Smith and Wesson serial number search

[gunny3333]

CarGuyChris:

Thanks for your help; that helps me a lot.

Gunny3333

[deepseasailor]

I have an old 38 S & W SPL, serial number - 7J1XXX. Can anyone tell me how old it is? Is it a Chief's Special? Any info will be greatly appreciated.

[wildhawk66]

Kamerer,

Thank you very much for your time and the detailed reply. That was a lot of great info, especially the load recommendations as I would have more than likely made the mistake of using an improper round.

One of the reasons I bought this piece is that it has an entertaining history. Apparently it was a duty weapon for an San Jose area officer in the 60's and 70's and then was eventually sold as a private transaction to an officer at my department around 1980. Shortly after that it was stolen from the officers home during a burg. and used in a crime/shootout (actully true though I thought he was pulling my leg at first) and eventually returned after being collected by San Jose PD at the crime scene. Since then it has collected dust in our department safe until this past week when I purchased it.

I checked the grip and it doesn't match the diamond pattern in the picture, so it must have been replaced at some point. The person I bought it from believes the original owner was an armorer for his department and he believes a custom trigger was also installed.

I've attached a couple of pics. The gun is actually in much better shape than the pics make it look as it had 20+ years of dust/grime on it at the time the pics were taken. The only real wear is some light to moderate holster burn at the muzzle. So neither of us knew what it was worth and we eventually agreed on $120. Since the guy I bought it from is a good friend I don't have any intention of taking him for a ride. Do I owe him some more money? Thank you again for your help.

[laytonj1]

I have an old 38 S & W SPL, serial number - 7J1XXX. Can anyone tell me how old it is? Is it a Chief's Special? Any info will be greatly appreciated.

1983.
That serial number series was used for several models. When you open the cylinder, you'll see the model number stamped on the frame just above where the yoke pivots.
A model 36 is a Chiefs Special
A model 37 is a Chiefs Special Airweight
A model 38 is a Bodyguard Airweight
And a model 49 is a Bodyguard

Jim

[deepseasailor]

Jim,

It can't be a 1983 model, because this was my fathers gun and he's been dead since 1979.

Was I giving the wrong number? Is that just a part number?

[laytonj1]

It can't be a 1983 model, because this was my fathers gun and he's been dead since 1979.

Doh!! My apologies. It's 1971/72.
The 3rd edition of SCSW shows 1983 as 1J18601 - xxxx while the second edition shows 1983 as 1J18601 - 1Jxxxx.
There have been questions brought up before about the accuracy of the J series serial numbers.

Jim

Early J frame serial numbers
For models 36, 37, 38, 49, 50 and pre model number versions.

1950 = start at 1
1952 = 7369 - 21342
1953 = 28916
1955 = 55050 - 75000
1957 = 117770 - 125000
1962 = starts at 295000
1969 = ends at 786544

J serial Prefix serial numbers.
For models 36, 37, 38, 49, 50.

1969-1970 = J1 - J99999
1971-1972 = 1J1 - 999J99
1973-1974 = J100000 - J250000
1975-1976 = J250001 - J370000
1976-1977 = J370001 - J610000
1977-1978 = J610001 - J670000
1979-1980 = J670001 - J760000
1981 = J760001 - J915400
1982 = J915401 - 1J18600
1983 = 1J18601 - 1JXXXX

1955 - 4 screw side plate ends
1957 - stamping of model number at 125000
1966 - flat latch ends
1968 - diamond grips end
1975 - heavy barrel standard
1982 - end pinned barrel

[huey148]

Just got my pistol back from a local gunsmith and he pretty much confirmed what you both said. He put the age of the pistol at 1952 also and said that there was a large amount of build up gunk inside that was causing the return spring (or something to that affect) bind up and not reset the action completely. Now the bad news, he said that it had been re-nickeled, and badly at that. Some of the gunk was actually nickel plating that had gotten into the "guts" of the pistol. He said that for $150 I got a great deal but it would not be worth as much on the collectors market because of that.

Still, it is the perfect CCW weapon for me here in Ohio. Including the $60 bucks that the gunsmith charged me and $20 for an Uncle Mike's concealment holster, I paid a total of $230 for this piece and saved over $150 - $200 off the price of a new comparable model. Not to mention what I would of spent to buy a Glock G27 or equivalent if I went that route.

