Smith and Wesson serial number search

[Montana Jon]

Again MC 1911 you came through, than you so much for your help.

[MC 1911]

You're welcome..glad to help.

[Manz]

Hello just inherited a model 60 no dash serial #AWC6271 could i get a date plz and ty

[MC 1911]

Book doesn't show AWC prefix. The other AW prefixes appear to be 87-88. Probably need to contact S&W to get a ship date..

[Manz]

thank you very much

[MC 1911]

You're welcome..sorry we didn't have the date!

[Manz]

also there is a # near the cylinder which is 41933 with a upside down V and 5

[MC 1911]

Thats an assembly # so no help.

[jamesnj]

Hello, I have an old Smith and Wesson. There is a warranty card in the box with the date of 1955. Serial# on the bottom of the handle is 699083... can anyone tell me more about this? Thank you in advance!

[jar]

Originally Posted by jamesnj

Hello, I have an old Smith and Wesson. There is a warranty card in the box with the date of 1955. Serial# on the bottom of the handle is 699083... can anyone tell me more about this? Thank you in advance!

Welcome home. Pull up a stump and set a spell. More info is needed like caliber and a picture.

[jamesnj]

Here are pictures....
https://ibb.co/Njg0wgw
https://ibb.co/KGYmZ5y

[MC 1911]

Is there a label on the end of the box lid? Looks like an early Chiefs Special in .38. Very nice!!

[jar]

Originally Posted by jamesnj

Here are pictures....
https://ibb.co/Njg0wgw
https://ibb.co/KGYmZ5y

Yup. Early Chiefs Special. Very similar to mine but your number seems higher than I would expect.

[L-2]

Post 8559,
1955 does indeed agree with my S&W reference book for S&W J-frame .38Special revolvers:

1955 55050-75000

Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (p. 489). Gun Digest Media. Kindle Edition.

[uncledenz]

I am looking for approximate date of a Model 36, serial 949Jxx.

It also has a stamp 36-1 but the one was overstamped with a zero. What does that mean?

[MC 1911]

Not sure about the overstamp but I don't know a a Model 36 that starts with numbers then goes to letters. There are J series but they all come before the #'s. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

[105kw]

The overstamp means that the frame was marked for a 3in, heavy barrel version. It was shipped as a 2in Model 36 no dash, with a 0 overstamp.
The 36 was built from 1957 until 1988, when the 36-2 was introduced.
The 36-1 was started in 1967 and until 1988 when the 36-3 started.
It had to be built prior to 1966, because that year they when to the modern style thumbpiece.
Please check the serial number, The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson doesn't show any number in that range.

[uncledenz]

Hey folks! I just came across a letter from a historian at smith&wesson explaining the roving J in the model 36 serial number.

Basically he explains:

The original number series started with 1 and continued through number 786544.

In 1969 a new serial number series was started beginning with J1 through J99999.

Then a new series was started called the roving J series. This started with 1J1 and continued to 994J94. Each time the characters following the J reached all nines, the number in front of the J would move up to a new number, or the J would move to another location.

Example 1J9999 was followed by 2J1, 99J999 was followed by 100J1 etc.

In 1972 a new series was started using seven characters beginning with J100000 and continued until 1982 with J999999.

The J was then moved to the second character position beginning at 1J00000, continuing until 1983 ending with 1J47502.

At that time the serial numbers were incorporated into the triple Alfa Four system beginning with the prefix ANB followed by four numbers.

-------

I think that puts the date of mine somewhere around 1970-71. I will be writing to him to find out more info, and share what I learn.

[MC 1911]

I've never seen that info but he would certainly be the one to know! Thanks for the update & info!!

[stuckinthe60s]

mine looks like a 38 target...........serial number........K 89068
any help on a year?
its a pre model.

[MC 1911]

K89068 looks like 1950..