mesinge2
Member
Thanks again Radagast!
Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers
- Thread starter Brian Williams
- Start date
Gun Master
Member
Thank you for your kind assistance, again.
GM
GM
knee-dragger777
Member
Rada one more time.
Radagast, J frame, top loader- breach, 5 shot, I think is a 38 cal. Ser# 400662
As always your help is gratefully appreciated.
Radagast, J frame, top loader- breach, 5 shot, I think is a 38 cal. Ser# 400662
As always your help is gratefully appreciated.
johnmlk
Member
would love any info you can give on this gun,
.38 spl
6" barrel
square butt
6 rounds
fixed sights
S908708
under crane there is either a "C" or "G" and 78891
if you need any more info or pics please let me know. thanks a ton
.38 spl
6" barrel
square butt
6 rounds
fixed sights
S908708
under crane there is either a "C" or "G" and 78891
if you need any more info or pics please let me know. thanks a ton
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Radagast
Member
knee-dragger777:
The standard catalog of S&W does not give year to year break downs on the J frame guns. Yours falls between 1966 (serial number 391733) & 1969 (serial number 786544).
If the cylinder latch is flat, then it is a 1966 gun. If concave 1966 or later.
If the grips are original, and have an uncheckered diamond around the grip screws, then 1966-1968. If there is no diamond, then 1968-69.
johnmlk:
Your .38 Military & Police Post War was manufactured between September 1945 (serial number S811120) & March 1948 (serial number S978924). My guesstimate is late 1946 or early 1947.
It is considered a transitional model as it has the pre-war 'long action' (replaced in 1948 with the current 'short action') and the wartime developed positive hammer block safety that was subsequently integrated on all S&W revolvers. A mix of the old and the new, but not the final form. Hence a transitional model.
The markings under the crane are assembly numbers, used to track fitted parts in the factory. Model numbers were not introduced until 1957, when the .38 Military & Police became the Model 10.
The standard catalog of S&W does not give year to year break downs on the J frame guns. Yours falls between 1966 (serial number 391733) & 1969 (serial number 786544).
If the cylinder latch is flat, then it is a 1966 gun. If concave 1966 or later.
If the grips are original, and have an uncheckered diamond around the grip screws, then 1966-1968. If there is no diamond, then 1968-69.
johnmlk:
Your .38 Military & Police Post War was manufactured between September 1945 (serial number S811120) & March 1948 (serial number S978924). My guesstimate is late 1946 or early 1947.
It is considered a transitional model as it has the pre-war 'long action' (replaced in 1948 with the current 'short action') and the wartime developed positive hammer block safety that was subsequently integrated on all S&W revolvers. A mix of the old and the new, but not the final form. Hence a transitional model.
The markings under the crane are assembly numbers, used to track fitted parts in the factory. Model numbers were not introduced until 1957, when the .38 Military & Police became the Model 10.
johnmlk
Member
wow i thought it was newer than that haha thanks a ton radagast.
Radagast
Member
johnmlk: The giveaway is the S prefix. It stands fro safety and means the gun has a positive internal hammer block safety. Basically it is drop proof. By the end of 1948 they had run out of numbers on the stamping machine and started again with a C prefix.
knee-dragger777
Member
Thanks Rada--
Can you tell me what model it is? Thanks for the info on the years. There is an uncheckered Diamond around the screw hole on the grips, so that helps a lot.
Can you tell me what model it is? Thanks for the info on the years. There is an uncheckered Diamond around the screw hole on the grips, so that helps a lot.
Radagast
Member
knee-dragger777:
If .38 S&W Special, exposed hammer then it's a Model 36 Chiefs Special.
If as above, but aluminum frame / barrel marked Airweight, then it's a Model 37 Chiefs Special Airweight.
If .38 S&W Special, hammer partially enclosed by a hump, then it's a Model 49 Bodyguard.
Id as above, but aluminum frame / barrel marked Airweight, then it's a Model 38 Bodyguard Airweight.
Just noted the bit about it being a 'top breach loader'.
If the barrel swings down and the cylinder swings up to load and eject and it has an exposed hammer then it's a .38 Double Action 4th Model manufactured between 1898 (serial number 382022) & 1908 (serial number 535553), with 1898 or 1899 being likely. This is a gun designed for black powder. Modern smokeless ammo has the same maximum pressure, but a different pressure curve, and will wear it out faster. It should be treated as a 4 shooter, leaving the hammer down on an empty chamber.
