is pretty certain.

JediNinja:
Your Model 10-6 .38 Military & Police heavy Barrel was manufactured in 1971. It is a K frame or medium frame gun. The .39 Military & Police has been in production since 1899, There have been multiple design changes over the years, but spares are not an issue as production has exceeded five million guns. For most of last century it was the default issue weapon of American police departments.
Value will range between $250 & $350 depending upon condition. The sheer number of guns made means there is no scarcity value for this model.

 

[JediNinja]

Thank you much Radagast. You are appreciated.

 

[drew b]

Help on the year of manufacture would be much appreciated.

.38 spl
4"
square butt
6 shot
fixed sights (half-moon front)
S 832XXX
not marked as a model 10 (maybe pre-10)

Thank you ahead of time,
Drew

 

[Radagast]

drew b:
You have a .38 Military & Police Post War Transitional model manufactured between Sept. 1945 (serial number S811120) & October 1947 (serial number S924878), so early 1946 seems likely.
It is called a transitional model because the proper "pre-model 10' design using the then new 'Short Action' hammer was introduced in early 1948. Your gun will have the pre-war long action hammer and the new internal hammer block that was to be carried over into all the short action models.

 

[Snake Plisskin]

Another Smith & Wesson model 66-4 2.5" can I get a DOB thanks, S/N CAS92XX

 

[Radagast]

Snake Plisskin:
The Model 66-4 Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured from 1994 to 1998.
The serial number should consist of three letters and four numerals. If the serial number is CAS92xx then your gun was manufactured in 1996.

 

[Snake Plisskin]

Thanks again for your help, Have a great holiday season.

 

[CKinWoodstock]

Details on 32 S&W Long revolver

Thanks in advance:

32 S&W Long
3.25" barrel
Round grip
6-shot
fixed sight
S/N 383965
There is a number 4931 hidden by the crane

 

[Radagast]

CKinWoodstock:
You have a .32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model manufactured between 1923 & 1926. Serial numbers did not always ship sequentially. For example, 3271xx shipped in December 1923, 379160 shipped in October 1923, 4599xx shipped in 1926.
If I had to guesstimate I would say early 1924 for your gun.
Your gun predates the positive internal hammer block introduced during World War II after a fatality with a dropped gun. I recommend leaving the chamber under the hammer empty as a safety precaution.
Heat treatment of cylinders began in 1920 at serial number 321000, so any current commercial ammunition should be safe to use.
The gun is built on the small round butt I frame, modern aftermarket grips are usually for the slightly longer J frame and probably won't fit.
It is in excellent condition for a 90 year old weapon. Don't use Hoppes or similar ammonia based cleaners, these may cause the nickel finish to flake.
The number under the crane is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory. It has no meaning after the gun was completed.

 

[PJSprog]

64 (no dash)
.38 Special
4" heavy barrel
6-shot
Square butt
BNW35xx

 

[Radagast]

PJSprog:
Your Model 64-5 .38 Military & Police Stainless heavy barrel dates to March 1993. The missing -5 would indicate a heavy barrel variant of the model 64 manufactured from 1988 to 1998.
The grips are pre-1968 magna pattern square butt service stocks from a different gun.

 

[PJSprog]

Thanks, Radagast (love the screen name). I bought it recently from a fellow THR member, and it was reportedly a security firm trade-in. Appreciate the info.

 

[Radagast]

You are welcome, and that sounds correct. Several online outlets have been selling off bulk quantities of Model 10s and 64s over the last four years, mainly double action only, always police or security company trade ins.

 

[Radagast]

To all:
I'm off for the next few weeks. I may have internet access, but I won't have my references. I'll be back answering queries in late January.

 

[RealGun]

Have just acquired a model 657, 8 3/8", .41 Magnum, no lock, serial range AUC-xxx. Wondering about the year of manufacture. Help appreciated. I bought the Kindle version of the S&W reference book (digital) and did not find a direct reference to that serial range. However, given the knowledge that the 657 was introduced in 1987 and close serial number ranges occurring in that year, I surmise that this gun may be from the first guns produced.

 

[SW38]

Help Dating/Identifying a Smith and Wesson 38 Revolver

Curiosity is killing me, so I'd appreciate any insight anyone can provide to help me identify my gun. Also, please forgive me, since I may not know the terms and don't have a camera at the moment.

The revolver is definitely not a 38 special, but is the 38 short. It is 6-shot with a 6" barrel. The sight is fixed and it would appear to have a rounded rather than square grip (although I'd have to see photos of the square grip to be sure). The grip itself is checkered rather than smooth. I think it's the 5-screw model, since I can count 4 screws on the right side and there is a 5th on the bottom in front of the trigger guard. The finish is a dull gray/black showing lots of age. (It's not a pretty finish.) In the middle of the butt is a hole where a lanyard likely once was, but none is now there.

