Smith and Wesson serial number search - Page 144

WE0H · November 11, 2010, 08:33 AM

Hey Fly,
Did you go to Smith & Wesson University or something? Your knowledge on these firearms is incredible

Mike

FlyFish · November 11, 2010, 08:49 AM

That's very kind of you to say, Mike, but I'm not qualified to hold the coats of real experts like carguychris, jlayton1, rcmodel, and dfariswheel, and a few others who post here from time to time. I just happen to have "the book" and love to talk about S&W revolvers.

(Haven't been to the S&W University, but I do visit the mothership from time to time as it's only about an hour down the road from me. Their factory tour is simply amazing, and the training and range facility, which is open to the public, will also make you drool.)

lrathbun2 · November 11, 2010, 03:10 PM

I recently came into possession of what appears to be a S&W .44 double action Russian pistol. It's nickel plated with Ivory grips and has matching serial numbers 3379. Anyone have an idea of the manufacturing year?

FlyFish · November 11, 2010, 03:22 PM

Serial numbers on the .44 Russian First Model ran from 1 in 1881 to 54668 in 1913. If it's in very good condition that gun could be worth some serious money, although I don't think the grips are original and that could affect the price. Any chance you could post some pics? - I'd sure like to see it.

lrathbun2 · November 11, 2010, 06:16 PM

Including pictures of S&W .44 Russian pistol serial #3379 with matching number on the cylinder. Understand this pistol was carried by Sheriff MacFarland in Kootenai County, Idaho prior to 1900.

WE0H · November 11, 2010, 06:28 PM

Bummer on that barrel bulge

Mike

FlyFish · November 11, 2010, 09:23 PM

What a wonderful piece of history. Thanks for posting.

Bodaver32 · November 11, 2010, 10:04 PM

Flyfish,

Thanks for the response on my '40 - '45 M&P. I searched numrich last night but all the pages didn't come up. I now see the side screws I need.

I do a little basement gunsmithing and am going to see if I can restore it back close to its original configuration.

The front sight seems to be soldered on. I need to get some measurements of an original to see about milling one.

I do not have the original grips, on the Numrich site they list some grips which I think MAY be close, I am confused on what the "NOTCHED" refers to on them. They are listed as follows.

Grips, w/o Medallion, Square Butt, Old Style, Service, Checkered (Notched)

Grips, w/o Medallion, Square Butt, Old Style, Service Checkered, NI

I found the following picture and would imagine this is close to what mine originally looked like.

mikejonestkd · November 12, 2010, 06:31 AM

I have two Smiths that I am interested in getting the year of manufacturer:

A smith 28-2 Highway patrolman: 357 mag, 6"barrel, serial number N11XXX

Also, I just picked up a near perfect smith 686 no dash 357 6" barrel, serial number AJJ2XXX

Any info would be appreciated!

FlyFish · November 12, 2010, 09:03 AM

Bodaver32:

The front sight on your gun would have been a plain half moon, not ramped like the one in your photo. In the book, it's described as "a round blade front sight." I don't have a photo for you, but you should be able to find one out there somewhere.

The book also says that the grips would have been "hard rubber or walnut stocks, with a [raised, uncheckered] diamond around the screw escutcheon and gold S&W monograms." I think the "monograms" referred to are the medallions with the company logo that are inset into the rounded top of the grips. So, those would also differ from the grips in your photo.

I don't know what the "notched" business is on the grips that Numrich is listing. I'd recommend that you visit the S&W Forum and check out their classifieds - you might find what you're looking for, or you could post a WTB with the vintage of the gun and indicate you're looking for original grips and see what turns up.

ETA: This thread has photos showing the correct front sight and grips for your gun.

mikejonestkd:

Your Model 28 dates from between 1969 (starting at N1) and 1972 (ending at N99999). The 686 is from 1985.

mikejonestkd · November 12, 2010, 09:08 AM

Thanks Flyfish!!

utaherrn · November 13, 2010, 04:21 PM

How about a S&W 36, J188xxx?

FlyFish · November 13, 2010, 06:08 PM

utaherrn: 1973 (SN J100000) to 1974 (SN J250000)

utaherrn · November 13, 2010, 10:30 PM

thanks flyfish

youngda9 · November 15, 2010, 01:48 PM

Can someone tell me the date of manufacturer and the dash # for a Smith 686 Smith 686 SER # DBE42XX.

It is one that I am thinking about buying that I need this information for.

Thanks.

FlyFish · November 15, 2010, 03:07 PM

SCSW only covers serial numbers up to late 2004, at which point they were at prefix CTA, so 2005 is probably a good guess for DBE. The last "dash" number listed in the book is -6, which came out in 2001 when the internal lock was added - MIM parts were introduced previously with the -5.. There is also reference made to a -7, which is a special Performance Center run in .38 Super caliber.

Pestman · November 15, 2010, 10:30 PM

I just bought a S&W Model 66-3. Serial Number BFU7XXX.
I just bought it sight unseen. My first S&W revolver ever. I am surprised how nice the trigger is. I am guessing this gun is from the early 90's.

