Smith and Wesson serial number search

[Jonathank1982]

I just picked up a S&W Model 60, 2in barrel with the origional box and wrapper. Serial number is R189xxx. It has a pinned barrel.

Thanks!!

Jon

[partsboy]

I believe its a model 36 J1028XX for $150.00. Is that a deal?

[Radagast]

Yourkyle21: Between January 1983 & October 1983. All I can suggest is very fine steel wool soaked in gun oil. Someone with more knowledge than I may have a better suggestion.

tex1310: 1982-1886, probably closer to 1986 at guns with serial numbers in the N97xxxx range were made that year.

Jonathank1982: 1974-1977 (R100000to R190000). Probably 1977.

partsboy: 1973-1974: If it retains If it is lacking most of it's finish but still functions that is a good price. If it has most of it's finish and the action locks up tight then you are buying it for half it's value. Get it.

[Jonathank1982]

Thanks!

It is 1895XX so it is very close to the end of that range

Jonathan

[partsboy]

Thanks Radagast! It's all tight and the finish is pretty good, comes with a case, bore snake and a few hundred rounds. Can i fire +p's in this gem?

[cew702001]

Can anyone tell me the manufacture date of a model 10-6, #D148xxx? Also, where the barrel lines up with the cylinder, there is some sort of disfiguring, there is about a 2mm gap as opposed to a 1mm gap on the "good" side, the inside of the barrel looks to be un-phased. Could this be due to a +P load. Thanks for your help.

[vader_z]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a pair of used S&W revolvers. Can anybody help identify the production dates?

686, ADW56xx (for the beauty of it)
18-3, 6K439xx (because ammo for the big sister costs too much)

Thanks is advance for the help!

[Radagast]

partsboy: Limited use of PlusP should be fine, but do most of your shooting with standard pressure ammo.

cew702001: 1969-1970 for your gun. I'm not a gunsmith so I can't answer your question. Try starting a new thread in the gunsmithing section.

vader_z: Your 686 was made between January & November 1984. Your 18-3 was made in 1974.

[breed]

hey every one nice board you have here. can any one help me with a date on this s&w 357 mod 60-9 j frame with a 2.1/8 inch barrel? #cee25xx...thanks i think its one of the last runs thy made with out the lock.

[vader_z]

Thanks Radagast!!!

[Radagast]

breed: Between April & October 2000.

[breed]

thanks radagast...any one know when they started putting the lock's on? this # is on the end of the box.#0159 for some reason i was thinking 9-5-01. may be that was the shipping date?

[New2Brass]

Seems like mine is the typical story here. Relative passed and its on me to find homes for these. Revolvers not my thing. They were police service guns so may be M&P or Model 10

All Smith and Wesson blued 38 special with fixed sites
serial 556xxx (no prefix) 2 inch barrel with "38 S&W SPL" on it. 5 round
serial J117xxx 3 inch barrel with "38 S&W SPECIAL CTG" on it 5 round
Serial C974xxx 4 inch barrel with "38 S&W SPECIAL CTG" on it 6 round

The first two I believe are J frame and the last may be a K frame just from searching the site. The last has a larger frame. Bluing not bad just holster wear on the barrel tips.

If anyone could tell me correct model, year and approximate value it would be greatly appreciated.

[Radagast]

New2Brass:
Serial 556xxx places it between 1962 & 1969.
Serial J117xxx paces it between 1973 & 1974.
C974xxx places it between 1966 & 1967, probably late 1967.

Model numbers will be stamped inside the frame under the yoke. Open the cylinder to see the model number stamping.

Assuming all guns are blued, with standard hammers and steel frame then they are Model 36 Chiefs Specials and a Model 10 Military & Police. It they have aluminum frames then they are Model 37 Chiefs Special Airweights and a Model 12 Miltary & Police Airweight.

Price depends on model and condition. Please verify and get back to us.

[Radagast]

Breed: The internal lock was introduced in 2001.

[Smitty38Special]

I have a S&W, snub nose .38 with a serial number that starts with a prefix that has been partially worn off... It could be a Y, V, or W. I have attached a picture of the beginning of the number. There are 5 numbers total in addition to the mystery letter. Looks like this (I have omitted the last 2 numbers):

Mystery Letter 992xx.

