jensdbarclay
Member
I was in the local pawn shop today and found an old Smith and Wesson 38 special revolver. The serial number is 350553. Can anyone tell me the year of manufacture. It has the 5 in barrel. Thanks in advance.
Question on year of manufacture on S&W
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Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Can you provide a model number, or name of the piece please? We may be
able to help you?
able to help you?
jensdbarclay
Member
There is no model number. Near as I can tell from the blue book, it's a 1905 4th model, based on the serial number. Thanks.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
I just checked in the 3rd edition of Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Supica & Nahas, and I'm sorry that I can't turn up anything with the information that you provided~
jensdbarclay
Member
It's a standard K frame pre model 10 with a 5 in tapered barrel and fixed sights. Swing out cylinder with a supported ejector rod. It has the patent dates on top of the barrel. the last one being 1914. It has the Smith and Wesson logo on the frame, but smaller than the current one.
XavierBreath
Member
Heat treatment of the Model of 1905 4th Change .38 Special cylinders began at about serial number 316648. This information from Supica's Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson is important to know, even if it is an educated guess. Serial numbers prior to that figure may not be safe to use with modern .38 special ammunition. This change occurred in September, 1919. Your serial, 350553, would indicate a heat treated cylinder (check the back of the cylinder for a matching serial numbel).
The "Made In USA" mark appeared in May, 1922, on the right side of the frame, under and forward of the cylinder. Prior to that date, there were no markings placed on that area of the frame by the factory. The lack of this mark will give you a cut-off date, assuming it's not present. If it is present, the revolver was produced after May, 1922.
I would wager 1920 to 1922.
Here are three contemporaries........The top one lacks the "Made In USA" mark, the lower has the mark.
The "Made In USA" mark appeared in May, 1922, on the right side of the frame, under and forward of the cylinder. Prior to that date, there were no markings placed on that area of the frame by the factory. The lack of this mark will give you a cut-off date, assuming it's not present. If it is present, the revolver was produced after May, 1922.
I would wager 1920 to 1922.
Here are three contemporaries........The top one lacks the "Made In USA" mark, the lower has the mark.
jensdbarclay
Member
There is not the Made in USA marking, Thanks for the info.
jensdbarclay
Member
Mine is like the top one, only with a 5 inch barrel.
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