FlyFish · November 16, 2010, 08:49 AM

Early 90s would be correct - they were bouncing around with the prefixes around then, but BFU would appear to be either late 1990 or early '91.

smokeman13b · November 16, 2010, 10:47 AM

A friend asked me to work out some minor problems with his old revolver. In order to find parts I would like to know the year and model. I think it is a Model 10, but I just don't have a lot of experience with Smith revolvers.

Any help would be appreciated.

SN # V638xx

FlyFish · November 16, 2010, 01:26 PM

smokeman13b: Your friend's gun is a so-called "Victory" model of the .38 Special [possible, but less likely, it could be .38 S&W] Hand Ejector Military & Police, or .38 M&P, which is sometimes referred to as a pre-Model 10 (model numbering wasn't introduced until 1957). I don't have the book with me at the moment to check, but with a 5-digit number the gun was manufactured toward the beginning of the 1942 to 1945 period when these guns were being produced, most likely in 1942.

smokeman13b · November 16, 2010, 02:18 PM

Thanks Flyfish

Here are a couple of photos of it. I'm just not very well versed on the Smith revolvers. Sounds like this one might have some history though.

markrsims · November 16, 2010, 05:47 PM

I have a pre-model 10 with serial # 335180. Anyone know when this 'ol girl was made?

Thanks in advance!

laytonj1 · November 16, 2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

I have a pre-model 10 with serial # 335180. Anyone know when this 'ol girl was made?

Serial numbers ran from 241704 in 1915 to ~1000000 in 1942. Yours likely is from the 1920's.

Jim

markrsims · November 16, 2010, 10:09 PM

Thank You Jim!

Mose Jefferson · November 20, 2010, 12:17 AM

My friends father just gave her this .32 long for her birthday:
Attachment 64678
I think it's an old S&W Military and Police.

The serial number has only 3 digits. Can you tell me anything?
Thanks in advance for this remarkable thread.

November 11, 2010, 03:10 PM	#3578
lrathbun2 Junior Member Join Date: November 11, 2010 Posts: 2	.44 S&W Russian I recently came into possession of what appears to be a S&W .44 double action Russian pistol. It's nickel plated with Ivory grips and has matching serial numbers 3379. Anyone have an idea of the manufacturing year?

November 11, 2010, 06:16 PM	#3580
lrathbun2 Junior Member Join Date: November 11, 2010 Posts: 2	.44 S&W Russian Including pictures of S&W .44 Russian pistol serial #3379 with matching number on the cylinder. Understand this pistol was carried by Sheriff MacFarland in Kootenai County, Idaho prior to 1900. Last edited by Glenn E. Meyer; November 30, 2013 at 11:47 AM.

November 12, 2010, 06:31 AM	#3584
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,723	I have two Smiths that I am interested in getting the year of manufacturer: A smith 28-2 Highway patrolman: 357 mag, 6"barrel, serial number N11XXX Also, I just picked up a near perfect smith 686 no dash 357 6" barrel, serial number AJJ2XXX Any info would be appreciated! __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. Last edited by mikejonestkd; November 12, 2010 at 09:09 AM.

November 12, 2010, 09:03 AM	#3585
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,727	Bodaver32: The front sight on your gun would have been a plain half moon, not ramped like the one in your photo. In the book, it's described as "a round blade front sight." I don't have a photo for you, but you should be able to find one out there somewhere. The book also says that the grips would have been "hard rubber or walnut stocks, with a [raised, uncheckered] diamond around the screw escutcheon and gold S&W monograms." I think the "monograms" referred to are the medallions with the company logo that are inset into the rounded top of the grips. So, those would also differ from the grips in your photo. I don't know what the "notched" business is on the grips that Numrich is listing. I'd recommend that you visit the S&W Forum and check out their classifieds - you might find what you're looking for, or you could post a WTB with the vintage of the gun and indicate you're looking for original grips and see what turns up. ETA: This thread has photos showing the correct front sight and grips for your gun. mikejonestkd: Your Model 28 dates from between 1969 (starting at N1) and 1972 (ending at N99999). The 686 is from 1985. Last edited by FlyFish; November 12, 2010 at 11:24 AM.

November 12, 2010, 09:08 AM	#3586
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,723	Thanks Flyfish!! __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

November 11, 2010, 08:33 AM	#3576
WE0H Member Join Date: May 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 71	Hey Fly, Did you go to Smith & Wesson University or something? Your knowledge on these firearms is incredible Mike

November 11, 2010, 08:49 AM	#3577
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,727	That's very kind of you to say, Mike, but I'm not qualified to hold the coats of real experts like carguychris, jlayton1, rcmodel, and dfariswheel, and a few others who post here from time to time. I just happen to have "the book" and love to talk about S&W revolvers. (Haven't been to the S&W University, but I do visit the mothership from time to time as it's only about an hour down the road from me. Their factory tour is simply amazing, and the training and range facility, which is open to the public, will also make you drool.)