If .38 S&W Special, exposed hammer then it's a Model 36 Chiefs Special.
If as above, but aluminum frame / barrel marked Airweight, then it's a Model 37 Chiefs Special Airweight.
If .38 S&W Special, hammer partially enclosed by a hump, then it's a Model 49 Bodyguard.
Id as above, but aluminum frame / barrel marked Airweight, then it's a Model 38 Bodyguard Airweight.
Just noted the bit about it being a 'top breach loader'.
If the barrel swings down and the cylinder swings up to load and eject and it has an exposed hammer then it's a .38 Double Action 4th Model manufactured between 1898 (serial number 382022) & 1908 (serial number 535553), with 1898 or 1899 being likely. This is a gun designed for black powder. Modern smokeless ammo has the same maximum pressure, but a different pressure curve, and will wear it out faster. It should be treated as a 4 shooter, leaving the hammer down on an empty chamber.
Radagast
Member
OldLt:
Your Model 60 Chiefs Special Stainless falls into the dare range 1970-1973. Serial range for those years was R30001 to R99999.
My guesstimate, assuming a fairly consistent production rate, is 1971.
Your Model 60 Chiefs Special Stainless falls into the dare range 1970-1973. Serial range for those years was R30001 to R99999.
My guesstimate, assuming a fairly consistent production rate, is 1971.
jimicarpenter
Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2014
- Messages
- 2
.38 special
4in bbl
square grips
non adjustable
sv 811008
4in bbl
square grips
non adjustable
sv 811008
Radagast
Member
jimicarpenter:
That gun was manufactured in 1945. It is either a .38 Special Victory Model, or a .38 S&W British Service Revolver converted after World War II to .38 Special. It should be stamped US Property.
If it has been chrome plated, the stampings are not centered on the barrel, or there are two distinct steps in the cylinder, it is proof marked with crown or there are lend lease markings, ten it probably a converted BSR, many were bored out to .38 Special and sold as surplus in the USA.
If it hasn't been molested then its probably a US issue Victory Model. These were basically the same gun, except for the caliber & barrel length.
Either way, your gun is one of the last produced during the war. The Victory Model run ended at SV811832 & the BSR at SV811119.
The S in front of the serial number stands for Safety, the V for Victory. In 1942 the S&W stamping machine clicked over to 999999. So they added a V in front and reset it to 1. In 1944 there was a fatality with a dropped gun when the internal hammer block failed. A new positive hammer block was designed and implemented, in some case retrofitted. Hence the S stamp added in front of the V.
After the war, with victory achieved, the V was dropped and the S remained until serial number S999999.
That gun was manufactured in 1945. It is either a .38 Special Victory Model, or a .38 S&W British Service Revolver converted after World War II to .38 Special. It should be stamped US Property.
If it has been chrome plated, the stampings are not centered on the barrel, or there are two distinct steps in the cylinder, it is proof marked with crown or there are lend lease markings, ten it probably a converted BSR, many were bored out to .38 Special and sold as surplus in the USA.
If it hasn't been molested then its probably a US issue Victory Model. These were basically the same gun, except for the caliber & barrel length.
Either way, your gun is one of the last produced during the war. The Victory Model run ended at SV811832 & the BSR at SV811119.
The S in front of the serial number stands for Safety, the V for Victory. In 1942 the S&W stamping machine clicked over to 999999. So they added a V in front and reset it to 1. In 1944 there was a fatality with a dropped gun when the internal hammer block failed. A new positive hammer block was designed and implemented, in some case retrofitted. Hence the S stamp added in front of the V.
After the war, with victory achieved, the V was dropped and the S remained until serial number S999999.
jimicarpenter
Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2014
- Messages
- 2
Thank you I'm very intrigued because there are no other markings or stamps except for on the side it is stamped trade with the fancy s&w and the barrel is stamped .38 s&w special ctg. This was given to me by my father-in-law before he passed he was born in 1944 and it was originally his fathers.
Radagast
Member
Normal markings are as follows:
S&W logo on the side plate.
SMITH & WESSON on the left side of the barrel.
*.38 S&W SPECIAL CTG* on the right side of the barrel.
MADE IN U.S.A. under the cylinder on the right side of the frame.
