Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers

davidnssbm:
Between October 2000 (serial number CEMxxxx) and July 2001 (Serial number CEVxxxx).

knee-dragger777:
Could it be a Model 642, stainless barrel and cylinder, aluminum frame? These were discontinued in 1993, which matches the serial number.
If blued it may be a Model 042, per the Standard Catalog of S&W some of these are overstamped Model 642, which suggests there was a problem with the stainless finish and the guns where blued for sale. Potentially one such occurred in 1993, even though the Standard Catalog of S&W lists them as a 1992 production run.
 
knee-dragger777:
Last possibility is its a Model 442 .38 Special Centennial Airweight, this was the commercial release of the Model 042 in 1993. May or may not be marked Airweight on either the barrel or side plate. Guns shipped in the BPFxxxx range, which is close to yours. I was thinking the obscured over stamping made your gun an 042 built on a botched frame, but they may have deliberately over stamped some 642s to meet the new demand that resulted in the 442. Without the gun & a magnifying glass in hand or a factory letter I doubt we will ever know for sure.
Either way, its a 1993 gun and a very useful CCW piece.
 
S&w 12-2

I have a friend that brought over a Model 12-2 2" asking what do I think that he could get for the gun. It shows signs of holstering and lock up is not 100% but still very good. The serial # is D603XXX.

Any ideas what the gun might be worth and the date it was born?

P8200122.jpg

P8200123.jpg

P8200124.jpg
 
The Model 12 Military & Police Airweight 12-2 was made from 1962 until 1977.

Your serial number dates to 1973-74.

Value is dependent on condition.
And that one looks well used, with anodizing missing on the edges, and cylinder bluing fading.

I'm going to guess in the $350 - $425 range.
But I could be wrong if you had clearer pictures.

rc
 
Blue Book and others can't be revised & printed fast enough to keep up with collector prices on certain S&W, Colt, and other firearms the way they have been climbing in recent years.

They are behind the price curve before the ink is dry.

Your best bet of finding current 'real world' prices are the on-line gun auctions.

rc
 
Last edited:
Runnin Late, I've moved this to our stickied S&W ID thread here in the revolvers forum.
 
Just for comparison. I just bought a 12-2 in about 85+% for $310, but it is a square butt with 4” barrel. Based on your description of condition, I would say your friends would be about the same; plus for snuby, minus for condition.
 
Model 49 question

J617xx. I thought the 49's were blue, but this one is either stainless, or maybe has been chromed? I dont know. It does have some small rust spots on it.
Trying to clean it up for my mother-in-law.
 
I recently found a model 10 military and police smith and Wesson. I purchased it because I can not seem to get enough firearms. It's a .38spl with 4 inch brl. original wood hand grips, 6 shot. ser #37491. It's in almost unused condition, and I was trying to find out approximately date of manufacture. Thanks
 
[email protected]:
Is there a letter stamped on the bottom of the grip frame, before the serial number? It could be S, V, SV, C or D. Is the gun actually stamped Model 10, or does it just look like one?

If no letter prefix or Model stamp, then you have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1902 1st Change manufactured in 1902 or 1903, with 1902 more likely. These predate heat treatment of cylinders and should be restricted to standard pressure lead loads. It also predates the positive hammer block sfety introduced in 1944. It would be prudent to treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
 
G'day Evan, 1978 for that one. I missed out on a second Model 18 this week. Sold in three minutes on Abused Guns. I'm currently stalking another Model 28.
 
Put down the N-frame & walk away: K-all-the-way!
Thanks for the DOB.
I'm enjoying the full-underlug of the 16-4. Just shooting wadcutters at present but will beef it up a little when I finish working up target loads for this gun and the 17-2.
 
.32/20 M&P or Hand Ejector

I am considering purchasing a .32/20 S&W M&P (possibly a Hand Ejector) which has a square butt with walnut grips, 6" barrel marked 32 Winchester CTG, serial # 542xx.
Could you please tell me what model it is and when it was made ?
Thanks.
 
Gun Master:
You are looking at a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 3rd Change manufactured between 1909 and 1915 in the serial range 45201-65700.
It predates heat treatment of cylinders, so do not shoot hot handloads through this gun. Modern lead cowboy loads will be fine.
Check the barrel carefully for a bulge. Rifle only hi-speed jacketed ammo would often cause bulged barrels when fired through these guns. This ammo is no longer made.
It predates the positive hammer block drop safety introduced during WWII after a fatality with a dropped gun. I would treat it as a five shooter, leaving the hammer down on an empty chamber.
That said, if in good condition I would grab it. It's at least a century old and they aren't making anymore.
 
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