November 11, 2010, 03:22 PM	#3579
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,727	Serial numbers on the .44 Russian First Model ran from 1 in 1881 to 54668 in 1913. If it's in very good condition that gun could be worth some serious money, although I don't think the grips are original and that could affect the price. Any chance you could post some pics? - I'd sure like to see it.

November 11, 2010, 06:28 PM	#3581
WE0H Member Join Date: May 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 71	Bummer on that barrel bulge Mike

November 11, 2010, 09:23 PM	#3582
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,727	What a wonderful piece of history. Thanks for posting.

November 11, 2010, 10:04 PM	#3583
Bodaver32 Junior Member Join Date: November 11, 2010 Posts: 2	Flyfish, Thanks for the response on my '40 - '45 M&P. I searched numrich last night but all the pages didn't come up. I now see the side screws I need. I do a little basement gunsmithing and am going to see if I can restore it back close to its original configuration. The front sight seems to be soldered on. I need to get some measurements of an original to see about milling one. I do not have the original grips, on the Numrich site they list some grips which I think MAY be close, I am confused on what the "NOTCHED" refers to on them. They are listed as follows. Grips, w/o Medallion, Square Butt, Old Style, Service, Checkered (Notched) Grips, w/o Medallion, Square Butt, Old Style, Service Checkered, NI I found the following picture and would imagine this is close to what mine originally looked like.

November 13, 2010, 04:21 PM	#3587
utaherrn Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2005 Location: Happy Valley, USA Posts: 649	S&W 36 J188xxx? How about a S&W 36, J188xxx?

November 13, 2010, 06:08 PM	#3588
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,727	utaherrn: 1973 (SN J100000) to 1974 (SN J250000)

November 13, 2010, 10:30 PM	#3589
utaherrn Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2005 Location: Happy Valley, USA Posts: 649	thanks flyfish

November 15, 2010, 01:48 PM	#3590
youngda9 Junior Member Join Date: August 20, 2008 Posts: 3	Smith 686 SER # DBE42XX Can someone tell me the date of manufacturer and the dash # for a Smith 686 Smith 686 SER # DBE42XX. It is one that I am thinking about buying that I need this information for. Thanks.

November 15, 2010, 03:07 PM	#3591
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,727	SCSW only covers serial numbers up to late 2004, at which point they were at prefix CTA, so 2005 is probably a good guess for DBE. The last "dash" number listed in the book is -6, which came out in 2001 when the internal lock was added - MIM parts were introduced previously with the -5.. There is also reference made to a -7, which is a special Performance Center run in .38 Super caliber.

November 15, 2010, 10:30 PM	#3592
Pestman Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 24	Model 66-3 I just bought a S&W Model 66-3. Serial Number BFU7XXX. I just bought it sight unseen. My first S&W revolver ever. I am surprised how nice the trigger is. I am guessing this gun is from the early 90's.

November 16, 2010, 08:49 AM	#3593
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,727	Early 90s would be correct - they were bouncing around with the prefixes around then, but BFU would appear to be either late 1990 or early '91.

November 16, 2010, 10:47 AM	#3594
smokeman13b Junior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5	Greetings A friend asked me to work out some minor problems with his old revolver. In order to find parts I would like to know the year and model. I think it is a Model 10, but I just don't have a lot of experience with Smith revolvers. Any help would be appreciated. SN # V638xx

November 16, 2010, 01:26 PM	#3595
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,727	smokeman13b: Your friend's gun is a so-called "Victory" model of the .38 Special [possible, but less likely, it could be .38 S&W] Hand Ejector Military & Police, or .38 M&P, which is sometimes referred to as a pre-Model 10 (model numbering wasn't introduced until 1957). I don't have the book with me at the moment to check, but with a 5-digit number the gun was manufactured toward the beginning of the 1942 to 1945 period when these guns were being produced, most likely in 1942.

November 16, 2010, 02:18 PM	#3596
smokeman13b Junior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5	Thanks Flyfish Here are a couple of photos of it. I'm just not very well versed on the Smith revolvers. Sounds like this one might have some history though. Last edited by Glenn E. Meyer; November 30, 2013 at 11:47 AM.

November 16, 2010, 05:47 PM	#3597
markrsims Junior Member Join Date: September 19, 2009 Posts: 8	I have a pre-model 10 with serial # 335180. Anyone know when this 'ol girl was made? Thanks in advance!

November 16, 2010, 10:09 PM	#3599
markrsims Junior Member Join Date: September 19, 2009 Posts: 8	Thank You Jim!

November 20, 2010, 12:17 AM	#3600
Mose Jefferson Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Location: Northwest America Posts: 35	My friends father just gave her this .32 long for her birthday: Attachment 64678 I think it's an old S&W Military and Police. The serial number has only 3 digits. Can you tell me anything? Thanks in advance for this remarkable thread. Last edited by Glenn E. Meyer; November 30, 2013 at 11:47 AM.

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