Smooth walnut grips without a medallion.
If its missing some of these, then it has been refinished and may be a caliber conversion.
If it has all of the above, but no other markings, then it may have been sold to a civilian organization, such as a defense plant or US Postal inspectors and is probably original.
S&W logo on the side plate.
SMITH & WESSON on the left side of the barrel.
*.38 S&W SPECIAL CTG* on the right side of the barrel.
MADE IN U.S.A. under the cylinder on the right side of the frame.
Smooth walnut grips without a medallion.
If its missing some of these, then it has been refinished and may be a caliber conversion.
If it has all of the above, but no other markings, then it may have been sold to a civilian organization, such as a defense plant or US Postal inspectors and is probably original.
date of manufacture of s and w revolver
Hello dear friends
i m new to this group.
i m from india. i want to know the date of manufacture and the blueing of a gun i m going to buy in near future.
it is a s&w 2inch barrel .32 revolver..pics are attached for reference.
Hello dear friends
i m new to this group.
i m from india. i want to know the date of manufacture and the blueing of a gun i m going to buy in near future.
it is a s&w 2inch barrel .32 revolver..pics are attached for reference.
Attachments
Radagast
Member
babal:
You are looking at a Model 31-1 .32 Regulation Police manufactured in 1972. It uses the square butt J (small) frame.
The difference between the Model 30 illustrated in the box and the Model 31 is simply round butt (Model 30) vs square butt (Model 31).
Caliber is .32 S&W Long. It will also accept .32 S&W cartridges.
You are looking at a Model 31-1 .32 Regulation Police manufactured in 1972. It uses the square butt J (small) frame.
The difference between the Model 30 illustrated in the box and the Model 31 is simply round butt (Model 30) vs square butt (Model 31).
Caliber is .32 S&W Long. It will also accept .32 S&W cartridges.
Radagast
Member
Nope. 1972. The serial number range for that model manufactured in 1971 & 1972 was H30002 to H60000.
The gun you wish to purchase falls late enough in that serial range that it is almost certainly from 1972.
Also S&W track the date shipped for warranty purposes, not the date the gun was completed and boxed. So it definitely shipped in 1972.
The gun you wish to purchase falls late enough in that serial range that it is almost certainly from 1972.
Also S&W track the date shipped for warranty purposes, not the date the gun was completed and boxed. So it definitely shipped in 1972.
Here's a Victory model I just picked up
First post on the site. Can someone nail down a year for this one? There are a few pics too. Thanks.
a) .38 - caliber
b) 5” - bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle)
c) round - grips shape (round or square)
d) 6 - number of shots/cylinder bores
e) nonadjustable - type of sights.
f) V 22188 (on cylinder & bottom of barrel)
g) Z66453 (under the crane) - Model number if it is under the crane.
[/url]DSCF0724 (1600x851) by katmandu102, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]DSCF0739 (1600x838) by katmandu102, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]DSCF0743 (1600x1163) by katmandu102, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]DSCF0733 (1551x1600) by katmandu102, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]DSCF0727 (1600x810) by katmandu102, on Flickr[/IMG]
First post on the site. Can someone nail down a year for this one? There are a few pics too. Thanks.
a) .38 - caliber
b) 5” - bbl length (from cylinder to muzzle)
c) round - grips shape (round or square)
d) 6 - number of shots/cylinder bores
e) nonadjustable - type of sights.
f) V 22188 (on cylinder & bottom of barrel)
g) Z66453 (under the crane) - Model number if it is under the crane.
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Radagast
Member
Relic99:
You have a .38-200 British Service Revolver manufactured for the British Government in 1943. It may have been lend lease marked at one time and probably had British proof marks, now ground off.
The Austrian markings indicate it was assigned to the reconstituted civilian police during or after the post WWII Allied occupation.
The markings under the cylinder yoke are assembly numbers, used to track fitted parts in the factory. Stamping of model numbers did not begin until 1957.
You have a .38-200 British Service Revolver manufactured for the British Government in 1943. It may have been lend lease marked at one time and probably had British proof marks, now ground off.
The Austrian markings indicate it was assigned to the reconstituted civilian police during or after the post WWII Allied occupation.
The markings under the cylinder yoke are assembly numbers, used to track fitted parts in the factory. Stamping of model numbers did not begin until 1957.
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Thnx very much