Thank both of you for providing help when I needed it!!!

[TeMaK]

Hi All
I just acquired a Model 17-4 with 6" barrel. Would appreciate it if someone could help me with her date of manufacture. Serial # is 93K40**. In about 90% overall condition. TT-TH-TG(not to gun). Very smooth action. Look forward to trying her out soon.
Thank you very much for any help with the serial #.
TaKe CaRe
Ted

[laytonj1]

Serial # is 93K40**.

1981

Jim

[TeMaK]

Hi laytonj1
Thanks for the quick response.
TaKe CaRe
Ted

[ActivShootr]

I recently bought an S&W mod 19-3, s/n: K9038xx, Can someone look that one up for me?

[carguychris]

Now the bad news, he said that it had been re-nickeled, and badly at that. Some of the gunk was actually nickel plating that had gotten into the "guts" of the pistol. He said that for $150 I got a great deal but it would not be worth as much on the collectors market because of that.

This is a good time to mention that a good way for a n00b to readily identify a reblued or renickeled modern S&W revolver is to look at the trigger and particularly the hammer. They normally have a color case hardened finish, which appears dull grey with bluish or greenish splotches (look at the M&P in Kamerer's post). The triggers were sometimes hard chromed at the factory, but the hammer should be color case.

A blued hammer and trigger, or a shiny nickeled hammer, are surefire indications of a cheapo refinish job.

[dr_cerebro]

Please, I bought a used S&W Revolver. It is a beauty. It was expensive because the owner didn't wanted it to sell it. But he didn't know even Model or year of this revolver.

Can somebody help me, please?
I'd like to know Model and year

Serial number is: S8551XX

[rustynail]

I have a 6 shot air weight 38 snub nose. It weighs 18.2 oz and the serial number begins with C317xxx. Does anyone have info on the year and model?

[laytonj1]

I recently bought an S&W mod 19-3, s/n: K9038xx, Can someone look that one up for me?

1969.

Please, I bought a used S&W Revolver. It is a beauty. It was expensive because the owner didn't wanted it to sell it. But he didn't know even Model or year of this revolver.

Can somebody help me, please?
I'd like to know Model and year

Serial number is: S8551XX

"S" prefix serial numbers are usually for N frames but stop at S333454. Could it be S8551X ? And what is the caliber?

I have a 6 shot air weight 38 snub nose. It weighs 18.2 oz and the serial number begins with C317xxx. Does anyone have info on the year and model?

Pre model 12 (38 Military & Police Airweight), serial puts it at 1954 - 1956

Jim

[dr_cerebro]

This smith & wesson revolver is a .38 special caliber

The serial number is S 8551XX

Here are the pictures, in one of these you can see the serial number, in the cylinder

[laytonj1]

This smith & wesson revolver is a .38 special caliber

The serial number is S 8551XX

Here are the pictures, in one of these you can see the serial number, in the cylinder

Ahh. You are correct. Pictures help alot. That would be a post war 38 Military and Police (K frame pre model 10) made between 1945 and 1948.

Jim

[dr_cerebro]

Thank you very much

It is a beauty of revolver.

Thank you again !

[ActivShootr]

Thanks laytonj1.

[rustynail]

thanks for your help, Laytonj1

[gunhappy]

How about a 19-5 Sn # AUE 373x

[laytonj1]

How about a 19-5 Sn # AUE 373x

1987.

Jim

[IronsMan]

I've got an Airweight with SN 776Jxx that was willed to me. Can you give me a date, and specifically, what does the SN mean, i.e. 776, then a J, then two more numbers. Is there a pattern? Does the J denote "J" frame?

Thanks for the help and patience with a noob.

[gunhappy]

Thanks!!!

[kamerer]

I've got an Airweight with SN 776Jxx that was willed to me. Can you give me a date, and specifically, what does the SN mean, i.e. 776, then a J, then two more numbers. Is there a pattern? Does the J denote "J" frame?

The S/N means it was a J frame from 1971 or 72, probably 1972. The "J" in this case DOES mean it was a J frame, but that is not a standard thing in S&W numbers as, until 1980, different numbering schema were applied to different models.