Smith and Wesson serial number search

[SAMMY SNAKE]

many thanks Laytonj1 for date info
ed

[Birdseye]

Laytonj1, thank you for the info.

Ed

[MacJ]

Can someone please help me with the dates on my M36-0 727xx and M36-1 164xx.
Thanks to all that can help. I have a book on order 10days to get it. I would really like to know if i could.

[Birdseye]

Could I ask for one more?

It is my mod. 17-6 .22. s/n BDT5***


BTW ... my 686 model marking is 686-6 though it is a 7 shooter. I thought that the "6" referred to the number of shots. Any info on that?

Thanks

Ed

[Mike Irwin]

A five digit serial number starting with 727 would put your 36 around 1955. It should not be stamped with a model number, which started around serial 125,000 in 1957.

There is something wrong with your serial number for the 36-1, though. It would not have had a 5 digit number lower than the straight 36.

The 36-1 was introduced in 1967 around serial number 600,000.

I suspect that you might be reading the "serial numbers" from the wrong place on the gun.

Where are you finding these numbers? The proper serial number should be coming off the butt on earlier S&Ws, not the inside of the crane cut. A 5-digit number inside the crane cut on early S&Ws is an assembly floor number, which has nothing to do with the serial number.

[MacJ]

J9587xx for the 36-1, J4002xx RIght off the Butt.
Thanks

[MrBorland]

j9587xx For The 36-1

1982

j4002xx

1976-1977

[MacJ]

Thanks so much for you guys help.

[laytonj1]

It is my mod. 17-6 .22. s/n BDT5***


BTW ... my 686 model marking is 686-6 though it is a 7 shooter. I thought that the "6" referred to the number of shots. Any info on that?

BDT5XXX = 1989.
The dash numbers refer to engineering changes. In the case of the 686, the -6 started in 2001 with the addition of the internal lock.

Jim

[Birdseye]

Thank you again.

Ed

[Luis]

S&W 38 spl. model 60 serial number J314XXX

What can you tell me about this model????????
THANKS


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[Luis]

S&W 38 spl. model 36 (not 60 ,sorry my mistake)

Luis

[kawasakifreak77]

My dad is looking at what he says is a five screw, six sot .38 (I'm assuming special?) This is all he gave me;

483-XXX

Thanks.

[laytonj1]

My dad is looking at what he says is a five screw, six sot .38 (I'm assuming special?) This is all he gave me;

483-XXX

Need more info. The serial number should not have a dash in it. Have him look on the very bottom of the grip frame for the serial number. If the grips cover the bottom of the frame then they'll need to be removed to see it.
Also, if it's a 38 Special then it will actually say 38 S&W Special CTG. on the barrel (38 S&W SPL on short barrels).

Jim

[08 Cayenne]

I have a model 36 that I purchased new/unfired in 1988 but I think it was a couple of years old at the time of purchase. I still have the original box of .38 Sp that I bought with the gun, only a few rounds missing. I was thinking of breaking it in and using the gun for CCW. The year of manufacture would be appreciated, serial #ANR17XX. Thank You

[wnycollector]

I'm looking for date of manufacture for a 5" pre-model 10 .38. On the frame and crane is E 44528. Under the barrel is c 135304. Thanks in advance!

[kawasakifreak77]

Maybe I'm mistaken about the dash. Would that be a valid number if there weren't a dash in it? Thanks again.

[laytonj1]

serial #ANR17XX

Late 1986 to early 87.

Under the barrel is C135304.

1948-51.

Would that be a valid number if there weren't a dash in it?

Yes, if it is the actual SN, it would place it as a 38 Military and Police, 4th Change, made from 1915 to 1942 with serial numbers 241704 - 700000.

Jim

[wnycollector]

Thank you laytonj1!

[kawasakifreak77]

Thanks laytonj1!

[08 Cayenne]

Thanks Jim

[carguychris]

Also my 686

DBR 3***

My M638 has a DBD prefix and was made in August of 2007.

If you have the box with the original end label, see earlier in this thread for info on deciphering the date code.

[Justin1025]

582XXX

I received this revolver from my grandpa when he passed. I just want to know what year it was made. Or anything about it.

It is a short handgun 5 shots .38spl

Looks like a blued steel kind of finish. the number has no dashes and was read off of the bottom of the frame.

Thank You,

Justin

[Mike Irwin]

The only thing I can tell you about that gun right now is that it has spent time in Britain or one of the other commonwealth nations.

The "Five Tons" and the SP proof marks is indication of that. It also appears that each of the chambers was proofed individually. I've never seen that before.

Unfortunately, the pictures aren't clear enough to let me really see what the proofs are other than very general impressions.

[carguychris]

Also, if it's a 38 Special then it will actually say 38 S&W Special CTG. on the barrel (38 S&W SPL on short barrels).

+1. FYI older S&Ws chambered in .38S&W don't say "Special" on the barrel, just ".38 S&W CTG." or ".38 S&W".

My dad is looking at what he says is a five screw, six sot .38...

FWIW if it's a 5-screw gun that lacks the word "Special" but will chamber a .38Spl cartridge, tell your dad to keep looking. It's likely one of the infamous .38Spl conversions of a former British military Lend-Lease Victory from WWII. These guns were originally manufactured in .38S&W but rechambered in .38Spl for commercial sale in the U.S. They have zero value as collectibles due to the modifications, and are sometimes unsafe to fire due to the poor quality of the reworking.

IMHO if he wants a cheap S&W, there is no reason to settle for one of these hack jobs anymore. There are plenty of holster-worn but mechanically tight 60s and 70s-vintage police trade-in M10s floating around for basically the same price. Tell him to buy one of those instead.