S&W year of manufacture

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Prof. A. Wickwire:

Sometimes requests come in faster then they can be handled... :what:

Anyway, Smith & Wesson model 19 revolvers in the 125K000 to 269K999 serial number range were made in 1982. This would include your revolver, No. 201Kxxx
 
Doubleposting this, sorry. A question for Old Fuff or someone else.

Pinned and recessed 19-4, sn 51K45xx (I think) Date?



Worth $350. :p
 
I have 3...

... that I would like to confirm the date of manufacture on:

Model 65-5 in 3", CPB23XX
Model 66-6 in 3", CFN64XX
Model 66-1 in 4", 39K04XX

Thanks for any help!
 
Model 65-5 in 3", CPB23XX-- ??
Model 66-6 in 3", CFN64XX-- ??
Model 66-1 in 4", 39K04XX-- 1978/1979

Sorry about the first two, but my reference guide doesn't accomodate those as far as exact year goes, but I'd say the 65-5 is mid to late 90's whereas the 66-1 is probabaly in the 1977-1981 range.

===RUT===
 
How about a 4" Model 10-6 with the s/n 844xx

While it appears to lack any letters like RUT's 10-6, the above number is stamped on the crane, in the same spot as the serial number on my 642 (my only S&W). Is that the correct serial number, or would it be elsewhere on this particular revolver?

Thanks for the help.
 
>>Is that the correct serial number, or would it be elsewhere on this particular revolver?<<

Check the very bottom of the grip. You should have a letter preceeding the number.
 
Got the correct number for that .38 Model 10-6. It's D6635xx.

I would greatly appreciate if someone could tell me the year of manufacture (and any other available info such as correct barrel length).

Also, can it handle limited amounts of +P?

Thanks!
 
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Thanks again RUT!

Does your info/book include whether it's supposed to have a 4" or other length barrel?
 
I suspect it started life as a 4", although 2", 5", and 6" were also available, as well as a 3" on special order. I've had a couple of 2" versions over the years, and I always considered them to be very reliable and solidly built. They'll probably never be particularly collectible, as there were a bizillion of them made over the years. :)
 
Okie-dokie. It's currently a 4", and figured it always has been. Just wanted to confirm (as best I could) it had never been re-barelled/messed with.
 
The 2" barrel requires its own ejector rod assembly. Those 3" and longer use the same ejector set-up. The only way to tell for sure what the barrel length was when the revolver left the factory would be to get a company letter from Smith & Wesson's historian, Roy Jinks. That would require a $30.00 search fee made out to S&W, not Mr. Jinks. Earlier guns, in the lower "C" range and backwards had the serial number stamped on the bottom of the barrel on the flat above the ejector rod, and on the rear face of the cylinder. So on those guns you have at least an indicator of what is or isn't original.
 
old pre-model 10

Does anyone know the date for this one?

Its an old (i think) model 10 but there is no model name or number - it has the half circle front sight, 4' barrel, fixed sights.

On the botton of the grip towards the front is a C then there is a long space of approx. 3/4 " and the number 112xxx ... it doesn't look like the C is part of the serial number but it may be?
 
Odd one.

Marked V422xxx. Has what appears to be a filled lanyard ring hole, England stamped on the cylinder, along with Brit proof marks on cylinder and barrel.
Barrel is marked 38 S&W Special Ctg. and has the Mass. address along with the patents up to dec. 29 1914. It is blued, and has very rough square butt grips.
What is it? Thanks. DM
 
The “V” series of S&W Military & Police .38 revolvers were made during World War Two (1942 – 45). There were two versions. The first, made for Britain, and its associated Commonwealth was called the .38-200 Model. All were chambered in .38 S&W, and most had 5 inch barrels, although 4 and 6 inch lengths are known.

The second version was made for U.S. forces, and was identical to the first, except that they had 2 or 4 inch barrels, and were chambered in .38 Special.

During the middle 1950’s the British declared their .38-200 revolvers to be obsolete, and dumped them on the surplus market. One way or another, most ended up in the United States.

Because the .38 S&W cartridge was not particularly popular in the U. S. many importers had them rechambered to .38 Special, which was not a good idea. The resulting chamber is oversized in diameter for the .38 Special round, and depending on how well the work was done, you may get split cases. It is not advisable to shoot Plus-P ammunition in these guns. Sometimes, but not always, the .38 S&W mark on the barrel was overstamped to read ".38 SPEC."

In addition to rechambering some were refurbished and refinished. A lot had their barrels shortened and new front sights were mounted. The hole for the lanyard loop was plugged, and often the original stocks, which were plain unchecked walnut were replaced with something else.

This work was done in both Britain and the United States by various gunsmithing companies, but in the case of your revolver the “England” stamp on the cylinder would suggest that the work was done there.

You have an interesting artifact, but be careful about what you shoot in it.
 
thanks for the quick response. You describe it to a T, except the caliber markings dont appear altered. The grips are really beat up, and have many gouges in them as if someone was trying to enhance the grip. Seems deliberate anyhoo. The front site base looks like it may have been added later, as its kind of rough there, not like the rest of the gun. Has a 4" barrel. Thanks again. DM
 
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