Now for the tough part: I swear that the serial number is 735XXX (the X's are numbers I'm not stating) with no letters, although it's possible that the first digit is not a 7 but the letter V. I initially thought it was a V and assumed I had a Victory model, but when I look at it with my glasses in good light, I swear it's a 7. Also, when you pop open the chamber and look where model is sometimes stamped, I see "7277 0"--in short not a model I can determine. (The registration paperwork says "no model indicated.")

Now for the tougher part: I bought the gun from a guy in Costa Rica who said that he inherited it from his deceased father-in-law. Thus, while it's possible that the gun is a Victory or pre-Victory model that someone brought into Costa Rica from England or another Commonwealth country, it's more likely that it was among the few that Smith exported directly to Costa Rica. (By the same token, it could have been originally purchased in Panama, Nicaragua, or anywhere else.)

My total guess is that it's a cerca. 1940 direct export to Costa Rica in the same family as the Victory models, but different because it was made for a different market. However, I'd be interested in pinpointing it exactly. You know, Costa Rica's last revolution was during the late 1940s, so I wonder whether it was carried and/or used then, and in general wonder what stories it would tell if it could speak (even as I appreciate that the story may only be of a bored security guard).

Thanks!

 

[Twmaster]

What do I have here?

Funny but I'm about to ask the same question as the poster above.

I just picked up a nice, I mean really nice square butt K frame, 5 screw in .38 S&W, 6" pinned barrel, round blade front sight. The serial number is 7286XX No prefixes I can find. The finish is either a variant of Parkerization or S&W's 'black magic' finish applied in the war years.

It has a lanyard ring. It does not have any US or British proof acceptance/marks. It does not have the S mark for the safety modification found on post 1942 pistols.

The top of the barrel has the following:
"Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Mass, USA
Patented Feb. 6. 06, Sept. 14. 09, Dec. 29. 14"

On the right side of the barrel it says:
".38 S&W CTG"

On the left it says: "Smith & Wesson". On the right side of the frame it has the S&W logo in the usual place and "Made in the USA" all with very clear/sharp stampings.

On the opposite side of the lanyard ring from the serial number there is what appears to be a "P" stamped in the frame. Under the barrel there is what appears to be an "O" stamped well ahead of the serial number. All of the serial numbers match (frame, barrel, cylinder, ejector star). There are matching assembly numbers on the yoke and frame inside the yoke.

So, what exactly do I have here? I'd call it a K200 but the serial numbers do not have a V or SV prefix. It falls into the M&P serial range but it has the lanyard ring as found on the Victory guns....

It does not appear to have the original grips as there is no diamond at the screw hole.

So, S&W experten, do tell. What do I have here?

 

[dbmjr1]

What I've got here is a Model 10-6 3" revolver. Serial # D691XX in .38spl. The finish is in remarkably good condition.
It is a 3 screw with a pinned barrel.

On the inside of the yoke there is a large 'P' stamped, with two smaller stamps that appear to be a 'L' and a smaller 'K'. These markings have me curious.

Pics:



The top of the strap, along with the top of the barrel appears to have a parkerized finish, while the remainder of the pistol is bright blue.





In addition; The cylinder gap is barely noticeable between the forcing cone. The trigger is superb.

Someone has put a lot of thought and money in this pistol, I suspect. To what end, I would be curious.

I got it for a steal, in my opinion, having paid two forty for it.

Thank you in advance for any information you are able to provide this S&W novice with.

 

[Ram48]

Model 36.

Hi
I just picked up a model 36 with a 2 inch barrel in nickle the serial number is 362J19 and would like to know a bit about it.
Thanks
Ray

 

[Twmaster]

I just picked up a model 36 with a 2 inch barrel in nickle the serial number is 362J19 and would like to know a bit about it.

There would not be a letter inside the numbers like that. The SCSW 3rd Ed. Says made between 1962 and 1969 with 1962 starting about 295000 and ending in 1969 with 786544 for the model 36 and it's sisters.

 

[SW38]

Thanks TWMaster

With the exception of the grips and perhaps a marking detail or two I can't follow in your post, we seem to have the same gun. One exception might be that there appears to be the roman numeral for ten (an X with bars on top and bottom) following the CTG inscription on my barrel, although I'm not 100% positive even with my glasses that it is the roman numeral for ten. It could be a Z or some other marking.

Your grips extend higher than mine, which leave more metal exposed at the top and reveal what I think is the fifth screw (while your fifth screw is I guess under the grip). Design-wise though the grips look pretty similar, as if whoever replaced yours tried to make a good match of the original.

Since you say yours is a square butt, I would guess mine is too, since they look the same to me.

Weird is that we're close to the same serial number, which could suggest the same batch.

Yours is in better cosmetic shape, but mine's not that bad for its apparent age.

Let's hope someone can give us both an answer!