S&W serial # lookup

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

I need to identify the date of manufacture for a S&W 4'th model (DA, Nickle plated, 32 S&W caliber).

The number is 377xx.

Does anyone have a book identifying the dates for that number range?

 

[mjdio]

I also am looking for an approximate year of manufacturing.
It is for a Smith and Wesson, 38 special, 4" barrell, K (?) frame pistol with the serial numbers on the butt and cylinder 306271, no other letters included.
Also the pistol is in very good condition, does anyone have an idea of its value?
Thanks

 

[BADSBSNF81]

The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 3rd ed., by Supica and Nahas is about the best book out there.

 

[Radagast]

Maple City Woodsman:
The .32 Double Action 4th Model was manufactured between 1883 & 1909 in the serial range 43406 to 239600. if your gun has a serial number 377xx then it is a 3rd model manufactured in 1882 or 1883 in the serial range 22173 to 43405.

mjdio:
You have a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change manufactured between 1915 & September 1919. Serial range for those years was 241704 to 316648. Your gun lacks the modern hammer block safety. If dropped it could fire, so leave the chamber under the hammer empty. it also pre-dates heat treatment of cylinders, so stick to standard pressure lead loads only, no jacketed, semi jacketed, PlusP or +P+ ammo. Use of these may result in a bulged or cracked cylinder.
Value is probably in the range $250 to $350. If it has factory adjustable sights or factory pearl or ivory grips the value may go up a couple of hundred dollars if you can find a collector wanting to fill a niche. Several million M&Ps have been manufactured over the last 115 years, so they aren't particularly scarce or valuable.

 

[Radagast]

Also +1 on the Standard Catalog of S&W by Supica & Nahas from Gun Digest Books. Well worth buying if you have any interest in S&Ws.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

Thanks Radagast!

I'm trying to find out if a gun I'm bidding on was made pre 1899. The first number is blurry, and it may also be a '5' - making the serial a 577xx, which as I understand it is an early 4'th model?

Even so, with the numbers produced, I have been told that such a low serial 4'th would still not be later than 1885.

Does that sound correct to you?

 

[mjdio]

Thank you Radagast. That was very good of you to supply the information and so quickly. Since I paid only $275 and it has hard rubber grips, I guess it was fair but hardly collectable.

 

[Radagast]

Maple City Woodsman:
Serial numbers prior to 209301 are classified as pre-1898 antiques by BATF.