I have also attached a few other pictures showing various other markings. One is a BNP Stamp on the barrel and cylinder. There appears to be a crown stamped with these markings. I've been told that this gun was produced by S&W for the Brits at the beginning of WWII and "BNP" stands for British Navy Pilot for use as a side arm if shot down.

Any insight on date or value would be great... Thanks

[breed]

thanks again radagast.i was thinking that gun was probably one of the last to be made with out the lock. my wife asked me to sell it and get her something smaller.

[carguychris]

Smitty38Special,

Your gun is a .38/200 British Service Revolver aka British Victory produced in mid-1942. The mystery letter is a "V". "BNP" stands for Birmingham Nitro Proof; it signifies that the gun has been safety-tested with a high-pressure proof load, which was (and AFAIK still is) required by British law for all firearms sold commercially, including for export.

Your gun has had the barrel cut. The original length was probably 5", which was more or less standard for British guns by 1942. Oodles of cut-down British Victories were sold by milsurp importers in the U.S. in the 50s and 60s for bargain prices. The firm that cut your barrel left off the front locking lug, which is unfortunately typical for cut-down milsurp guns; without the lug, cylinder lockup is poor and accuracy will usually be subpar. This modification was usually accompanied by reaming out the cylinders to accomodate .38 Special ammo instead of the original .38S&W cartridge. .38S&W uses a slightly larger-diameter bullet and shell case, so converted guns will usually have poor accuracy and suffer from extraction problems due to swollen or the occasional split case. The stag grips (stocks) are not original and are probably fake; many importers and resellers ditched the original drab-looking smooth walnut stocks and replaced them, usually with cheap plastic stocks of dubious quality. Fake plastic stag, ivory, and mother-of-pearl are common.

The above modifications ruin the collectible value of the gun. IMHO it's worth $75-$125 in its current condition. If the grips actually are genuine, they might fetch $40-$75 by themselves, but as I said before, I strongly suspect that they're plastic.

[Smitty38Special]

Thanks CarGuyChris... I appreciate your insight. You are correct about the grips... They're plastic. I've only shot it a couple times but did have some split casings. Thanks a again,

[New2Brass]

Radagast, thanks for the quick reply.
first is a model 36, second 36-1 and third a 10-6.
The flash makes it hard to see the missing blueing. basically the front of the barrel from holster wear. Blueing is better than it looks in pics because they need to be cleaned of finger prints etc.
I found the box for the 3 inch 36-1 and it is in great shape so I don't know if that factors in the price. The wood handles also show some wear due to the years but not too bad as I am sure it spent almost all of its time in the holster.


This is the pic of the 10-6 withe the worst blue wear.

[New2Brass]

First pic is all 3
second is the 36 2 inch
and 3rd is 26-1 3 inch

[FiveForSure]

Curious about the age of my 686, given to me as a gift... BNW0xxx

[FlyFish]

Curious about the age of my 686, given to me as a gift... BNW0xxx

March of 1993, according to SCSW

[New2Brass]

Think I got lost in the shuffle here, Still trying to get a grasp of what the following are worth


Model 36 Chiefs special serial 556xxx (no prefix) 2 inch barrel with "38 S&W SPL" on it. 5 round Blue with some holster wear on the tip of the barrel Datted about 1967

Model 36-1 Chiefs special serial J117xxx 3 inch barrel with "38 S&W SPECIAL CTG" on it 5 round with box in good condition! with all accesories and wrap. Probably spent 35 years in the back of his locker since issued. Slight holster wear as above. Dated between 73+74

Model 10-6 M&P Serial C974xxx 4 inch barrel with "38 S&W SPECIAL CTG" on it 6 round Datted at 1967. Has about an inch of holster wear on the front left side of barrel.

All were issued NYCPD issued and the one box has some info on it. The Owner was at ground zero and spent alot of time one the "Pile" not that it would effect value, but if they could talk!

[FlyFish]

Think I got lost in the shuffle here, Still trying to get a grasp of what the following are worth

It would help a great deal if you could give us the model numbers. If the dates you cite are correct, and from the serial numbers they appear to be at least approximately right, you will find the model number on each gun stamped into the area of the frame that's exposed when you swing the cylinder out. It will most likely be a two-digit number followed by a hyphen and a single digit, i.e., "10-5" or something similar.